Vintage Elgin Watches

Vintage Elgin Pocket Watch Picture Gallery.Includes railroad, hunter cases and open case watches.

Founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois (near Chicago), originally as the National Watch Company.
 

While Elgin didn’t name its watch models in the way that modern luxury brands do (like Omega or Rolex), it produced dozens of historically significant movements and watch types, especially during its golden years (late 1800s to mid-1900s). Below are the top Elgin watches and movements—especially those sought after by collectors and historians:

• First movement (1867) and later became Elgin’s flagship railroad-grade model.
   
• High-grade, precise pocket watch used by railroad conductors and engineers.
   
• Key features: lever-set, high jewel count (17 to 23), chronometer-level accuracy.
   
• Modern collectors prize this model for its historical importance.
   

• Produced in the early 1900s, this was a top-tier railroad-grade watch line.
   
• Named after "Veritas" (Latin for truth) to emphasize timekeeping accuracy.
   
• Often had 21+ jewels and robust design with adjustments for temperature and position.
   

• Another railroad-standard Elgin model, positioned just below the B.W. Raymond in prestige.
   
• Known for rugged durability and precise timekeeping.
   
• Common in 21-jewel configurations, often adjusted for 5 positions.
   

• Used during World War II for the U.S. military.
   
• Manual wind, center seconds, hacking function (second hand stops when setting time).
   
• Durable and precise — a favorite among vintage military watch collectors.
   

• Early wristwatches for soldiers in World War I.
   
• Typically featured porcelain dials, wire lugs, and radium-painted numerals.
   
• Highly collectible due to their role in transitioning from pocket to wrist timepieces.
   

• Mid-20th century high-grade manual-wind and automatic dress watches.
   
• The Lord Elgin line often featured 21-jewel movements, gold-filled or solid gold cases.
   
• Elegant and understated, these are among Elgin's finest wristwatches for collectors.
   

• Produced in the 1950s–60s, these were more affordable, rugged watches with innovations like shock resistance and anti-magnetic features.
   
• “Durapower” referred to the use of non-metallic mainsprings, reducing breakage.
   

Some of the most collectible or historically significant Elgin movement grades include:

GradeJewelsUse CaseNotable For70s–90s Grades15–23RailroadPrecision pocket watchesGrade 57121MilitaryWWII hacking movementGrade 3457–15WWIEarly trench watchesGrade 760/76127WristwatchesFirst American automatic movements by Elgin  

• Look for watches marked “Adjusted”, “Railroad Grade”, or “U.S. Military”.
   
• High jewel counts (17+) and movement markings (like “Veritas” or “B.W. Raymond”) often indicate better quality.
   
• Ensure the movement serial number matches the case era—Elgin movements were often recased.