This 1931 Elgin pocket watch is a classic example of dependable American watchmaking from one of the most important manufacturers in horological history. Produced during the early years of the Great Depression, this watch reflects a period when reliability, practicality, and affordability were essential qualities in everyday timepieces.
Manufactured in Elgin, Illinois by Elgin National Watch Company, the watch is powered by a Grade 291 movement, Model 7. Sized at 16s, it features a 7-jewel manual wind movement with a durable nickel finish and classic 3/4 plate construction.
Additional technical features include a Breguet hairspring, ruby balance jewels, expansion balance, and quick train configuration — all elements that contributed to reliable everyday performance. The movement is pendant set and configured in open-face format, maintaining the practical layout typical of American pocket watches from the era.
The original single-sunk dial design complements the watch’s straightforward and functional character, emphasizing legibility and timeless styling.
Production records indicate this movement was part of a run of 4,000 examples, representing the 347th run of the Grade 291 Model 7 series. While Elgin produced watches on a massive scale, surviving examples in honest running condition continue to hold strong appeal for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Today, the watch remains running well and keeping good time — a testament to the durability and engineering standards that helped make Elgin one of the dominant names in American watchmaking for over a century.
A clean and historically significant Elgin, this piece captures the spirit of practical American craftsmanship during a defining era of industrial history.
This 1931 Elgin pocket watch is a classic example of dependable American watchmaking from one of the most important manufacturers in horological history. Produced during the early years of the Great Depression, this watch reflects a period when reliability, practicality, and affordability were essential qualities in everyday timepieces.
Manufactured in Elgin, Illinois by Elgin National Watch Company, the watch is powered by a Grade 291 movement, Model 7. Sized at 16s, it features a 7-jewel manual wind movement with a durable nickel finish and classic 3/4 plate construction.
Additional technical features include a Breguet hairspring, ruby balance jewels, expansion balance, and quick train configuration — all elements that contributed to reliable everyday performance. The movement is pendant set and configured in open-face format, maintaining the practical layout typical of American pocket watches from the era.
The original single-sunk dial design complements the watch’s straightforward and functional character, emphasizing legibility and timeless styling.
Production records indicate this movement was part of a run of 4,000 examples, representing the 347th run of the Grade 291 Model 7 series. While Elgin produced watches on a massive scale, surviving examples in honest running condition continue to hold strong appeal for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Today, the watch remains running well and keeping good time — a testament to the durability and engineering standards that helped make Elgin one of the dominant names in American watchmaking for over a century.
A clean and historically significant Elgin, this piece captures the spirit of practical American craftsmanship during a defining era of industrial history.