1919 WW1 / Trench Styled Elgin "Foch" Black Star Series 7 Jewel 3/0 Just restored!

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$851.00

• Details
  What a hard watch to find. A 1919 Elgin “Black Start Series” called a “Foch” . It is NOT a “Pershing” as it is so often mistaken for. The Foch is because of the round case. This is dated to the correct period. So often you will find redials. What does that mean? You will find an Elgin Black Dial that has been married to a 3/0 movement from 1928, that is not correct. The Elgin star series only came out for approximately 3 years. it is a rare hermetic case. this is where the bezel and case back unscrew. These are more costly to manufacture m.
  
  
  The Elgin “Star Series…….. Let me clear up the confusion.
  
  
  Not all Elgin black star dial watches are called a "Pershing", this is a very common mistake by the general public. The name "Pershing" was given to a very specific style of this watch in February 1919. If you want to get VERY technical a "Pershing" has a cushion case design with spring bar lugs, NOT a round trench watch case design. If it has a round trench watch case design and the movement dates back to before February 1918 its proper name is an "Elgin Black Star Dial Trench Watch".
  
  
  The black dials were only made of enamel; these were never made as metal dials.
  
  
  In February of 1918 this exact same round case design was given the name "Foch". The third in this series was called the "Kitchener" and it had a squared trench watch case design with rounded corners, also given its name in February of 1919. These three designs were the most popular of their time so only these three designs were named but other case styles were certainly available. All three were available in Nickel, Gold Filled and Sterling Silver.
  
  
  Brand new in 1919 the prices ranged from $18.50 up to $31.00 depending on the case material!
  
  
  Elgin had several different styles of the "Star Dial" including the "White Star Dial" which came in out in 1917 before the "Black Star Dial".
  
  
  What makes the Black Star Dial series so collectible is the that minute markers are made of miniature stars, each star represents each state at that time, 48 of them.
  
  
  1919 that is 106 years ago. This watch dates to 1919! This is a sublime offering. Every part of the watch has been touched for sale., The case, movement, crystal, new mainspring to ensure reliability, crown, and the watch dial was gently cleaned as well
  
  
  A note about my passion for vintage watch restoration. I try to source original parts from the correct periods. It can take me months to bring a watch to market. I have seen many watch shops put a movement that dates from 1930 into a “Trench Watch” and list it as such. I can’t do that. My moral compass does not allow me to and not provide full disclosure. I have listed vintage watches with movements that don’t match the period, but I disclose that in the listing.
  
  
  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. This watch case has been taken care of throughout its years, it is in remarkable shape considering it is silverode. See below for material explanation!
  
  
  *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: Depollier and Sons, Dennison (English Manufacturer) Illinois (not affiliated with the Illinois Watch Company) Depollier and Sons, Wadsworth, Fahys, Philadelphia, Fortune and many more
  
  This case was manufactured by the venerable "Philadelphia Watch Case Company" as was manufa
  
  
  The hands are correct, another detail that I am picky about. You will not always find that. My obsessive behavior can sometimes delay a watch restoration up to a year if I cannot source period correct parts.
  
  
  This is a 3/0 size with a freshly service 07 jewel movement. It is very accurate, within 1-2 minutes a day. It has a new mainspring as well. It keeps very accurate time.
  
  The watch case measures:
  
  
  31.00MM Across the case
  
  
  36.00MM Across with crown
  
  
  The case has been high polished by hand using Simichrome polish, it is amazing at cleaning the years off and it helps retard the oxidation that occurs with the combination of nickel / silver!
  
  
  Lug Size 14 MM Lug Design. The watch is fitted with a brand new leather band
  
  
  Notice the oversized crown, so typical of this period, it is also high polished.
  
  
  Grade: 462
  
  
  Manufacturer: Elgin
  
  
  Manufacturer Location: Elgin, Illinois
  
  
  Movement Serial Number: 21776088
  
  
  Grade: 462
  
  
  Model: 2
  
  
  Estimated Production Year: 1919
  
  
  Run Quantity: 13,000
  
  
  Grade/Model Run: 13 of 133
  
  
  Grade/Model Total Production: 997,000
  
  
  Size: 3/0s
  
  
  Jewels: 7j
  
  
  Movement Configuration: Hunting
  
  
  Movement Finish: Nickel
  
  
  Movement Setting: Pendant
  
  
  I have been selling in various arenas for the last couple of years. I pride myself in offer above average condition vintage watches. Please keep in mind that these are vintage watches. In some case close to 100 years old. Prudent judgement must be used when wearing them. If you have an issue wit on of my watches, contact me. If you need additional information to make an educated decision, contact me. If you need additional pictures, contact me. I will package the watch like a china doll to insure safe arrival.
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