Men’s 1937 Elgin Dress Watch w/Box

Deco-era Elgin wristwatches are always satisfying to study and offer for sale. After all, the Elgin Watch factory was the biggest watch factory in the world, with its own jeweling house, watch college, and observatory stretching across city block after city block in the little town of Elgin, Ill. This progressive company spared no expense in finding the most talented artists and case designers to come up with a look that would set their watches apart from and, ABOVE, the rest.

Measuring 36mm lug-to-lug by 25mm wide, this early 20th-century oversized rectangular Elgin with cut corners is simply the cat's pajamas. Its creme toned dial is wonderfully original, right down to its fancy applied numerals and outer minutes track. It is marked “Elgin” within the inner geometric chapter and features a rather unusual oversized sub-seconds register that echoes the overall shape of the case. Original yellow gold-tone rococo hands are as handsome and stylish as the day they were installed at Elgin. The glass crystal is perfect, free from any inclusions or flaws. Minimalist stepped case flanked with embossed fettered chain is in equally fine condition, the inside of which is marked "Cased and timed by the Elgin National Watch Company/Illinois Watch Case Company." Its period white gold-filled coin-edged crown also is original and correct. What appears to be an original – certainly period – bracelet band fits 7 1/4" wrist without adjustment. Of course we would provide a period leather strap if requested.

The 7 ruby-jewel solid nickel movement with line damaskeening – marked "Elgin/U.S.A." — runs, winds and sets quite well, having been completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled and timed.

We are pleased to offer this work of wrist art in a period burgundy velvet-and-Bakelite presentation case.