I Need Some Help With This Elgin Please.

TheNewOmegaMan · Apr 11, 2020

Hello everyone. I am trying to find out some information about this Elgin (Lord Elgin?) watch. Here are some pictures. I am trying to get the back case off to look at the movement, but it looks like only the top of the case with the glass will come off. Does that mean I have to take the dial out to look at the movement? It also looks like there are marks on the inside of the glass casing. I took a picture of this as well, it should be about the fourth one down. Any help/information would be much appreciated.

OMEGuy · Apr 11, 2020

This watch looks similar to me, but others may put me straight.

https://www.flyingtigerantiques.com/beautiful-1950s-14k-gold-lord-elgin-mens-wristwatch.html

TheNewOmegaMan · Apr 11, 2020

OMEGuy
This watch looks similar to me, but others may put me straight.

https://www.flyingtigerantiques.com/beautiful-1950s-14k-gold-lord-elgin-mens-wristwatch.html

Thats an awesome find OMEguy! Thank you for that. Atleast now I know around what year it may be. Also, whats up with the Lord part? I thought it was just Elgin?

wagudc · Apr 11, 2020

Pretty sure that is the logo from before the American company folded and sold out. Lord Elgin is a model of Elgin watch. I don't know how to get at the back of this type of watch. Here are some references (although mostly focused on earlier pocket watches)

https://www.elgintime.com/Home/technical-information

http://elginwatches.org/index.html

TheNewOmegaMan · Apr 11, 2020

wagudc
Pretty sure that is the logo from before the American company folded and sold out. Lord Elgin is a model of Elgin watch. I don't know how to get at the back of this type of watch. Here are some references (although mostly focused on earlier pocket watches)

https://www.elgintime.com/Home/technical-information

http://elginwatches.org/index.html

Good info, thank you wagudc! Much appreciated.

wagudc · Apr 11, 2020

TheNewOmegaMan
Good info, thank you wagudc! Much appreciated.

No problem, glad I can share what little knowledge I have.

Canuck · Apr 11, 2020

You are treading on thin ice trying to get the mechanism out of the case back. It should lift out. But there is a challenge. You do NOT want to be lifting on the edge of the dial to try to work the movement loose. The dial is held onto the the mechanism by two tiny copper feet. Lifting on the dial could break off one or both feet! Reaching in under the edge of the dial to the edge of the movement could result, in broken parts. Unless you are trying to wreck this watch, you might have an actual watch repair person do it for you. Do not take it to the watch repair counter of your local department store.

The tiny logo beneath the Elgin name is the Elgin “Durapower” symbol for their special un breakable alloy mainspring. This usually an indication that the movement is an American made Elgin, and probably obsolete.

TheNewOmegaMan · Apr 11, 2020

Canuck
You are treading on thin ice trying to get the mechanism out of the case back. It should lift out. But there is a challenge. You do NOT want to be lifting on the edge of the dial to try to work the movement loose. The dial is held onto the the mechanism by two tiny copper feet. Lifting on the dial could break off one or both feet! Reaching in under the edge of the dial to the edge of the movement could result, in broken parts. Unless you are trying to wreck this watch, you might have an actual watch repair person do it for you. Do not take it to the watch repair counter of your local department store.

Fair enough. I will take it to the same place that is going to restore my Longines. Maybe they can do something with it. Thank you.

coronado · Apr 11, 2020

Your watch is a Lord Elgin Duncan from around 1955. It was priced at $100.00 when new.

Probably has an 8/0-size 21-jewel grade 680 movement inside.

The movement and dial are set into a retaining ring that is friction fit into the caseback. You can see the outer rim of the ring just outside the outer edge of the dial. You should be able to pry between the outer edge of the ring and the caseback to access the movement.

SportChief · Apr 11, 2020

"Lord Elgin" was a name for an entire collection of Elgin watches used over several decades. The Lord Elgins were typically a premium line of watches with higher grade movements and better quality cases and dials. As coronado and others have pointed out, it most likely has a high-grade, American-made movement in it.

coronado · Apr 11, 2020

Here is the catalog illustration from 1955.

Evitzee · Apr 11, 2020

Once you have the movement serial number you can use this database and it will give you information on date of production, movement type, sometimes how many were made, etc. Lord Elgins were the top of the Elgin food chain with their best movements with 21 jewels.

http://www.elginnumbers.com/

All made in this factory when it went out of business in 1966. Razed for a strip shopping center, all that remains is the small depot that brought workers to the factory, and a historical sign. Sad ending to once a great US industry.

TheNewOmegaMan · Apr 11, 2020

Thank you @SportChief, @coronado, @Evitzee. I think you have answered all the questions that I had regarding this watch. I really appreciate it. Does anyone of you think this watch is worth getting restored/cleaned up? I hope all is well.

Evitzee · Apr 11, 2020

TheNewOmegaMan
Thank you @SportChief, @coronado, @Evitzee. I think you have answered all the questions that I had regarding this watch. I really appreciate it. Does anyone of you think this watch is worth getting restored/cleaned up? I hope all is well.

Watches like yours in excellent overhauled condition are worth about $200-$300. Here is a 1951 Lord Elgin with original dial I bought in 2013 in overhauled condition for $265. These are small watches (30mm or so) so not popular today as wearable items, I have about 20 of them from 1929 to 1956 that spans the Golden Age of American wristwatch manufacturing, I keep them in my display cabinet all lined up by date.

TheNewOmegaMan · Apr 11, 2020

@Evitzee About how much do you think it would cost to have mine cleaned up? Never had a watch restored/cleaned before. Is it expensive?

TexOmega · Apr 11, 2020

$150-$300 unless parts must be sourced

Canuck · Apr 11, 2020

A quick scan of the replies to your post to this point seems to have ignored the fact that the case on your watch is 10 karat solid gold alloy. Scrap value of the case alone exceeds the dollar figure stated as the value of your watch! Only you know whether there is value in having it serviced. Get a quote and decide if having it in good running order is worth it to you. I suggest value of the karat gold case should be factored into your decision. Your next question.....what would the scrap value of the case be? Have it weighed and get an offer.

Professor · Apr 11, 2020

Long as we have an knowledge source of info on Elgins here what can you tell me about this one?

I suspect the dial may be a service dial.
Haven't been able to get the case apart to look at the movement.
I'm thinking mid to late 60's farmed out to a German company.

Canuck · Apr 11, 2020

That could have a Durowe movement in it. I have a Tourneau branded watch this is almost a twin for yours, and it has a Durowe movement in it. I suspect this one is a product of the successors to Elgin. The Durowe movement I have in mind was very popular, plain, but reliable and serviceable. This movement is found behind countless dial names.

Professor · Apr 11, 2020

Canuck
That could have a Durowe movement in it. I have a Tourneau branded watch this is almost a twin for yours, and it has a Durowe movement in it. I suspect this one is a product of the successors to Elgin. The Durowe movement I have in mind was very popular, plain, but reliable and serviceable. This movement is found behind countless dial names.

Can you tell me how the case is opened?
The back plate is smaller in diameter than the dial and may be a permanent feature not intended to be opened. Perhaps a Monocoque (sp ?).
My SONA has a very similar looking case and it opens both front and back but I can't find any seam on this Elgin to remove the bezel.

Some have suggested the crystal be popped off by air pressure to pull the movement out the front.

The watch runs but stalls often. It once ran over 19 hours without stalling and kept good time.
It doesn't hand wind only self winds.

I Need Some Help With This Elgin Please.

TheNewOmegaMan

OMEGuy

TheNewOmegaMan

wagudc

TheNewOmegaMan

wagudc

Canuck

TheNewOmegaMan

coronado

SportChief

coronado

Evitzee

TheNewOmegaMan

Evitzee

TheNewOmegaMan

TexOmega

Canuck

Professor

Canuck

Professor

Similar threads

Need some help with id and dating

Hello all, I need some help

Hey guys I need some help.

Some help with this 2254.50?

Hey folks, I need some help.

Need some help with checking a watch with it’s authenticity!