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Elgin National Watch Co. was in operation from 1864-1968 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Elgin watches took place at their facility in Elgin, Illinois.
The original porcelain-enamel dial on this 1900 Elgin is exceptionally rare, featuring “U.S.A.” twice—once beneath the Elgin logo and again below the sub-seconds dial at 6:00. American watch dials seldom featured U.S.A. markings, making this double-signed example especially rare. The dial follows the classic American railroad style, with crisp Arabic numerals and an outer minute track featuring bold indices at five-minute intervals. The original spade-and-whip hands are more commonly associated with early trench watches but complement the railroad dial beautifully. The hands have not been restored and retain their original heat blue finish as applied by Elgin at the time of manufacture. The blued hands provide exceptional contrasts against the white of the porcelain-enamel dial.
Beneath the dial, this 1900 Elgin is powered by the Grade 199 with a unique power delivery system, incorporating a safety barrel rather than a conventional going barrel. Every component of the movement was carefully restored by hand in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Screws and steel hardware were thermally blued over an alcohol lamp to enhance corrosion resistance while introducing depth and contrast (read more here). The jewel chatons, safety barrel bushing, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand polished to restore their original golden brilliance.
Housed in our 36 mm conversion case, this timepiece is designed to preserve the elegance of its vintage aesthetic while offering the refined proportions of a modern dress watch. Crafted from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel, the case features both caseback and crown gaskets for enhanced durability and water resistance up to 50 meters (though we recommend removing the watch before water activities). At just 36 mm across with a slim profile, the case wears compact, elegant, and exceptionally comfortable on the wrist. Every piece is fully serviced, meticulously tested, and built for reliable everyday wear.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 270 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Safety barrel
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Elgin
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1900
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 15 jewels
Case Diameter: 36 mm
Front Crystal: Domed sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 20 mm
Lug to Lug: 44 mm
Height: 10 mm
Serial Number: 8017414
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.