Elgin Veritas 18-Size 23-Jewel Railroad Grade Pocket Watch

Technical characteristics

Type

Open-face railroad pocket watch

Maker

Elgin

Dimensions

53mm wide x 18mm deep

Jewel Count

23 Jewels

Place recorded

United States

Dial Description

Double sunk Montgomery dial

Setting Mechanism

Stem wound / lever set

Maker / attribution

Elgin

Movement Serial Number

9889713

Movement Grade and Model

Grade 214, Model 8

Design

Visible features

• Open-face gold-tone case with top bow and fluted crown • Double-sunk white enamel Montgomery dial marked ELGIN • Continuous peripheral minute numerals from 1 to 60 with red five-minute intervals • Blued steel spade hour and minute hands • Subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock with blued steel hand

Dial and Visual Presentation

Direct visual inspection shows an open-face pocket watch featuring a double-sunk white enamel Montgomery dial marked "ELGIN". The dial layout includes continuous peripheral minute numerals from 1 to 60 with red five-minute intervals, along with an inner hour track and a subsidiary seconds dial located at 6 o'clock. The timepiece is fitted with blued steel spade hour and minute hands, matching the blued steel subsidiary seconds hand. The dealer catalogue states the dial is protected by a bevelled mineral glass set within a gold-tone open-face case featuring a top bow and fluted crown.

Reported Movement Specification

According to the source listing, the watch is powered by an Elgin Grade 214, Model 8 movement that is stem wound and lever set. The movement is described as a nickel three-quarter plate configuration featuring a lever escapement, a micrometer regulator, 23 jewels, and a diamond endstone. The seller reports further movement details including damascening, raised gold jewel settings, gold train wheels, a gold jewel setting on the barrel, and a gold cap on the balance and lever. The plate is reported to be signed “Veritas, Elgin, Ill, USA, Safety Barrel, 23 Jewels” with movement serial number 9889713.

Case Construction and Cataloguing Scope

The movement is reportedly housed in a gold-plated open-face case measuring 53 mm in diameter by 18 mm deep, fitted with screw-off back and front bezels. The dealer describes the exterior case finishing as floral engraving combined with a smooth plain finish. Because only a front dial-view photograph is available, the movement decoration, serial number, and caseback engravings are taken from the seller's documentation and remain unverified by direct visual inspection. The piece is classified in the listing under the Edwardian period (1901 to 1910) and dated circa 1903.

Identification

Reference

Grade 214, Model 8

Serial number

9889713

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.