Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Elgin 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch
- Maker / attribution
- Elgin (maker)
- Date
- 20th century
- 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 2467
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2467)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Elgin 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch (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 2467), this is a pocket watch by Elgin, made in United States, dated 20th century. 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 6 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
The Elgin 14K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch is a remarkable testament to 20th-century American horological artistry, embodying both elegance and precision. Crafted from luxurious 14K yellow gold, this exquisite timepiece showcases intricate detailing on its 49mm case, reflecting the meticulous craftsmanship that Elgin is renowned for. The manual winding mechanism powers a pristine white dial adorned with sophisticated Arabic numerals, exuding a timeless charm that appeals to both collectors and connoisseurs alike. Despite being a pre-owned piece, it remains in excellent condition and is accompanied by a custom box, making it an ideal heirloom or a distinguished gift for any special occasion. This Elgin pocket watch not only serves as a functional timekeeper but also as a cherished artifact of American heritage, inviting you to indulge in its classic aesthetics and enduring beauty. This Elgin pocket watch is a stunning piece of 20th-century American craftsmanship. Made from 14K yellow gold, the case features intricate detailing and measures 49mm in size. The watch is manual winding and has a white dial with elegant Arabic numerals. This pre-owned timepiece comes with a custom box and is in excellent condition, making it a wonderful addition to any collection or a thoughtful gift for a special occasion. Indulge in the classic aesthetics and timeless beauty of this Elgin pocket watch. Creator: Elgin Place of Origin: United States Period: 20th Century Date of Manufacture: Unknown 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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