If youve always wanted to own a piece of functional american history, without breaking the bank, then a wrist or pocket watch from the elgin national watch company may just be exactly what youve been looking for. Production techniques improved and by the end of 1898, more than 2500 watches were being produced during the course of a week. Elgin was first in 1960 with a railroad approved wrist watch. In 1958, they introduced the durabalance, an ingenious design for a freesprung balance. The last elgin movement made in america was produced in 1968. The first lady elgin wrist watch was produced in may of 1869. In between, pinning an individual elgin down to a specific year and model can be a bit of a chore. Nov 22, 2017 elgin was founded in 1864, right as the civil war was coming to an end. These watches tend to have thinner profiles for a sleeker appearance. What is the difference between a lord elgin watch and an. Antique and vintage elgin wristwatches collectors weekly. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. Feb 20, 2016 vintage lord elgin wrist watch 14k gold 33mm x 23mm 20 gm.
This opens a new chapter in elgins watch production that. Elgin watches were manufactured in illinois from 1864 to 1968. It was issued to us military members and was very accurate. Perhaps better known for its pocket watches than wristwatches, the elgin national watch company began in august 1864 as the national watch company. The largest and most complete vintage watch online price guide of its kind. Over 14,000 listings of actual watches that have been sold by us and selected auction results since 1998. The national watch company produced its first watchthe b. The movement is also sometimes called the watch works. See recent prices for elgin watches, learn the story behind the.
Elgin national watch company in the spring of 1864 half a dozen ambitious chicago businessmen decided that if massachusetts could build a factory that built watches illinois could, too. The online database for the elgin watch company can tell you a great deal of information about your watch, based on just the serial number off the movement. Elgin wrist watch serial number lookup nawcc forums. Mens watches buy mens watches online in nigeria jumia. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Sep 15, 2015 vintage mechanical wristwatches from the golden years of the elgin national watch company pre1968. Casker is a leading supplier of wrist watch, pocket watch, and clock parts to professional horologists. Free vintage image elgin watch magazine ad horloge dessin. Discover a large selection of elgin watches on chrono24 the worldwide marketplace for luxury watches. Vintage elgin wwii usa military ord dept manual wind 15j 554 wrist watch. Some pocket watches have been converted to wrist watches. Elgin mechanical handwinding wristwatches for sale ebay. Elgin watches, some of the most indemand antique watches in the market today, are a perennial favorite among watch collectors. See more ideas about elgin watch, watch companies and watches.
First, enter the serial number off the movement of the watch. Buying or selling without iguide could be hazardous to your wealth. Shake an elgin automatic watch once or twice to get it running, then set the time like any elgin by pulling and rotating the crown. The online elgin database method the online elgin database can be used to give an estimate about the value of a watch.
Table of contents there is no single dollar value the most accurate method the quickest method the price guide method the online elgin database method the ebay completed auctions. A mechanical watch is a watch that uses a clockwork mechanism to measure the passage of. You can also refer to an elgin serial number chart. How to find the serial number on an elgin pocket watch our.
Elgin shipped their first wristwatch in 1910, and later manufactured the first wrist watch to be qualified for railroad service, the grade 730a b. Their goal was to create watches that were durable. Some of the case makers had already used 45 digit numbers that look the same and can cause confusion, elgin also reused the 4 digit case numbers later on just keep you on your toes. These web pages covers many of the general ways to try and find an answer to this question. Perhaps better known for its pocket watches than wristwatches, the elgin national watch. One of the most iconic elgin watches is the 1945 elgin military ordnance wrist watch. About that time, fashionable women in england and europe began to wear small watches set in leather bands around their wrists, especially for outdoor activities. Watermark will not appear on your downloaded image. This illinois hunter case pocket watch was special for a railroad company. It was the genuine, audacious, selfreliant western spirit.
Its worth noting here that only about 10% of cases ever sold were solid gold. Elgin watches all prices for elgin watches on chrono24. For example, at the bottom of this web page is a table that can tell you approximately what year your watch was made. The elgin national watch company, commonly known as elgin watch company, was a major. Elgin watches made before the late 1930s feature serial numbers without a letter prefix, with those made after that period containing one letter.
Fine wrist watches price guide and appraisal guide. This beautiful antique elgin pocket watch circa 1895 is a true collectible. Read about the efforts of mr john walker barriger iii and mr jack pugh in modernizing the railroad. Vintage lord elgin elvis presley direct read jump hour 14k gf watch wgf band. Founded in chicago in 1864, the then national watch company was developed out of a consortium of local business leaders. We are severely handicapped by both the lack of legacy production records and by elgins policy of not giving names to models. Mar 31, 2012 ok, according to the serial number off the works of the watch this dates back to 188687. Unfortunately, determining your watchs value is a hard question to answer. The best wrist watch with an affordable price can only be gotten on our online shop.
The brand elgin was the mass market label with lord elgin being the upper market label. Check out this selection of traditional elgin handwound mechanical wristwatches. Pocket watch identification and value guide the spruce crafts. Elgin pocket watches were an icon of american pocket watch production in the 20th century and reflect the massive progress of the age with durable yet elegant designs. Elgin wristwatch national museum of american history. The resources here cover wrist watches produced prior to 1970.
Available band colors for elgin handwound mechanical wristwatches. Get the best deals on elgin vintage mens wristwatches when you shop the largest online selection at. We ensure you are always a step closer to the latest wrist. Antique elgin wristwatch repair, mechanical elgin wrist watch. Splendid remedies of elgin wrist watches the accuracy of timepieces was affected by temperature changes, vibrations and changes to air pressure. Elgin watch identification guide waterstone watches. Products, pocket watches, wrist watches, bomb sights and precision instruments. The second hands rotate in a sweeping motion, moving continuously around the dial. Elgin pocket watch sale old vintage, antique elgin pocket. Whats the value of an antique elgin 14k gold watch. Model number case number name line subline cost jewels details.
Setting the time on modern elgin watches is identical to the originals, but post1970s quartz models need no winding. If the selfwinding watch is worn daily, the movement of your wrist will keep it wound. Elgin was originally called the national watch company. Its main manufacturing plant was located in elgin, illinois. This is a vintage benrus pocket watch made by the benrus watch company in switzerland, possibly in the 1930s. Watch serial number information a lot of information can be determined about your elgin watch from just the serial number on the movement where the gears are. Some conversions of highend brands still sell for a high value after conversion. We are severely handicapped by both the lack of legacy production records and by elgin s policy of not giving names to models. The hunting case has an inner dust cover and is set with. Warren, whose price guide books have been the authority on collectibles values since 1985.
Enter the serial number into an online elgin serial number database to obtain an instant result that lists its year of production. Along with a lot of other information about your watch, toward the bottom will be a link to the search ebay logs for the same grade as your watch. Antique elgin pocket watch circa 1927 railroad quality duration. Raymondin april 1867, and it was immediately successful.
Searchable appraisal guide to current market values for fine wrist watches. In general, altering a watch will lower the value and some enthusiasts are ardently against doing this type of conversion. Throughout their history, the elgin national watch company was known for horological innovations. New listing fine vintage lord elgin 23j 770 6ap 10k gold filled mens watch 31mm runs well. Buy elgin wristwatches and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. We carry all available brands of watch material including crystals. The first elgin watch a pocket watch dates to 1867.
Introducing elgins 100th anniverasry line that was never released in 1964. A brief guide to how you can identify a genuine elgin or lord elgin watch. Elgin watches serial numbers elgin national watch company. Shop forand learn aboutantique and vintage elgin wristwatches.
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