Are Elgin Wrist Watches Valuable?

Elgin wrist watches are some of the most popular watches around. But are they valuable? Let’s take a look at what makes these watches so special.

Introduction

Elgin watches are highly collectible and sought after by watch enthusiasts around the world. The Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864 and produced high-quality timepieces until it ceased operations in 1964. Many Elgin watches are still in excellent condition and can be worth a considerable amount of money.

Whether or not an Elgin watch is valuable depends on a number of factors, including the age, condition, and rarity of the timepiece. vintage Elgin watches from the early 20th century are particularly coveted by collectors. Watches that have been well-maintained and are in good working order are also more valuable than those that need repairs.

If you think you may have an Elgin watch that is valuable, it is best to have it appraised by a qualified watch expert. However, even if your Elgin watch is not rare or especially valuable, it can still be a treasured family heirloom or memento of a bygone era.

History of Elgin National Watch Company

The Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois. It was the largest watch manufacturer in the United States for many years. At its peak, the company employed over 5,000 people.

The company produced millions of watches, and its products were widely distributed. Many of the company’s watches were sold through Montgomery Ward, a large department store chain.

The Elgin National Watch Company went out of business in 1964. However, its watches remain popular among collectors and are considered to be valuable.

Elgin Watch Company Today

The Elgin National Watch Company, commonly known as Elgin Watch Company, was founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois, United States. As of 2013, the company is a subsidiary of the Japanese watchmaker Seiko Epson.

The company took its name from the City of Elgin, Illinois where it was founded by half a dozen men including National Watch Company. At that timeElgin Academy, whose main building still stands today on the city’s west side, was the largest landlord in town. In 1874 the factory produced over 100,000 watches and became the world’s largest watch manufacturer. By 1876 half of all watches made in America came from Elgin.

During World War II military timepieces became a major product line for the company. In 1949 when consumer demand for wristwatches increased dramatically following the war , Elgin developed and introduced the very first self-winding watch movement which they called “automatic”. factory production surpassed five million watches per year by 1955. In 1964 nationwide labor unrest throughout the industry forced most watch companies to transition to lower-cost Swiss movements and manufacture outside of America. This change coupled with increased pressure from foreign competition brought about massive layoffs at National Watch Company/Elgin beginning in 1964 which continued through 1971 when wristwatch production at the facility finally ended altogether.

In an attempt to reignite public interest in their product line wristwatch production resumed at Elgin National Watch Company’s Michigan Avenue factory in 1985 using Swiss movements.[16] However this new endeavor was ultimately unsuccessful and less than two years later all work on wristwatches had again ceased permanently at what by then had become known as “The Big Spring”.

Why Are Elgin Wrist Watches Valuable?

Elgin National Watch Company was one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world, producing over 20 million watches from 1864 to 1964. Many of these watches were mass-produced and are not particularly valuable today. However, certain Elgin watches are considered collector’s items and can be quite valuable.

The most sought-after Elgin watches are from the early years of production, between 1864 and 1898. These watches are often intricately decorated and made with high-quality materials. They also tend to be very rare, as relatively few were produced compared to later models.

Other Elgin watches that are valuable to collectors include those made for specific purposes, such as railroad watches or pocket watches with special features. Some Elgin watches were also produced in limited numbers and may be hard to find today. These factors can all add to the value of an Elgin watch.

How to Determine the Value of an Elgin Wrist Watch

There are many factors to consider when determining the value of an Elgin Wrist Watch The age, condition, and rarity of the watch are all important factors that will affect the value.

Elgin wrist watches were first produced in the early 1900s, and production continued until the 1970s. The earliest Elgin watches are the most valuable, and those that are in mint condition with their original parts will be worth the most. However, even a well-used Elgin watch can be quite valuable if it is rare.

There are a few things you can do to determine the value of your Elgin wrist watch First, research the watch online or in reference books to get an idea of its age and rarity. Next, take the watch to a qualified appraiser who can examine it and give you an estimate of its value. Finally, you can try selling the watch to a collector or dealer to see what they are willing to pay for it. By considering all of these factors, you should be able to get a good idea of how much your Elgin wrist watch is worth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Elgin wrist watches can be valuable, but it depends on a number of factors. The most important factor is the age of the watch. Generally speaking, the older the watch, the more valuable it will be. Other factors that can affect the value of an Elgin wrist watch include the condition of the watch, its rarity, and whether or not it is working.