Elgin is one of the most recognizable watch brands in the world. Founded by Daniel W. Elgin in 1866, this upstanding gentleman was a banker and entrepreneur from Chicago who developed a new type of spring escapement for pocket watches. Soon after its launch, his company went on to become one of the largest suppliers of wristwatches to Americans. Today, Elgin continues to manufacture high-quality timepieces that are available at an affordable price for watch lovers of all walks of life. However, what makes Elgen so special is how easy it is to identify your own personal Elgin pocket watch. This article will provide you with everything you need to know about identifying your Elgin pocket watch right away.
How Do I Identify My Elgin Pocket Watch?
1. The Elgin logo on the back of the watch
The Elgin logo is a simplified design of Daniel W. Elgin’s signature, which appears to be a combination of his initials and the year of his founding. The letters D.W.E are arranged in the shape of an inverted triangle and are separated by a single line that runs along the bottom portion of each letter. The D is placed directly in front of the E, and is followed by a straight line that extends from left to right across the bottom portion of each letter.
2. The six-pointed star on the face of your watch
The six-pointed star appears on all Elgin pocket watches from 1866 to present day, except for those made during World War I (1914-1918). This shape was designed by Daniel W. Elgin himself, and has been used by this company since its inception until today – with no signs of disappearing any time soon!
3. The serial number on your watch
Elgin watches are produced using traditional methods that include manual labor; therefore, it is no surprise that most common models have serial numbers engraved into their faces or backsides. This number can be found anywhere from one to five digits in length, and is located at the 12 o’clock position on the dial.
4. The year of production on your watch
The year of production can be found anywhere from one to nine digits in length and is located at the 6 o’clock position on the dial. This number corresponds to the year your watch was manufactured – which will be identical to the serial number on your watch!
5. The words “Elgin” or “Elgin’s” on your watch
These two words are also featured in different places on most Elgin watches; however, they are not required for you to be able to identify your own personal Elgin pocket watch. This is because there are some models that only have one word engraved onto their faces or backsides – such as “Elgin’s”. Other models may have both Elgin’s and Elgins engraved onto them, but these words will be separated by a single line that runs along the bottom portion of each letter.
6. The markings around the edge of your watch case
These markings appear in either two or three places all around your watch case; however, they will only appear once every decade (or less). This is because Elgin watches were created to be used by the same company for roughly 30 years – which is the amount of time it takes for a dial to wear out completely.
7. The markings on your watch’s stem
These markings appear on either side of the stem and are located in the center of both sides of this part. The markings that appear on your watch’s stem are Elgin’s initials and are not required for you to be able to identify your own personal Elgin pocket watch.
Appearance And Features Of An Elgin Pocket Watch
1. The date on your watch
This date will appear on either side of the watch’s case, and will always be located in the center of both sides of this part.
2. The markings around the edge of your watch case
These markings appear in either two or three places all around your watch case; however, they will only appear once every decade (or less). This is because Elgin watches were created to be used by the same company for roughly 30 years – which is the amount of time it takes for a dial to wear out completely!
3. The markings on your watch’s stem
These markings appear on either side of the stem, and are located in the center of both sides of this part. The markings that appear on your watch’s stem are Elgin’s initials, and are not required for you to be able to identify your own personal Elgin pocket watch.
4. The writing around the case back or dial
This writing appears all around the case back or dial, and is usually engraved with a date (or two) that is specific to when this model was made. This specific date will always correspond with the year that your watch was produced! (Please note: If you purchased a watch that was manufactured in the early-mid 1900s, this date may not be engraved on your watch.)
5. Any other marks on your watch case
This mark appears in either two or three places all around your watch case; however, they will only appear once every decade (or less). This is because Elgin watches were created to be used by the same company for roughly 30 years – which is the amount of time it takes for a dial to wear out completely!
Is The Dial Printed?
- Yes, this is a genuine Elgin Pocket Watch, and the dial features a printed date (or two). However, it is not necessary to be able to identify your own personal Elgin pocket watch if the dial doesn’t have any printing on it.
- This is an Elgin pocket watch, and the case is silver in color. It does not matter if your watch has a gold case or not; it will still be considered an authentic Elgin pocket watch.
- This is an Elgin pocket watch, and the case contains gold in its manufacturing process! It does not matter if your watch has a silver case or not; it will still be considered an authentic Elgin pocket watch.
- This is an Elgin pocket watch, and the case contains stainless steel in its manufacturing process! It does not matter if your watch has a gold case or not; it will still be considered an authentic Elgin pocket watch.
How To Read An Elgin Pocket Watch Dial
- Elgin pocket watches feature a dial that is printed with the time. The dial will have either two or three lines of writing around it, with the date printed at the bottom of the dial.
- The case back is usually silver in color and has a circular shape. The case back can be either open or closed (depending on which model you own), and it is located at the bottom of your watch’s case. If you cannot see your movement through your watch case, then you will need to open up your watch’s case back before trying to read its movement number(s).
- The Elgin pocket watch features a dial that is printed with the time; this means that if you cannot read the printing around an Elgin pocket watch’s face, then it does not belong to an authentic Elgin pocket watch!
- If you cannot read the printing around an Elgin pocket watch’s face, then it is not a genuine Elgin pocket watch. If you cannot read the printing around an Elgin pocket watch’s face, then it is not a genuine Elgin pocket watch.
Conclusion
Elgin pocket watches are available for all types of customers. Whether you want to buy a high-end model or something more affordable, you can find the perfect Elgin pocket watch for you. The best part is that you can even identify your own personal Elgin watch with just a little bit of effort. With these tips, you can easily identify your Elgin pocket watch and enjoy the pleasure of owning a timeless timepiece.
