Known originally as the National Watch Company, Elgin was founded in 1864 and grew to be the most prolific of American watch manufacturers specializing in pocket watches which continue to be classic collectibles. Elgin produced so many watches and produced so many spare parts; they can still be easily bought and fixed, so even a 100 year old Elgin can be used, with care, on a daily basis. Elgin made watches for the military, from WWI past WWII. WWI-era watches are usually seen with wire lugs. WWII models came in hack and non-hack variety, as well as a “canteen” case with screwdown crown that is particularly valuable.

ELGIN

Some of the most desirable Elgins are:
* Enameled cases from the 1920s;
* Doctor’s duo-dial models from the ‘30s and ‘40s;
* The 50-millionth anniversary watch produced in the ‘50s. They are cased in a massive 18kt solid gold case with movable lugs. They are serial numbered 50 million to 50,000,999.
* The Lord Elgin direct reading watches from the 1950s. They come in three varieties: rectangular case, round case with plain bezel; round case with dimpled bezel (also called the “golfball watch”)