1919 Elgin Hermetic Trench Watch. Bold Red 12, with a “Solid Nickel" case, Fabulous!

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$771.00

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• Details
  Thank you for stopping by. There are watch cases that are increasingly hard to source for my “Trench Watch” projects. They are the cases that are often referred as Trench Watch cases. While a Trench Watch case can be made from a variety of metals and styles, this was designed to take punishment. Extra thick fixed lugs, nickel for strength and durability.
  
  
  This watch is just that. What you are looking at is a 1919 Elgin with the magical Bold Red 12 dial. They are hard to find. The movement does in fact dates to 1919, WW1 was winding down in 1918. This is a true survivor of this time period.
  
  
  From an interest standpoint, this style is considered to be the blueprint for the modern wristwatch today. The “wristlet” watch was just being developed for our boys in service and it became more socially acceptable to wear them on the wrist.
  
  
  The dial does has been refinished, I point this out for accuracy. It shows beautifully in pictures and on the wrist. . The dial is a “Bold Military” style, a signature look by itself! This case has been gently hand polished to highlight the lister of polished nickel.
  
  Note of observation. This is a 3/0 size case, slightly smaller than the more common 0 size cases. This in itself makes this a real treasure to own. Think about this, 1919 it is now 2024, the watch is 105 years young
  
  
  By definition, 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 is a Oresilver, similar as silverode, read below.
  
  
  *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: Fahys, Fortune, Depollier and Sons, Dennison (English Manufacturer) Illinois (not affiliated with the Illinois Watch Company) Depollier and Sons, Wadsworth, Philadelphia and many more. I would venture to guess this case was manufactured by Wadsworth.
  
  
  
  This style of watch represents the epitome of the WW1 / Trench Watch era of timepieces. To the bold military bright white and Red 12 enamel dial in amazing condition to the highly collectible Hermetic case.
  
  
  The case has been gently hand polished. Look at the pictures and discover the bold heavy duty fixed bar lugs, another great design feature of this watch, Many WW1 watches had thinner fixed bars, not this one. This was made to wear.
  
  
  The case measurement is 31.5MM
  
  
  The lug measurement is 14MM
  
  
  Love the period correct crown that completes the watch.
  
  
  I have outfitted this treasure with an open ended “oily Leather 14MM black leather strap with a high polished stainless steel buckle.
  
  
  The movement was serviced within the last 30 days
  
  
  Grade: 462
  
  
  Manufacturer: Elgin
  
  
  Manufacturer Location: Elgin, Illinois
  
  
  Movement Serial Number: 21533852
  
  
  Grade: 462
  
  
  Model: 2
  
  
  Estimated Production Year: 1919
  
  
  Run Quantity: 13,000
  
  
  Grade/Model Run: 11 of 133
  
  
  Grade/Model Total Production: 997,000
  
  
  Size: 3/0
  
  
  Jewels: 7 Jewel
  
  
  Movement Configuration: Hunting
  
  
  Movement Finish: Nickel
  
  
  Movement Setting: Pendant
  
  
  Plate: 3/4 Plate
  
  
  Double Roller: Yes
  
  
  Barrel: Going
  
  
  Balance Type: Expansion
  
  
  Balance Jewel Material: Ruby
  
  
  Train: Quick
  
  
  Regulator: Plain
  
  
  Hairspring: Breguet
  
  
  Standard Dial Type: Single-Sunk
  
  
  Adjusted: No
  
  
  Barrel: Going
  
  Read my reviews if you are a first time visitor. I realize my prices are higher than most, remember that price is what you pay and value is what you get. I work very hard at preserving the past as it should be. There is a bit of a premium for that
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