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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 dial on this Elgin from 1917 was custom made for J.W. Coatsworth & Co., a jeweler located in Galena, Illinois. Galena is a small vacation town in northwestern Illinois that took its name from the mineral galena, which was historically mined throughout the region. The dial features a soft pink center with golden inlay, Roman numerals, and a minute track accented by golden circles at each five minute interval. Altogether, the dial is an incredible example of a custom multichromatic Elgin dial produced for a regional jeweler during the early 1900s. Powering the watch is Elgin’s 15 jewel Grade 295 movement, completed in Elgin, Illinois in 1917. Produced between 1904 and 1921, this example comes from the later period of Grade 295 production. The caliber features an exposed mainspring barrel with circular damaskeening, while the movement plates are finished with wave-like damaskeening that adds exceptional visual depth. The movement has been fully restored in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Every screw and steel hardware component was thermally blued by hand to a rich iridescent blue (read more here), while the gear train and jewel settings were polished back to their original warm golden tone. The Louis XIV hands remain unrestored in their original golden finish. Against the soft pink enamel dial, the hands create exceptional contrast and give the watch an especially elegant presentation.
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: 295 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: 1917
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel (multichromatic)
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: 19554629
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.