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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 original porcelain-enamel dial features elegant Arabic numerals surrounded by intricate gold and silver flourishes. A railroad-style minute track frames the dial, with inverted triangles marking each quarter hour and small gold circles accenting the five-minute intervals. The ELGIN signature is rendered in bold capital letters over an ornate gold motif, adding another decorative element without compromising legibility. Despite its elaborate detailing, the dial retains the exceptional clarity and balance characteristic of American watchmaking from this period. Powering the watch is Elgin’s 15-jewel Grade 295 movement, completed in Elgin, Illinois, in 1917. Produced from 1904 to 1921, the Grade 295 features an exposed mainspring barrel and flowing wave-pattern damaskeening that catches light from different angles, giving the movement subtle depth and texture. The movement was fully restored in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Every screw and steel component was thermally blued by hand over an open flame, producing a rich, iridescent finish using traditional techniques (read more here). The gear train and jewel settings were carefully polished to restore their original golden tone. The original Louis XIV-style hands remain unrestored, preserving their aged finish and the character they have developed over more than a century. The result is a remarkably well-preserved example of early twentieth-century American watchmaking, pairing an unusually ornate porcelain-enamel dial with the mechanical craftsmanship and decorative finishing that defined the era.
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: 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: 1917
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
Serial Number: 19554540
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.