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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 porcelain enamel Gothic style dial on this piece is absolutely stunning. Elegant black Roman numerals stand out against the bright white surface, delivering exceptional clarity, while red minute markers around the perimeter highlight the classic railroad aesthetic. The sub seconds register at 6 o’clock anchors the design and shows why early Elgin dials set the benchmark for legibility during the railroad era. The layout is straightforward, balanced, and instantly readable. Powering the watch is the Elgin 15 jewel Grade 295 movement, completed in Elgin, Illinois in 1904 and part of a long production run from 1904 to 1921, placing this example among the earliest 295s produced. The caliber features an exposed mainspring barrel with concentric damaskeening, while the movement plates are finished with wave like damaskeening that adds depth and contrast. The movement has been fully restored in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Every screw and hardware component was thermally blued by hand to a rich iridescent blue (read more here), and the gear train and jewel settings were polished back to their original golden tone. The hour and minute hands were restored individually, with corrosion carefully removed, the steel polished to a mirror finish, and each hand thermally colored over an alcohol lamp to achieve a deep, even blue that pairs beautifully with the white of the dial. The result is a well preserved example of early twentieth century American watchmaking, revived with care and respect for its original character.
The timepiece is housed in our 40 mm surgical-grade 316L stainless steel conversion case, designed for one of the best fits available in any conversion. Engineered with both caseback and crown gaskets, it offers water resistance up to 50 meters (though it is recommended to remove the watch before water activities). Fully serviced and carefully inspected, this watch is ready for your next adventure.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 290 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: 1904
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: 10781124
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.