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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 Elgin from 1898 features a one-of-a-kind porcelain-enamel dial with deep blue Arabic numerals. The outer minute track is framed by golden indices with larger, more pronounced plumes every five minutes. At the center, the Elgin signature is rendered in blue and set above an elegant golden motif, while the blue theme continues into the subdial. Inside is Elgin’s Grade 193, a 19-jewel in-house caliber produced between 1898 and 1914. This was one of the highest-end 12s calibers Elgin ever manufactured, and this example comes from the very first year and first production run. The movement features intricate damaskeening along with finely detailed ratchet and crown wheels. Every screw and steel component was thermally colored by hand using traditional open-flame techniques (read more here), and each jewel setting was individually polished to restore its original golden tone. The original hands were mirror polished to remove corrosion and then heat blued to impart an iridescent blue hue that pairs perfectly with the dial. The result is an incredibly rare first-run, first-year movement with a dial worthy of the caliber inside.
The timepiece is encased in a 316L stainless steel wristwatch conversion case, designed with adjustable lugs for easy winding and setting, ensuring a comfortable fit across various wrist sizes. The case includes front, back, and crown gaskets, providing water resistance up to 50 meters, though it is recommended to remove the watch before engaging in water activities. The timepiece comes fully serviced and ready for your next adventure. Because of our dedication to preserving history, the original pocket watch case will be included as well.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 280 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 bph (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Jeweled safety barrel
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Elgin
Location: Elgin, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1898
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 19 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 7424768
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.