Antique Elgin Pocket Watch c.1897 | 18 Size | Yellow Gold Filled | 7 Jewel

Antique Elgin Pocket Watch c.1897 | 18 Size | Yellow Gold Filled | 7 Jewel

Offered here is a classic Elgin pocket watch dating to 1897, an attractive example of American watchmaking from the closing years of the nineteenth century. Featuring a substantial 18 Size yellow gold-filled case, traditional porcelain dial, and signed 7 jewel full-plate Elgin movement, this watch retains the handsome proportions and mechanical character associated with early American pocket watches.

The watch is housed in a large 18 Size open-face yellow gold-filled case decorated with an attractive machined pattern. Watches of this size have a substantial presence in the hand and represent the larger pocket watch proportions commonly favored during the late Victorian period. The case remains in very good condition for its age.

The traditional white single-sunk porcelain dial features bold Roman numerals, an outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, and classic spade hands. The dial remains in very good condition, with only barely visible hairlines noted. These minor imperfections are consistent with a porcelain dial that has survived for well over a century and do not detract significantly from its overall presentation.

Powering the watch is a signed 7 jewel Elgin movement finished in gilt and constructed in a traditional full-plate layout. The movement features a lever escapement and desirable lever-setting mechanism, providing a fascinating look at American watch construction during the 1890s.

Dating to 1897, this Elgin is now more than 125 years old and offers an approachable opportunity to own a genuine piece of nineteenth-century American horological history. Its large case, classic porcelain dial, full-plate movement, and attractive gold-filled finish make it an excellent choice for a beginning collector or an established enthusiast looking for a representative Victorian-era Elgin.

Details:

MAKE
Manufacturer: Elgin
Country: USA
Type: Man’s
Serial #: 6722643
Circa Date: 1897
CASE
Size: 18 Size.
Style: Open Face.
Material: Yellow Gold Filled.
Decorations:  Machined.
Conditions:  C  3  (The case is in Very Good condition)
DIAL
Color: White.
Type: Single sunk porcelain dial.
Numerals: Roman Numerals.
Hands: Spade Hands.
Conditions:  D  3-50  (The dial is in Very Good condition – hairline(s) barely visible)
MOVEMENT
Jewels: 7 Jewels.
Setting: Lever Set.
Escapement: Lever Escapement.
Material: Gilt.
Layout: Full Plate Layout.
Signed:  Yes.
Conditions:  M  3  (The movement is in Very Good condition)

Condition

This antique Elgin pocket watch remains in very good condition for its age.

• Yellow gold-filled case retains an attractive appearance with age-appropriate evidence of use.
• Machined case decoration remains visible and attractive.
• White porcelain dial remains in very good condition with barely visible hairline(s).
• Signed 7 jewel gilt movement remains in very good condition.
• Lever-setting mechanism operates as designed.
• Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and accurately represent the watch's condition.

The Classic 18 Size American Pocket Watch

The 18 Size pocket watch is closely associated with the great expansion of American watch manufacturing during the latter half of the nineteenth century. These watches were considerably larger than the 16 Size watches that became increasingly common during the early twentieth century, giving them an unmistakable Victorian-era presence.

By 1897, Elgin was one of America's leading watch manufacturers, producing watches for a broad range of customers and price points. A dependable 7 jewel movement such as this one provided a practical mechanical timepiece while retaining the traditional full-plate architecture found in many earlier American watches.

The combination of a large 18 Size case, porcelain Roman numeral dial, gilt full-plate movement, and lever setting makes this an attractive representation of the American pocket watch at the end of the nineteenth century.

Why Collect Antique Elgin Pocket Watches?

Elgin was one of the most prolific and important manufacturers in American watchmaking history. Its enormous range of movements—from practical everyday watches to highly jeweled railroad grades—provides collectors with an opportunity to explore virtually every stage of American pocket watch development.

This 1897 example is particularly appealing as an accessible nineteenth-century Elgin. It retains the traditional styling collectors associate with the period without the premium associated with high-jewel railroad watches or solid-gold cases.

For someone beginning a collection of American pocket watches—or an experienced collector looking for a representative late-Victorian Elgin—this handsome 18 Size, 7 jewel example offers considerable historical character.