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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.
Completed in 1905 in Elgin, Illinois, this piece brings together two of our favorite elements—a Blind Man porcelain-enamel railroad dial and a near-flawless original gilt movement finish. Unlike nickel damaskeening, gilt finishes are extraordinarily sensitive to touch, moisture, and time. Even light handling can dull the surface or leave faint marks, which is why so few examples have survived unscathed like this one. Restoring gilt to its original appearance requires steady hands, precision, and patience. At Frett & Co., every step of the restoration process is done entirely by hand. We have developed our own in-house methods to gently revive gilt plating without mechanical abrasion, restoring the original depth, tone, and factory-like luster while preserving every engraving and plate contour. On the dial side is the Blind Man railroad dial, a rarer variation of the traditional railroad layout distinguished by its oversized Arabic numerals. These large numerals, paired with bold red minute markers along the perimeter and a recessed sub-seconds register, create exceptional legibility while maintaining the balanced symmetry of classic American design. Simple yet refined, it captures the essence of early twentieth century utility and elegance. On the movement, each jewel setting, gear train, balance, and balance weight was individually hand polished to enhance the natural golden hues of the movement. All screws and steel hardware were thermally blued by hand over an open flame, a traditional watchmaking technique that strengthens the steel while producing a rich, iridescent blue hue that contrasts beautifully with the gilt plates (read more here). The original hands were mirror polished to remove corrosion, then heat blued using the same technique to provide striking contrast against the bright white enamel dial.
The movement is set in our 40 mm conversion case crafted from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel. This size offers a balanced fit on the wrist, making it one of the most versatile proportions available in any conversion. The case is built with crown and caseback gaskets, tested to 50 meters of water resistance, though removal before swimming or showering is recommended. Fully serviced and regulated, this watch is ready for years of reliable wear and appreciation.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 275 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: 1905
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel (Blind man)
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: 11399223
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.