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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 is the undeniable focal point of this piece. Blue accents around the perimeter add exceptional color and are framed by silver half-circle motifs. Moving inward, Roman numerals are enclosed within the silver ornamentation as the dial transitions to a bright white center. At its heart, the Elgin logo is rendered in a Gothic-style font. Despite the richness of its decoration, the dial remains highly legible, refined, and beautifully proportioned. Golden Louis XIV style hands add another layer of elegant detail. This 1896 example represents the very last year of Grade 134, which was only manufactured for a brief period between 1895-1896 with a total production of just 4,000. Grade 134 examples like this are scarce and highly desirable, especially when paired with a dial of this quality. The Grade 134 is distinguished by its geometric pattern on the mainspring barrel and raised jewel settings. Every movement component was restored by hand in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Screws and steel hardware were thermally blued over an open flame to enhance contrast and corrosion resistance (read more here). Jewel settings, the gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually polished to bring back their original golden tone. Taken together, the last year provenance, low production numbers, and richly detailed dial make this Grade 134 both a mechanical standout and an artistic showcase of late nineteenth century American watchmaking.
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: 1896
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: 6134992
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.