American Elgin Pocket Watch Case Markings

The american case manufacturers used their trademarks on cases they made hence you can tell from these marks and a few reference check from trademark books what the metal is.

American elgin pocket watch case markings. The watch case is the outer protective cover including the crystal that covers the dial. Most solid gold watch cases sold in the usa were 10k 14k 41 6 and 58 3 respectively. For example a case with a serial number of 153069 that has a screw on bezel might be marked x vi viiii. Watch case manufacturers stamped their own marks onto watch cases to show the fineness of the metal.

There are two distinct major components to most pocket watches. Never use the serial number from the case or any other part. Whether you are looking for a collectible a unique touch to add to your costume or a reliable timepiece to use daily these pocket watches have something to offer everyone. Starting around 1932 elgin used model numbers to identify unique case designs.

The case also includes or accommodates the winding stem and crown. There has never been an equivalent system of hallmarking in america and so there are no such thing as american hallmarks. Vintage and antique watch how to information by renaissance watch repair provides a large amount of info on identifying dating evaluating vintage pocket watches specific makes or styles how to identify an original simon willard clock by ben e fulbright adobe acrobat 23kb. Their focus is on manufacturing solid watches.

The movement is the inner works. The watch case and the watch movement. Always select the correct manufacturer which is usually stamped on the watch movement or dial. Sometimes the watch case companies would mark the bezels with the last few digits of the case number using roman numerals.

The actual time keeping mechanism of the watch. First establish that the watch is in fact an elgin. Usually the roman numerals are scratched in by hand. If a watch case is solid gold it will usually be hallmarked or stamped with a karat symbol or assay mark like warranted u s.

For european pocket watch cases since the early 1600s all solid precious metals were hallmarked. The customer must either rely on the veracity of those marks or make their own tests. The model numbers remained however and are the key to finding replacement parts for elgins of the period identification of a watch is a process typically done as follows. Here are a few tips to find information about your pocket watch.