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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.
This dial is a true one-of-one—we have never seen this exact design before, and we will very likely never see another like it. At the center is a beautiful floral bouquet with red, blue, and green petals that was almost certainly painted by hand. The dial transitions from white at the center to a soft blue toward the perimeter, with bold Arabic numerals framed within golden circles. The outer minute track features prominent indices every five minutes, surrounded by intricate gold motifs along the edge. Incredibly, beneath all of this decoration sits the classic railroad-style layout, combining the bold legibility of an American railroad dial with a level of color and detail that makes this piece truly unique. Under the dial is Elgin’s Grade 133 from 1896, a movement produced for only a short period between 1896 and 1899 across just 30 runs, with this example coming from the first year of production. The grade is known for its distinctive mainspring barrel, decorated with an intricate geometric motif that reflects early Elgin artistry. Every movement component was carefully restored by hand in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Screws and steel hardware were thermally blued using traditional thermal coloring to improve corrosion resistance while adding depth and contrast (read more here). The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand polished to restore their original golden tone. The combination of this remarkable dial and first-year Grade 133 movement makes this one of the most distinctive late nineteenth-century Elgin pieces we have encountered.
Housed in our expertly engineered 40 mm conversion case, this timepiece is designed to highlight the elegance of its vintage dial while offering one of the most wearable conversion cases available. 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). Every piece is fully serviced, meticulously tested, and prepared to accompany you on your next adventure.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 280 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hand
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Elgin
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1896
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 15 jewels
Case Diameter: 40 mm
Front Crystal: Domed sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 20 mm
Lug to Lug: 48 mm
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 6095912
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.