Every so often a watch turns up that's in such exceptional condition that you realize that this is as close to new that you're going to get. It's almost as if this all-original Elgin hunter was left at home while its owner went to serve in the Great War, who failed to return from the battlefields of France. Don't miss out on this 118-year-old survivor.
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Imagine deciding to give a new gold watch to a loved one as a gift - the saving of the egg money every week, figuring out your budget, the secret trips to the local jeweler, deciding on a wonderful piece, having it inscribed, wrapping it, waiting for the day to arrive - and then watching their face light up as they unwrap it. That's the great thing about Christmas provenance dates, and this fantastic example bears the date of December 25th, 1908 on the cuvette, four years before the Titanic stopped at Cherbourg to pick up Molly Brown. It's an all-original 17-jewel Grade 241 Model 6, thoroughly cleaned for its next owner, with all of its factory jewels intact and the dust band still there. It fronts a flawless Roman-numeral dial behind what must have been a splurge purchase of fancy Louis XIV hands, uncommon but entirely possible and correct. It's housed in a superb 25-year gold-filled Dueber case with the afore-mentioned inscription on the cuvette and what are almost certainly the first owner's initials on the shield. The hinges have so little use on them that they're still tight, as is the bow and stem. Matching lanyard and display stand included.
Manufacturer - Elgin Watch Co
Serial Number - 12166050
Watch Size - 16
Watch Model - 6
Watch Grade - 241
Jewel Count - 17
Winding/Setting - Stem/Pendant
Production Year - 1907
Restoring a watch doesn't mean to make it brand new again, which isn't possible. Nobody can remove the mileage, the scratches, and the history.
What it means is complete disassembly and cleaning, and to examine every component for defects under a 30x scope. It means making sure that every gear, every screw, every spring, everything under the dial is the correct part and operating within the tolerances set at the factory all those years ago. It means timing it in all positions as close to zero error as its escapement will allow. It means making sure the dial is the proper one for a given model and that it's cleaned well and repaired if necessary. It means that all the hands are the ones that are supposed to be there and not just any ones found in a jar. It means the case is immersed in a tank and the pendant cleaned separately, that the bow and crown are right for that brand, and a new crystal.
It means a mechanical work of art you can be proud of.
Straps are an alternative to chains, which don't grind up the metal bows. Prevent drops with these supple straps, hand-braided from top-grain leather in your choice of colors.
Safely store or display your favorite pieces in a custom wooden cabinet, designed and built to your specifications in your choice of domestic species, finishes, hardware and lighting packages.
There will come a time when you want or need to sell this watch for one of several reasons. If it's going to a fellow collector or someone who will genuinely appreciate it, then that's fine. On the other hand, if you're consigning it to an auction house or selling it to your local jeweler or gold hog it will almost certainly end up on eBay in pieces with the case melted down.
Instead of the watch being parted out for the bottom feeders to pick over, we will gladly buy the watch back from you, less 10% and the cost of a COA, plus anything else needed to return the piece to the condition in which you originally bought it.
One of Illinois's rarest watches was the 23-jewel Washington Lafayette. Only 190 were ever made.