Elgin Watches

As a leading manufacturer in the United States for over 100 years, Elgin Watches continue to remain hugely popular among collectors in the antique and vintage markets. The company, founded with the ideals of manufacturing watches of good quality in industrial quantities, turned rare and authentic pieces into valuable and expensive addition to any watch enthusiast or collector's collection. Their reliable and inexpensive models still enjoy a good reputation among collectors of vintage Elgin Watches for sale at Bidsquare's watch auction. 

Initially, the company focused on producing superior quality watches in large quantities to reach the middle class that had been left out of luxury products. The innovative and easily recognizable designs of the watch quickly made the piece an item of validation in society as consumers displayed their modern taste on their wrists. Approximately half of all U.S. pocket watches of "better quality" were produced by Elgin. The most expensive models produced by the company were extravagant and elegant, some of which were made from solid gold, though these comprised less than 10% of the production; as always, mass appeal and availability remained the primary objective. In the company's early production, timepieces were named after its founders. The unique craftsmanship and the use of machine-made interchangeable parts when repaired without the need for hand adjustments made these Elgin watches extremely popular among the American bourgeois class.

During World War II, the Elgin Watch Company moved into the defense industry, producing military watches and equipment for the defense - it designed the iconic A-11 specifically for the soldiers.  After the war, Elgin Watches failed to establish itself again, as the company had to compete with the less expensive wristwatches dominating the market, eventually giving up the watchmaking side of the business, the last productions were marketed in 1968.

The majority of Elgin pocket watches are still working well to this day. Aside from adding value to the Elgin watches, it reflects the superior craftsmanship and legacy of the company.  

Quick Facts about Elgin Watches

• One of the finest examples of Elgin Craftsmanship: The Lady and the Tiger.
• The first watch Elgin made was an 18-sized B W Raymond marked with the name B.W. Raymond.