
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Elgin 14k Gold Pocket Watch/Pendant, 1940s
- Maker / attribution
- Elgin (maker)
- Date
- 1940s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- United States
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 3500
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3500)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Elgin 14k Gold Pocket Watch/Pendant (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 3500), this is a pocket watch by Elgin, made in United States, dated 1940s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 5 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop
Step back in time with the Elgin 14k Gold Pocket Watch/Pendant from the 1940s, a remarkable artifact of mid-century craftsmanship that exudes timeless elegance. This exquisite piece, crafted from luxurious 14k gold, showcases a stunning white and gold composition accentuated by a sleek black dial with clear numbering. Despite its vintage origins, the watch remains in excellent condition, with only minimal scratches that add character without detracting from its high-class appeal. Measuring 2.25 inches in length and 1.5 inches in width, this watch is not only a functional timepiece but also a statement accessory that captures the eye with its refined design. Weighing 55.28 grams, it strikes a perfect balance between substantial presence and wearable comfort, making it a cherished addition to any collection. Created by the renowned Elgin, this piece hails from the United States and encapsulates the elegance and sophistication of the 1940s, offering a glimpse into a bygone era while remaining a timeless treasure for years to come. This vintage watch is a stunning piece of mid-century design, featuring a white and brilliant gold composition and a sleek black dial with clear numbering. Despite its age, this watch is in remarkable condition with only minimal scratches on the gold. Its luxurious 14k gold construction adds to its high-class appeal. Measuring 2.25 inches in length by 1.5 inches in width, this watch is a statement piece that is sure to catch the eye. Dating back to the 1940s, it embodies a timeless elegance that transcends fashion trends. Weighing in at 55.28 grammes, this watch is a substantial yet wearable piece that can be treasured for years to come. Creator: Elgin Case Material: 14k Gold Weight: 55.25 g Case Dimensions: Height: 57.15 mm (2.25 in)Width: 38.1 mm (1.5 in) Place of Origin: United States Period: 1940-1949 Date of Manufacture: 1940’s Condition: Excellent
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Pocket watches
The pocket watch was the dominant personal timekeeper from the late seventeenth century until the First World War. Its development tracks the history of the escapement: verge watches with fusees until the late eighteenth century; Thomas Mudge's lever escapement (c. 1755) and the cylinder escapement popularised by George Graham and later by Swiss makers; and the Swiss and English lever watches of the nineteenth century. Lépine's bar-bridge calibre and keyless winding made watches thinner and easier to use.
Industrialisation transformed the trade: American factories such as Waltham (from 1850) and Elgin produced interchangeable parts by machine, and Swiss makers responded with their own mechanisation after the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. By 1900 a reliable watch was affordable to millions; the finest makers continued to produce complications and precision watches.
What to look for
- The escapement: verge (crown wheel), cylinder, duplex, English or Swiss lever.
- Key winding (a square arbor in dial or back) or keyless crown winding.
- Signatures and serial numbers on the movement, dial and inside case back.
- Hallmarks, case maker's marks and gold or silver standards stamped in the case.
- Dial material: enamel, silver, gold, later printed metal.
Dating clues
- Verge watches dominate before c. 1800; cylinder watches c. 1770–1900; lever watches after c. 1820.
- Keyless winding: increasingly common after c. 1860.
- Manufacturer serial number lists exist for Waltham, Elgin, Longines, Omega, Patek Philippe and others.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Verge escapementDetached lever escapementFuseeIdentification Centre
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