Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Elgin 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
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 2947
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 2947)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Elgin 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 2947), 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. 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 exquisite Elgin Pocket Watch from the 20th century, a true testament to the craftsmanship and elegance of a bygone era. This stunning vintage timepiece is meticulously crafted from 14k multi-coloured gold, showcasing an intricate floral design adorned with buttercups and roses in captivating shades of rose, yellow, white, and green. The fancy multi-coloured dial and unique hands, all manually operated, add a touch of sophistication to this already remarkable piece. Measuring 34 mm in diameter, the round caseback and cream Arabic numeral dial further enhance its classic appeal. Certified pre-owned and in excellent condition, this circa 1900s Elgin pocket watch is not just a functional accessory but a timeless treasure, perfect for any collector or enthusiast who appreciates the finer things in life. Introducing a stunning vintage Elgin pocket watch crafted from 14k multi-coloured gold, featuring an intricate floral design with buttercups and roses in shades of rose, yellow, white, and green. This exquisite timepiece boasts a fancy multi-coloured dial and unique hands, all manually operated. The case of this certified pre-owned Elgin watch measures 34 mm in size and has a round caseback. The cream Arabic numeral dial adds a classic touch while the overall design remains timeless. Circa 1900s, this fine vintage Elgin pocket watch is a must-have for any collector or enthusiast. Creator: Elgin Case Material: Rose Gold,White Gold,Yellow Gold Case Shape: Round Movement: Manual Wind Case Dimensions: Height: 34 mm (1.34 in)Width: 34 mm (1.34 in) 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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