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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.
This WWI-era Elgin timepiece features a traditional American railroad dial. Bold Arabic numerals, an outer minute track with red indices, and a sub-seconds dial are all hallmarks of the classic railroad aesthetic. The result is a highly legible dial with the unmistakable design language of early 20th-century American watchmaking. Powering the watch is Elgin’s 15-jewel Grade 295 movement, completed in Elgin, Illinois, in 1918 and produced from 1904 to 1921. This caliber features an exposed mainspring barrel and wave-patterned damaskeening that reflects light with subtle depth. The movement was fully restored in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Every screw and steel component was thermally blued by hand to a rich, iridescent finish using traditional open-flame techniques (read more here), while the gear train and jewel settings were individually polished to restore their original golden tone. The hands were not restored and remain in the condition applied by Elgin at the time of manufacture. The result is a beautifully preserved example of WWI-era American watchmaking, revived through thoughtful restoration while respecting the movement’s 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: 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: 1918 (WWI Era)
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: 20883267
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.