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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 defining element of this piece. The black numerals stand out cleanly against the bright white surface, while the red minute markers around the perimeter add just enough railroad character without overwhelming the layout. The sub-seconds register at 6 ties everything together and highlights why these early Elgin dials set the benchmark for clarity in the era of railroad timekeeping. It is straightforward, balanced, and instantly legible. Powering the watch is Elgin’s 15 jewel Grade 295 movement, completed in Elgin, Illinois in 1911 and part of a long production run from 1904 to 1921. This caliber is easily recognized by its exposed mainspring barrel and the wave patterned damaskeening that moves across the plates with a subtle rhythmic flow. The movement was fully restored in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. Every screw and hardware component was thermally blued by hand to a rich iridescent finish (read more here), and the gear train and jewel settings were polished back to their original golden tone. The hands were restored one at a time—corrosion carefully removed, the steel polished to a mirror finish, and each thermally colored over an alcohol lamp to achieve a deep, even blue that pairs beautifully with the white of the dial. The result is a well preserved example of early twentieth century Elgin design, revived with thoughtful craftsmanship and respect for 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: 290 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: 1911
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
Original Case Included: No
Serial Number: 15584360
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.