Elgin 19 Jewel Transition Trench Watch YG Filled

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$923.00

• Details
  My shop was recently selected to supply vintage American watches for a premier movie starring some major actors and a world famous director. They were looking for authentic watches that would represent the time period from 1915-1926. I was selected because of my attention to detail and originality. It is a true story of events that took place during the 1920’s.
  
  
  
  Year 1900. This is a real treasure. Please read the architecture and engineering of this treasure. This watch has been built with Elgins highest grade / caliber movement. They only produced a 1000 in its entire production run. You. outdoor call this a limited edition. The crown jewel of this offering is the movement. Having Elgin’s finest / highest quality 0 size movement is something to covet.
  
  
  The Jewels are set in raised solid gold settings
  
  
  The watch is very high caliber at 19 jewels
  
  
  The movement has a solid gold center wheel
  
  
  The movements gear train is solid gold
  
  
  For those who have followed me in the last couple of years know that my sweet spot is WW1 Trench Watches, a review of my current watch offerings support that.
  
  
  I have to say this this the first time I have ever offered as to what I would is a transition watch. What do I mean a “Transition Watch?”
  
  
  If you read below about the Trench Watch, it describes how the converted pocket watch cases had soldered wire lugs often on 3/0 and 0 size watch cases. The essentially retro fitted the cases to attach an open ended watch band to be worn on the wrist, they bands were attached by the fixed wire lugs soldered on the case. The slang expression for this period was “Wristlet Watch”.
  
  
  This style of watch predate that. Notice the clever use of an “O” rings that has been soldered on to the case. The created a “Hook” see picture 8, these hook attachments went over the crown and opposite of the crown. This allowed a fixed band to be attached to the watch case to be worn on the wrist. Many times the band of choice was Grosgrain.
  
  
  I have always shied away from this due to the condition, they were badly worn. Hinges broken, badly worn original gold plating, damaged enamel / porcelain dials, movements too worn to repair. This survivor is in pristine condition. Think about his a minute. This watch offering is 126 year young. Yes, that is correct. This movement was manufactured in 1900 according to production records. What a treasure to have.
  
  
  This offering has been fully serviced, a NOS crystal was installed and I have found a opened ended black band that completes this watch.
  
  
  Note: One might think that parts are hard to find for future repair. Thank goodness that there are hundreds if not thousands of 0 size Waltham movements that would be a great source for parts. It’s the cases and dials that are so difficult to find is such extraordinary condition.
  
  
  You see, trench watches were ladies pocket movements repackaged into watch cases that had fixed wire lugs that leather band / strap threaded through the back
  
  
  The usual watch movement sizes that were used were 3/0 and 0 sizes. Then within those movement sizes were the jewel counts. The 7 jeweled movement was the most prolific WW1 movement manufactured in numbers, then the 15 Jeweled movement, then 17 jewels and few 19 and 21 jewel. The higher the jeweled count, the higher quality the movement. The movements had serial numbers that would enable the consumer to track its production date, production quantity and specification.
  
  
  Movement manufacturers: the American manufactures were Waltham, Elgin, Illinois and Hamilton. Waltham and Elgin being the two manufactures who produced the most quantity. Illinois had a short lived history that was distinguished in the watch world.
  
  
  Here is where the creative thought comes into play. In the early 1910’s the independent jeweler would place an order for a movement, that movement order would be dependent upon social position of the potential buyer. If he was middle class they might order a 7 jewel movement and have it installed in a white or yellow gold filled. If they came from money, they might of order a 17 or 19 jeweled movement and install it in a solid gold case. This approach was the genesis of the wrist watch today.
  
  
  It is not uncommon to see the same watch movement in a gold filled case, sterling silver case or solid gold case. The case manufactures were Dennison, Philadelphia, Keystone, Wadsworth, BB Royal to name a few. This was the beginning of wrist watches.
  
  
  What is a “Trench Watch”
  
  
  What are WW1 or Trench watches? They were created using 3/0 and 0 size pocket watch movements and installing into watch cases that were meant to worn on the wrist.
  
  
  They often have some of the following characteristics:
  
  
  Fixed or Wire Lug: No traditional spring bar attachment as found in today’s watches.
  
  
  Case Material: It or often Solid Gold / Sterling Silver (925) / Silverode or Gold Filled.. The case lid snaps snug on the case.
  
  
  *For more practical purposes, a special alloy was developed which went by several different names, such as, "Silveroid, Silverore, Silverode or Silverine. "Silveroid" appears to have become the standard name for this metal that consisted of 45% nickel, 54% copper and 1% manganese. This metal was fairly hard wearing and could withstand the rigors of everyday use, for instance on the Railroads.
  
  
  Case Manufactures: There were many case manufacturers that made cases for Trench Watches. Some of the more well know were: Fortune, Depollier and Sons, Dennison (English Manufacturer) Illinois (not affiliated with the Illinois Watch Company) Depollier and Sons, Wadsworth, Fahys, Philadelphia and many more. This Wadsworth gold-filled case is in above average condition It does have one small spot that show a rub through. It is hard to see, but I point this out for accuracy
  
  
  This style of watch represents the epitome of the pre and WW1 / Trench Watch genre of timepieces.
  
  
  The watch has a beautiful dial. The outside chapter ring is made up of black Roman Numerals; inside that border are silver accents that highlight the black numbers. The watch is finished off with Louis gilt hands that are period correct.
  
  
  
  Grade: 205
  
  
  Manufacturer: Elgin
  
  
  Manufacturer Location: Elgin, Illinois
  
  
  Movement Serial Number: 8506168
  
  
  Grade: 205
  
  
  Model: 3
  
  
  Class: 80
  
  
  Estimated Production Year: 1900
  
  
  Run Quantity: 1,000
  
  
  Grade/Model Run: 2 of 4
  
  
  Grade/Model Total Production: 4,000
  
  
  Size: 0s
  
  
  Jewels: 19 Jewel
  
  
  Jewel Material: Ruby & Sapphire
  
  
  Jewel Setting: Raised Gold Settings (Screw-Set)
  
  
  Movement Configuration: Openface
  
  
  Movement Finish: Nickel
  
  
  Movement Setting: Pendant
  
  
  Plate: 3/4 Plate
  
  
  Double Roller: Yes
  
  
  Barrel: Jeweled Safety
  
  
  Train: Quick
  
  
  Train Material: Gold
  
  
  Center Wheel Material: Gold
  
  
  Regulator: Moseley
  
  
  Hairspring: Breguet
  
  
  Standard Dial Type: Single-Sunk
  
  
  Adjusted: Yes
  
  
  Adjusted to Position: No
  
  
  Adjusted to Temperature: Yes
  
  
  Railroad Grade: No
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