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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 Elgin from 1900 features an exceptional porcelain-enamel dial with a distinctive Elgin banner signature. The signature has a three-dimensional appearance, creating the illusion that the banner is raised above the surface of the dial. Nearly all examples of this signature feature Roman numerals, making this example particularly unusual with its bold Arabic numerals in the traditional American railroad style. The outer railroad minute track features bold indices at five-minute intervals, with inverted triangles marking every fifteen minutes. Red Arabic numerals along the outer perimeter at each five-minute interval add another layer of detail and color to the otherwise bright white enamel dial.
Given the exceptional condition and rarity of this dial, we decided to fully restore the original spade hands. Each hand was individually mirror-polished to remove more than a century of oxidation and corrosion before being carefully heat-blued over an alcohol lamp. The process produces a deep, iridescent blue that changes in appearance depending on how the light strikes the steel. The hands came out beautifully, with a nearly flawless finish and remarkable contrast against the white enamel dial.
This 1900 Elgin is powered by the Grade 216, a movement produced for just four years between 1900 and 1904, making this example one of the earliest produced. The grade is distinguished by its intricate damaskeening and exposed center wheel, showcasing the decorative finishing characteristic of American watchmaking at the turn of the twentieth century. Every component of the movement was carefully restored by hand. The screws and steel hardware were individually heat-blued over an alcohol lamp using traditional techniques to improve corrosion resistance while adding depth and contrast (read more here). The jewel chatons, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand-polished to restore their original golden brilliance. Combined with its exceptionally rare banner railroad dial and fully restored original hands, this is a remarkable example of early twentieth-century Elgin watchmaking, with careful attention given to every aspect of its restoration.
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: 300 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: 1900
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: 8858959
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.