Elgin Multi-Color Gold Hunting Cased Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1898
This antique American hunting-cased pocket watch was produced by the Elgin National Watch Company around 1898. Designed as a size 6 watch, it features a case measuring approximately 40 mm in diameter, constructed from yellow, white, and rose gold.
The exterior is decorated with applied leaf motifs and includes a rose gold shield-shaped cartouche intended for monograms. The reverse side of the case incorporates a central diamond. The dial is finished in a pale blue hue, featuring Roman numerals, gold-tone Louis XV-style hands, and a sunken subsidiary seconds dial. Internally, the watch is powered by a 7-jewel movement, which is marked with the company name, country of origin, and the feature of a safety pinion.
The auction description reports that the movement is in fine running condition. It represents the aesthetic of late nineteenth-century American small-sized women's pocket timepieces.
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
- Date
- circa 1898
- Type
- Hunting-cased pocket watch
- Maker
- Elgin
- Condition
- Fine Running Condition
- Case diameter
- 40 mm
- Place recorded
- United States
- Movement marking
- Elgin Natl Watch Co. U.S.A
- Case construction
- Hunting Cased
- Mechanism feature
- Safety Pinion
- Maker / attribution
- Elgin
- Movement jewel count
- 7
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch features a hunting-case design, manufactured in a tri-color scheme using yellow, white, and rose gold. The exterior cover is adorned with elaborate leaf and vine motifs. A shield-shaped panel of rose gold is provided for engraving. The case is finished with textured scalloped edges and a central diamond insert. The dial is executed in a pale blue color, described in the source as 'Robin's Egg Blue'. It is detailed with gold-colored decorative borders and features Roman numerals to indicate the hours. The time is displayed via Louis XV-style hands, complemented by a subsidiary dial for seconds.
- Visible features
- • Case decorated with tri-color gold floral and leaf applied motifs • Dial features a pale blue surface with Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds • Movement bridges stamped with manufacturer details and safety pinion mark • Integrated rose-gold shield cartouche on cover for personal engraving
- Signatures and Marks
- The watch displays manufacturer identification on the movement plates, confirming its origin within the Elgin National Watch Company production facility in the United States. The serial number is visible on the movement plate, alongside the technical specification of the safety pinion, which was a feature promoted for damage prevention in American pocket watches of this period. The auction house states that their descriptions are based on the information provided by the cataloguer, and they do not independently verify the long-term operational history or the total integrity of all internal components.
- Movement and Mechanism
- The movement is a size 6 mechanism equipped with 7 jewels. The plates are decorated with a machined finish and are signed by the manufacturer. Key markings present on the bridge include the company name, the country of origin, and the inclusion of a safety pinion. According to the report provided by the auction entity, the watch is currently in good working order. There is no information regarding the timing of the most recent maintenance service or whether any parts have been replaced during the object's history.
Identification
- Serial number
- 7696154
- 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: Full authenticity of internal components and mechanical integrity unverified
- Research required: Specific service history and original status of dial finish unknown