Are Elgin pocket watches worth anything?
How Much is an Elgin Pocket Watch Worth? A Railroad Elgin pocket watch can range from $200 to $5,000. It depends on the year of production, the material used, and the model’s significance. They were exquisitely designed according to railroad industry standards and kept the most precise and accurate time.
How do I know if my Elgin pocket watch is gold?
Open the case’s rear cover and look for the markings “10k,” “14k,” or “18k.” This should be easy to see, as it will be impressed into the inside back cover. If one of those markings is visible, then your pocket watch is gold.
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What does railroad grade mean for pocket watches?
A railroad grade pocket watch is simply a watch that was approved by a particular railroad organization for use by conductors on their rail. The specific definition of a “railroad grade” watch evolved quite a bit over the years.
How do I identify my Elgin pocket watch?
You can identify your antique Elgin Pocket Watch with the Serial Number etched on the movement.
What is the value of an Elgin?
Elgin pocket watches have a price range of $200 to $5,000. Its value depends on its material, the significance of the model, and the year it was made. Elgin pocket watches that are popular among collectors are pieces of Elgin A-11 Military Ordinance Watch and Lord Elgin Watch.
Did Elgin make railroad watches?
Founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois, just as the American Civil War was coming to an end, the company released its first watch to the market in 1867, an 18 sized BW Raymond railroad grade pocket watch, which took six months to complete and sold for a whopping $117 (several years ago, it was purchased at auction by the …
How accurate are railroad pocket watches?
Railroad pocket watch standards Railroad-approved watches needed to tell time accurately — typically, plus or minus 3 seconds a day — regardless of whether they were held upright, tilted left, tilted right, face-down or face-up.
What does the grade of an Elgin pocket watch mean?
Elgin watch grades identify the level of quality to which they are finished. Elgin assigned a grade number to a movement of a specific size, jeweling and finish. If a change was made a different grade number would be assigned. Elgin also assigned a name, such as B W.
How do I know if my pocket watch is valuable?
Indicators of High Value Gold case: A gold case marked 14K, 18K or 750 with the stamp on the inside back cover of the watch are more valuable than unmarked watches. If there is no stamp, it is not gold. Heavy weight: The weight of a pocket watch may indicate that it has a sophisticated movement or a case of solid gold.
What does 17 jewels mean on a pocket watch?
fully jeweled watch
What does 17 jewels mean? A watch with 17 jewels is often called a fully jeweled watch. This means that it uses jewel (usually ruby) bearings in the mechanical movement from the balance wheel all the way to the center wheel pivot.
Are old pocket watches worth money?
By their nature, pocket watches do not fetch as much at auction as other vintage or antique items. As such, it’s unlikely you’ll make a lot of money selling privately on a site like eBay. The best way to make money privately is by selling a group of pocket watches instead.
What does Elgin grade mean?
Elgin watch grades identify the level of quality to which they are finished. Elgin assigned a grade number to a movement of a specific size, jeweling and finish. If a change was made a different grade number would be assigned.