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Elgin Antique Gold Filled Pocket Watch Gr 27 15 Jewel, 1887 — view 1 of 4
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Elgin Antique Gold Filled Pocket Watch Gr 27 15 Jewel, 1887

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Elgin (maker)
Date
1887
Country of origin
United States
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
gold
Stock no.
Product 4461
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 4461)
Catalogue title (original)
Elgin Antique Gold Filled Pocket Watch Gr 27 15 Jewel (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 4461), this is a pocket watch by Elgin, made in United States, dated 1887. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 4 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 Antique Gold Filled Pocket Watch Gr 27 15 Jewel, a captivating piece of horological history crafted in 1887. This remarkable timepiece showcases the elegance and precision of late 19th-century American watchmaking, featuring a pristine white dial adorned with striking black Roman numerals and hands, complemented by a dedicated second dial for added functionality. Encased in a gold-filled housing, the watch is embellished with an intricate etched design that exudes timeless sophistication. The watch’s heart is a 15-jewel Elgin movement, a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship, although it currently requires attention to restore its mechanical function. Despite the light cracks on the dial and a missing bow, this pocket watch remains a stunning collector’s item, weighing in at 119.9 grams and sized at 18, with its serial numbers confirming its creation in the United States during the late 19th century. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the world of antique watches, this piece offers a unique glimpse into the past, promising to be a cherished addition to any collection. This is a stunning antique Elgin pocket watch featuring a white dial with black hands, black Roman numerals, and a dedicated second dial. The gold-filled case is adorned with an intricate etched design, and has a serial number of 9130043. The watch also has a 15-jewel Elgin movement with a serial number of 2127388, and is Grade #27. Based on the serial numbers, this watch is estimated to have been produced in 1887. The watch has a total mass of 119.9 grams and is a size 18. While the piece is in decent condition overall, the dial does have some light cracks and a chip by the subdial. Additionally, the bow is missing. Unfortunately, the mechanism does not appear to be working at this time. However, this antique Elgin pocket watch would still make a beautiful addition to any collection. Creator: Elgin Weight: 119.9 g Place of Origin: United States Period: Late 19th Century Date of Manufacture: 1887 Condition: Fair

Historical context

Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)

American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.

Machine production with interchangeable parts, pioneered by Waltham (1850s) and adopted by Elgin, Longines, Omega and others, made reliable lever watches widely affordable. Keyless winding became standard, railroad watch standards were introduced (1890s), and Swiss and American industries competed globally.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology

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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