Now here is something a little different – a FIRST PRODUCTION RARE 10/0 Size, Model 5!
Please READ ON…
Up For Auction is an early Genuine Antique, WW I PERIOD (1917), American ELGIN Timepiece with a FINELY crafted, 14K GOLD Filled Case Timepiece, still in RUNNING CONDITION.
A SPECIAL CASE DESIGN, with upper and lower attachment points, so it can be used a Pocket / Fob Watch, or as a Pendant Watch (as supplied in this configuration), OR even worn with a BAND as a VERY EARLY Version of a WRISTWATCH.
WEARING AN ANTIQUE POCKET WATCH, IN THIS MANNER, IS ONCE AGAIN, BECOMING VERY POPULAR THESE DAYS.
This Watch is in Wonderful Condition. Very little signs of wear, only some very minor surface marks (typical) from use. In fact (given almost a Century Old), it looks, and FEELS, like it was actually used little ~ about as nice as you find from this vintage!
A VERY COLLECTABLE SURVIVOR (Please see images) and STILL IN RUNNING CONDITION & KEEPING TIME TOO!
IMPORTANT Note to the ELGIN & Other Watch Collectors out there:
You probably know better than I, but it is my understanding, that THIS Grade 444, is SIGNIFICANT as it was the VERY FIRST 10/0 Size, Model 5 Movement that Elgin produced.
They only made it for 11 Years, from 1916 – 1927, this example being from 1917.
I have not seen one before, and it is NOT even Listed in the “SHUGART / GILBERT” Watch Reference Book, so I would say that it would be considered QUITE UNCOMMON (Scarce), and Very Collectable.
HAVE YOU SEEN ONE? DO YOU HAVE ONE IN YOUR COLLECTION??
EXCELLENT, ORIGINAL & MINTY, SIGNED GOLDEN DIAL, AND TOPPED WITH FINE BLUED STEEL HANDS, AND THE ORIGINAL, SIGNED. JEWELED, Superior Quality Movement ~ STILL IN RUNNING CONDITION.
NICE & BRIGHT, COLLECTABLE, YELLOW 14K GOLD (Acid Tested) FILLED, GENUINE EARLY ART DECO PERIOD & BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, AMERICAN “CONVERTIBLE” TIMEPIECE - WEIGHS 0.4 OUNCES (12 Grams).
A VERY FINE, INTERESTING & COLLECTABLE, 92 YEAR OLD TIMEPIECE, PRODUCED BY THE FAMOUS & HISTORIC AMERICAN ELGIN WATCH CO., FOUNDED IN 1864.
STILL KEEPING TIME ~ EQUIPPED WITH THE FINELY CRAFTED, PRECISION LEVER ESCAPEMENT ~ JEWELED, (WITH SCREWED-IN GOLD JEWEL SETTINGS!) HIGH QUALITY FULLY SIGNED, WITH ELGIN GRADE 444, MODEL 5 MOVEMENT, BRIGHT & CLEAN, DAMASKEEN ENGRAVED NICKEL, WITH BI-METALLIC COMPENSATED BALANCE, AND SUPERIOR OVERCOIL HAIR-SPRING.
GENUINE (92 Years Old) ANTIQUE, TIMEPIECE ~ IN WONDERFUL OVERALL SURVIVING CONDITION WITH A BEAUTIFUL, ORIGINAL & MINTY GOLDEN DIAL.
This is an EXCELLENT opportunity for someone to acquire a WONDERFUL example of a HIGH QUALITY & VERY INTERESTING Pocket Watch of the WW I PERIOD (1917), produced in America, following the finest watchmaking traditions, with the Elgin Grade 444, Model 5 Movement ~ The FIRST 10/0 Size Model 5.
It is housed in a SPECIALLY CRAFTED, 14K GOLD (Acid Tested) Filled Open Face Case. This Versatile Dress Timepiece measures 24mm (about 1") in diameter, 7.5mm (less than 3/8") thick, and weighs 0.4 Ounces (12 Grams).
This GENUINE Antique Pocket Watch dates from 1917, (a True & Proper, WORLD WAR ONE PRODUCTION Period Timepiece) and is a genuine work, of true master craftsmanship, produced by the famous & historic American, Elgin Watch Co.
Elgin was in fact the largest American Watch company in terms of production, and made about half of the total number of American Pocket Watches. The Elgin National Watch Co. was formed in August 1864. The factory site was in Elgin, Illinois, where the city had donated 35 acres of land. The factory was completed in 1866, and the first movement made & sold was the 18 Size B.W. Raymond model in April 1867. In that first year of production about 9,000 watches were made.
The company went on, of course, to become highly successful and over the next hundred years produced well over 55 MILLION WATCHES!
The Top Quality Case is stamped with the Case Maker Trademark, Warrantee, and Case Number. This Specially Designed, 14K (Acid Tested) GOLD Filled Case is still in EXCELLENT Condition, surviving quite beautifully. It is obviously well designed, smooth finished, and brightly polished. It shows only the very slightest of wear, and looks very nice, really, for 92 Years Old! I have tried to provide some good photos, but really it can only be fully appreciated in person. COLLECTABLE, AND AT A VERY GOOD PRICE!
The Rear Cover, remains blank, and has NOT been initialed, nor has the watch been personalized in any way.
The cover is hinged, and the hinge remains excellent, with cover snapping firmly closed.
You should be able to get a pretty good idea of the condition of this surviving Case from the images provided. It is difficult to photograph Gold (very shiny/reflective), and any wavy lines or distortions/shadows you may see are from the camera/light reflections, and not actually on the Watch itself. I have tried to provide several good images, including the front, back, and inside of the Watch.
The next EXCELLENT aspect of the Watch is the condition of its ORIGINAL SIGNED Dial. The handcrafted, GOLD Finished Metal Dial is NICE & BRIGHT, and WONDERFULLY MINTY CLEAN.
Such finely crafted metal dials, such as this, are more RARE than your typical white enamel dials, and are very desirable (especially early ones in this condition!) It remains about as nice as you can find, with very little wear at all, especially for a piece of this age. The dial has obviously NOT been refinished (which is most desirable by collectors) and still has the ORIGINAL BLACK Numerals, and Minute Markers.
I have tried to provide a good image of the face so you can see for yourself how wonderful it still looks. The Front Bezel is smooth finished, and has a NICE & CLEAR CRYSTAL, with only a few tiny scratches. To top it off, the Dial is fronted by BLUED STEEL Hands (likely all Original), and is properly signed, at center, “ELGIN”.
OVERALL, THIS GOLDEN DIAL LOOKS GREAT & VERY DESIRABLE for the Period. The combination looks just fabulous ~ CLASSIC !
The Three-Quarter Plate, High Quality, FULLY SIGNED Movement is GENUINE, and very well crafted. Still in STRONG RUNNING condition, it is a true testament to the high degree of quality and craftsmanship that it is still fully operational after almost 100 years! It has been RUNNING very well (and KEEPING TIME TOO!), even though I do not know when it last had a full service. With regular service, it will continue to perform with very good results for a timepiece of this vintage. Even as is, it is so CLEAN & CRISP, (and RUNS SO WELL throughout a full winding) it is very likely READY TO WIND AND WEAR!
I am offering this very collectable, WWI PERIOD, SPECIAL, Antique GOLD Filled Pocket / Pendant /Fob / Wrist Watch from the HISTORIC ELGIN WATCH Co. with a VERY LOW RESERVE.
The Elgin Grade 444, Model 5, DAMASKEEN ENGRAVED NICKEL, UNUSUAL 10/0 Size Movement is equipped with an excellent example of the High Quality, JEWELED Precision LEVER escapement, and Screwed-In GOLD Jewel Settings. Complete with a club tooth escape wheel, the LEVER itself is of the high performance forked design, and carries JEWELED PALLET STONES. The Watch is stem wound & set by the textured ORIGINAL CROWN which still works properly.
The roller table supports a JEWELED, impulse/unlocking pin, and it is equipped with a High Grade BI-METALLIC COMPENSATED BALANCE WHEEL. This in itself is yet another fine feature, and sign of higher quality, as many Watches have a plain balance. To ensure the balance was running as true as possible under all conditions, it was finely measured, fitted, and tuned with tiny GOLD screws around the rim. In addition, the balance is made from two metals (bi-metallic), and cut, to allow compensation for temperature changes. As you can imagine, this whole process of manufacture and adjustment was time consuming and costly; therefore it is normally found only on the higher quality movements.
The movement also has the high quality Balance Spring, known as an Over-Coil. It was the best type of Balance Spring (hair-spring) available at the time, and again found only fitted on the more expensive Watches. The evenly pulsing hairspring is finely adjusted by a POLISHED STEEL regulator in reference to an index on the balance cock – a very beautiful movement.
It is properly signed: “LADY ELGIN”, “U.S.A.”, “15 JEWELS”, along with the movement serial number, “20473073”, which from records indicates it is a Genuine Grade 444, and was manufactured in 1917 ~ a True Early 20th Century Timepiece, and 92 Years Old!
Overall, this is a VERY INTERESTING, early, SPECIALLY SIZED, American POCKET / PENDANT or WRIST WATCH, and example of a HIGH QUALITY timepiece of the earlier 1900s. If you are a collector, have an interest in Antiques, or historical GOLDEN items from the WORLD WAR I Period, this presents a BEAUTIFULLY CRISP piece which has survived in RUNNING CONDITION to this day!
Please make note, that this is an as is, sale final, LOW RESERVE Auction, so feel free to bid, with a very good chance of owning this collectable Antique Timepiece, for a good price. Shipping via USPS Mail, within the U.S. is FREE, and the wining bidder will pay for Insurance. Shipping outside the U.S. is based on a standard cost for USPS international mailing. The entire text and images are COPYRIGHTED.
Prompt COMMUNICATION and PAYMENT (via PayPal) is REQUIRED from the winning bidder IMMEDIATELY following auction close.
IMPORTANT Note to the ELGIN & Other Watch Collectors out there:
You probably know better than I, but it is my understanding, that THIS Grade 444, is SIGNIFICANT as it was the VERY FIRST 10/0 Size, Model 5 Movement that Elgin produced.
They only made it for 11 Years, from 1916 – 1927, this example being from 1917.
I have not seen one before, and it is NOT even Listed in the “SHUGART / GILBERT” Watch Reference Book, so I would say that it would be considered QUITE UNCOMMON (Scarce), and Very Collectable.
HAVE YOU SEEN ONE? DO YOU HAVE ONE IN YOUR COLLECTION??
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS WONDERFUL SURVIVOR ~ SUCH INTERESTING & UNUSUAL EXAMPLES, ARE GETTING MORE, AND MORE, SCARCE!
VERY COLLECTABLE & VERSATILE ~ SPECIAL CASE DESIGN, so it can be used a Pocket / Fob Watch, or as a Pendant Watch, OR even worn with a BAND as a VERY EARLY Version of a WRISTWATCH !
WEARING AN ANTIQUE POCKET WATCH, IN THIS MANNER, IS ONCE AGAIN, BECOMING VERY POPULAR THESE DAYS.
Enjoy eBay, and Good Luck with your Bidding!
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