Items Similar to Lord Elgin 14Kt Solid Gold Art Deco Watch circa 1950
s Vault Find
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
Lord Elgin 14Kt Solid Gold Art Deco Watch circa 1950
s Vault Find
$1,500
£1,136.11
€1,304.78
CA$2,101.99
A$2,285.29
CHF 1,211.66
MX$27,394.80
NOK 15,399.60
SEK 14,108.13
DKK 9,751.61
About the Item
FACTORY / HOUSE: Lord Elgin
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Reference 8578
METAL / MATERIAL: 14kt Solid Gold
CIRCA / YEAR: 1960's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 37mm X Diameter 29mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 23 Jewels / Caliber 730
DIAL / HANDS: /
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 16mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
VAULT FIND
This watch has been in a vault for nearly 40 years and the price includes a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker. This will of course delay shipping it out for a few days while we do the service and check it out.
This is a rare watch by renowned American house of Elgin. It was presented as 35th year gift at retirement in the Assembly Division of a factory. Sorry, I do not know which factory. The watch is high quality, solid gold and very dependable as well. You can count on this watch to get you there on time every time.
LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT
ELGIN HISTORY
The Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois, as the National Watch Company in Chicago, Illinois. In September of the same year, the founders visited the Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts to “poach” some of their employees. They successfully convinced seven of Waltham's watchmakers to come to work for their new company. The growing young city of Elgin, Illinois, some 30 miles northwest of Chicago, was chosen as the factory site.
The Elgin Watch Company quickly became one of the leading watchmakers in the United States. In 1870, the company produced its first million watches. By 1890, Elgin was producing over two million watches per year, more than any other watch factory in the world. The company's success was due in part to its innovative manufacturing techniques and its commitment to quality. Elgin recognized that the idea of interchangeable parts was the future of all production methods. Their watches were known for their accuracy and durability.
The Elgin also played a major role in the development of the pocket watches for the railroads. They built fine, dependable, sturdy and very accurate watches. In 1910, Elgin introduced the first wristwatch that met the criteria for the railroads, even though it was not approved for use for 50 years. It was still an achievement. The company continued to produce high-quality pocket and wristwatches throughout the 20th century, and its watches were worn by celebrities, politicians, and other notable figures.
As with other American companies in technology for the times they benefited from military contracts for watches for W.W. 1 and W.W. 2 as well. They built instruments for cars, planes, ships and trains as well.
Elgin invented the “unbreakable” mainspring and many other technological breakthroughs. The Swiss paid licensing fees to Elgin for many of their inventions in watchmaking. Patek Philippe even used Elgin’s technology in their Balance Wheels in the 1950’s.
When I started learning watchmaking in the late 1960’s I was about 13 years old. The man who was my teacher was named Norman Jarrett and he was 85 years old when I started. He had been a Foreman in the Elgin factory in the 1920’s. I learned watchmaking the old-fashioned way. He taught me, “Never fit the watch to the part” he always said, “only fit the part to the watch, or don’t start the project.” He also pointed out, “In the future someone better than you may have the skill to do it right, but you ruined the watch already because you did not have the skill.” Like most of the things he taught me, it was a rule for living life as well.
Norman also said “Watchmaking is a serious craft” and shared with me a story about one of the men he worked within a shop. The man was not able to accurately adjust the timing after many hours. The next day he committed suicide. I decided that if I could not fix the watch to just put it down for a while and look at it another day.
By the time they closed shop Elgin had produced over 60 million watches and left a legacy of excellence and inventions as well.
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Strap Material:Leather
- Movement:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960 s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. It is worth noting that this watch only had a 12-month warranty when it was new. However, we are so confident of our workmanship and team that we offer an 18-month warranty on all our watches, even those over 100 years old.
- Seller Location:Long Beach, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 28541stDibs: LU422324070862
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1918
1stDibs seller since 2016
1,297 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 4 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Long Beach, CA
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllElgin, Lord Elgin 14Kt. Solid Gold Art Deco Watch American Made From 1944
By Lord Elgin
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco Tank Style
METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt. Solid Gold
CIRCA / YEAR: 1944
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 24mm X Width 37mm
MOVEMEN...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Lord Elgin Yellow Gold-Filled Shockmaster Art Deco Watch 1950
s Original Dial
By Lord Elgin
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Shockmaster / Lord Elgin
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold-Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1950's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 40mm X Diameter 32mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 23 Jewels / Caliber
DIAL / HANDS: Factory Original Gilt dial with line markers / Gilt Arrow Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 18mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
VAULT FIND
This watch has been in a vault for nearly 50 years and the price includes a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker. This will of course delay shipping it out for a few days while we do the service and check it out.
LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT
This is a unique watch by the legendary house of Elgin. We have only seen a few examples of this model in our 70 years of selling watches. It is fitted with Elgin's legendary Balance Wheel which was so advanced that even Patek Philippe used...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Gold-filled
Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Watch
By Elgin
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art deco / Tank Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 34mm Lug Tip to Lug ...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Elgin Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Watch circa 1940
s with Flawless Original Dial
By Elgin
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 38mm Lug Tip to Lug ...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Gold-filled
Elgin Gold Filled De Luxe Art Deco Watch, circa 1940
s with Custom Finished Dial
By Elgin
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: De Luxe / Art Deco Tank Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 35mm X Width...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Gold-filled
Elgin Gold Filled Art Deco Watch
By Elgin
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 35mm, Lug Tip to L...
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Gold-filled
You May Also Like
Elgin 10K Gold-Filled Vintage Wristwatch
By Elgin
Located in Wailea, HI
Elgin 10K Gold-Filled Vintage Wristwatch, 26 x 31 mm
This elegant vintage Elgin wristwatch is a fine example of American horological craftsmanship. Housed in...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wrist Watches
Gruen Curvex Precision 14K Solid Gold Wristwatch, Circa 1940s – 20 x 47mm
By Gruen
Located in Wailea, HI
Gruen Curvex Precision 14K Solid Gold Wristwatch, Circa 1940s – 20 x 47mm
An exceptional example of Gruen’s engineering mastery, this Gruen Curvex Precision wristwatch exemplifies th...
Category
Early 20th Century American Wrist Watches
Materials
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Girard Perregaux Ladies Gold Watch 14mm Vintage Swiss Mechanical 1970 Rolled
By Girard Perragaux
Located in London, GB
Girard Perregaux Ladies Gold Watch 14mm Vintage Swiss Mechanical 1970 Rolled
One of the tiniest manual wind movements ever made
The watch measures 14mm wide excluding crown, 16mm ...
Category
Vintage 1970s Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Vintage 1940
s Gruen Curved Watch Yellow Gold Filled
By Gruen
Located in Wailea, HI
This vintage Gruen Precision wristwatch showcases the timeless elegance that defined mid-20th-century watchmaking. Housed in a rectangular 10k gold-filled case, the watch features cl...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Wrist Watches
Materials
10k Gold, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold
Marvin 14k Rose Gold circa 1940
s Wrist Watch
By Marvin
Located in Wailea, HI
Vintage Marvin 14K Gold Square Wristwatch, circa 1940s – Swiss Precision in Art Deco EleganceStep into the golden age of horology with this rare Marvin square wristwatch, a masterpie...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
Rose Gold, 14k Gold
Vintage Circa 1922 Longines 14KT Gold Tonneau Wristwatch – Manual Wind
By Longines
Located in New York, NY
Vintage circa 1922 Longines wristwatch featuring a 20.5 x 27mm 14KT yellow gold tonneau-shaped case with curved sides and wire lugs. The gold-tone dial is detailed with black painted...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Wrist Watches
Materials
14k Gold
More Ways To Browse
Lord Elgin Watch
Lord Elgin Gold Watch
Iwc Platinum Watch
Iwc Platinum
Iwc Titanium
Iwc Watch Portugieser
Jaeger Lecoultre Pierre Cardin
Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso Gold
Jump Watch
Ladies 14k Gold Watches Bulova
Ladies Black Ceramic Watch
Ladies Cartier Ballon Bleu Watches
Ladies Ebel Beluga Watch
Ladies Gruen Watch Vintage
Ladies Vintage 17 Jewel Watch
Ladies Watches Michele
Lecoultre Alarm Watch
Lemania Chronograph