Rare vintage 1912 Elgin men's 7 jewel gold white dial dress wristwatch, running great!

I acquired this beautiful and very rare 112-year-old timepiece about 3 years ago and have had it in my personal collection during that time.

As time has passed, that collection has expanded and it is necessary to offer some of them to the public.

This beauty was manufactured in 1912, in America, by the Elgin Watch Company.

It features a 10K rolled gold plate fancy tonneau case that measures 1.19" / 30.3 mm in diameter excluding large crown and fancy lugs.

The dial is a crisp white that contrasts beautifully against gothic black hour and minute hands, large Arabic numbers, black outer chapter, and sub-second dial @ 6 o'clock, all under a pristine clear and bright NOS Elgin crystal!

The movement, serial # 17091943, dating it to 1912, has 7 jewels, sets and winds as it should and is keeping good time.

I've worn it limited times over the past 3 years and it always gets a lot of attention!

It has a like-new black stitched embossed genuine leather strap with gold buckle.

THE HISTORY OF THE ELGIN WATCH COMPANY:

The Elgin Watch Company, originally the National Watch Company, was a leading American watchmaker from 1864 to 1968, renowned for its mass-produced, high-quality timepieces.
Founding and Early Years
The company was incorporated in August 1864 in Chicago, Illinois, as the National Watch Company by Philo Carpenter, Howard Z. Culver, Benjamin W. Raymond, George M. Wheeler, Thomas S. Dickerson, Edward H. Williams, and W. Robbins, with an initial capital of $100,000. Later that year, representatives visited the Waltham Watch Company and recruited seven skilled watchmakers, nicknamed the "Seven Stars," to join the new venture. The factory was established in Elgin, Illinois, on a 35-acre site donated by local businessmen, and the first factory building was completed in 1866.

Early Products and Recognition

The first watch movement, the B.W. Raymond, was delivered in 1867, an 18-size, full-plate design named after company president Benjamin W. Raymond. Early successes included the Lady Elgin (1869), a 10-size key-wind watch for women, followed by models like the Francis Rubie, Gail Borden, and Dexter Street, which expanded the company’s offerings for the ladies’ market. In 1869, the company won a silver medal at the Illinois State Fair for "Best Watches, Illinois Manufacture".

Name Change and Growth

By 1874, the company officially became the Elgin National Watch Company, reflecting the popular use of the Elgin name for its watches. During its peak, Elgin produced over one million timepieces annually, rivaling the Waltham Watch Company in volume. The company specialized in machine-made, interchangeable parts, which simplified servicing and maintenance.

Innovations and Wristwatches

Elgin was a pioneer in wristwatch production, beginning in the early 20th century, and continued to produce both pocket watches and wristwatches. The company also built the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory to ensure scientific precision in its timepieces. Elgin watches were marketed under various names, including Lord Elgin and Lady Elgin, and became widely collectible due to their variety and affordability.

Later Years and Decline

From the late 1950s through the 1960s, Elgin increasingly imported movements from Switzerland while assembling watches in the United States. In the late 1960s, the company changed its name to Elgin National Industries and eventually discontinued watch production in 1968. The original Elgin, Illinois factory was later demolished, and operations moved to Blaney, South Carolina, which was renamed Elgin.

Legacy

Over its century-long history, Elgin produced more than 60 million watches, leaving a lasting impact on American watchmaking. Collectors today value Elgin watches for their historical significance, craftsmanship, and wide range of models, from pocket watches to early wristwatches.

STOCK CODE: MPC 1

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