Elgin Hunter Pocket Watch with Masonic Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c1896
This gold-plated pocket watch by Elgin dates to circa 1896 and is housed in a Keystone hunter case measuring 54 mm in diameter. The stem-wound, lever-set timepiece contains a gilt three-quarter plate movement featuring 7 jewels and a lever escapement, marked with serial number 6085291 according to the dealer.
Its white enamel dial displays Roman numerals, blue steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial, accompanied by painted Masonic imagery including the motto 'In Hoc Signo Vinces' and the name 'R K Miller'. The front cover opens upon pressing the winder, and the watch rests in a fitted retailer box.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Hunter pocket watch
- Case Maker
- Keystone Watch Case Company
- Dimensions
- 54mm wide x 13mm deep
- Jewel Count
- 7 jewels
- Place recorded
- United States
- Dial Inscription
- In Hoc Signo Vinces
- Maker / attribution
- Elgin
- Winding and Setting
- Stem wound / lever set
- Movement Manufacturer
- Elgin
- Movement Serial Number
- 6085291
Design
- Visible features
- • Front cover opened to reveal a white enamel dial with Roman numeral hour markers and a subsidiary seconds track at 6 o'clock. • A central polychrome shield emblem featuring a cross is painted on the upper dial. • Presented in an open, red velvet and cream silk-lined retailer box stamped 'E. G. POLLEY ONEIDA, N. Y.'
- Dial and Inscriptions
- The timepiece features a white enamel dial fitted with mineral glass and a full set of blued steel hands, with black Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. The dial is signed 'Elgin' beneath the 12 o'clock area. Painted decoration on the dial includes a polychrome Masonic emblem featuring a central shield with a cross, accompanied by the inscription 'In Hoc Signo Vinces'. The dial is also inscribed with the name 'R K Miller', stated by the seller to be the original owner.
- Reported Movement and Packaging
- The movement is not exposed in the provided imagery. The seller documents the caliber as a stem-wound, lever-set gilt three-quarter plate movement equipped with a lever escapement and 7 jewels, signed 'Elgin Nat’l Watch Co, USA' under serial number 6085291. The watch is accompanied by a vintage leather retailer box lined in silk and velvet. As observed in the photograph, the inner silk lid is stamped with the retailer mark 'E. G. POLLEY ONEIDA, N. Y.'
- Case Construction and Exterior Decoration
- The pocket watch is housed in a gold-plated case produced by the Keystone Watch Case Company in the United States, measuring 54 mm in width by 13 mm in depth. The exterior features chased sides, rich chased detailing on the edges and front cover, and a decorative engraving of two horses' heads on the back cover. According to the source, the case is constructed with a hinged inner cover, back cover, and front cover, and the front cover pops open to 90 degrees when the winder is pressed. While the text refers in one instance to a 'half hunter case', the visible front cover in the photograph appears solid rather than glazed, consistent with hunter pocket watch descriptions elsewhere in the record.
Identification
- Serial number
- 6085291
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source text describes the case as a 'half hunter' in one paragraph and a 'hunter pocket watch' elsewhere, though the visible inner front cover appears solid.
- Research required: The movement is not visible in the photograph; movement configuration, jewel count, and serial number are source-reported.