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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 Roman numeral porcelain enamel dial is exceptional on this piece. The Elgin signature is rendered in elegant all capital letters, paired with Roman numerals and an outer minute track with red numerals at five minute intervals. The result is a dial that feels unmistakably railroad in layout, but with Roman numerals in place of Arabic. This gives the watch a more refined aesthetic while still maintaining the well proportioned, highly legible railroad style. Turn the watch over and the craftsmanship continues. Completed in Elgin, Illinois in 1896, this piece is powered by the 15 jewel Grade 121 movement, a caliber produced only briefly between 1892 and 1896 making this example one of the last ever produced. The movement features an exposed mainspring barrel, crisp damaskeening, and the restrained but confident finishing typical of late nineteenth century American watchmaking. Every component was carefully restored in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Screws and steel hardware were thermally colored by hand to achieve deep blue accents (read more here). The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually polished to restore their original golden tone. The moon style hands were refinished one at a time, polished to a mirror finish to remove corrosion, and then heated over an alcohol lamp to achieve a rich iridescent blue. The result is a timepiece that brings together an incredible dial, a short run movement, and traditional hand finishing in a way that feels both cohesive and honest.
The timepiece is housed in our surgical-grade 316L stainless steel conversion case with a 40 mm diameter—offering one of the best fits for any conversion available. The case includes both caseback and crown gaskets, providing water resistance up to 50 meters, though it is recommended to remove the watch before engaging in water activities. The watch comes fully serviced and ready for your next adventure.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 260 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 (excellent)
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
Original Case Included: No
Serial Number: 6334934
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.