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Elgin 18K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch, 1908 — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Elgin 18K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch, 1908

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Elgin (maker)
Date
1908
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 2505
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2505)
Catalogue title (original)
Elgin 18K 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 2505), this is a pocket watch by Elgin, made in United States, dated 1908. 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

Step back in time with the exquisite Elgin 18K Yellow Gold Pocket Watch from 1908, a true testament to the craftsmanship and elegance of a bygone era. This antique pocket watch is a visual delight, featuring a pristine white dial adorned with striking gold-colored hands and a dedicated second dial, all encased in a luxurious 18K yellow gold case. The intricate enamel design at the center of the dial, complemented by classic black Roman numerals, enhances its timeless appeal. Powered by the jewel Elgin movement grade #208, this piece is a genuine vintage treasure, despite the mechanism currently being non-functional and its time-keeping accuracy untested. Weighing 32.6 grams and sized at 0S, this Elgin pocket watch is not only a sophisticated accessory but also a piece of history, originating from the United States during the early 20th century. With its fair condition and no visible damage to the dial, this pocket watch remains a captivating collectible for connoisseurs of antique timepieces. This antique Elgin pocket watch is truly a beautiful piece. The white dial is complemented by the striking gold-coloured hands and a dedicated second dial, making it a real pleasure to look at. The intricate enamel design in the center of the dial, set against an 18K yellow gold case, adds further to its allure. Black Roman numerals complete the classic look. The jewel Elgin movement grade #208 dates back to 1908, making it a true vintage piece. Overall, the pocket watch appears to be in good condition, with no visible damage to the dial. However, the mechanism is not currently working, and the time-keeping accuracy remains untested. At a total mass of 32.6 grammes and size 0S, this pocket watch is a lovely and sophisticated piece. Creator: Elgin Case Material: Gold,18k Gold,Yellow Gold Weight: 32 g Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Style: Modern Place of Origin: United States Period: 1900-1909 Date of Manufacture: 1908 Condition: Fair

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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