Identification
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Overview
A classic American-made 15-jewel pocket watch featuring a Grade 313 movement and a rugged Keystone 'Silveroid' case. This piece represents the height of the American industrial watchmaking tradition, combining a crisp porcelain dial with a beautifully decorated mechanical heart. In 1918, as the world was transitioning through the final year of the Great War, this watch was being meticulously assembled in Illinois at what was then the largest watch factory on Earth.
Story
Produced in 1918 as the world navigated the close of the Great War, this Elgin pocket watch is a quintessential piece of American industrial horology. While 'trench watches' were transitioning timekeeping to the wrist during WWI, the reliable pocket watch remained the definitive, essential tool for the American man.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed · Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin, Illinois, USA
Condition & Value
Valuation is inextricably tied to the mechanical health of the century-old movement and the preservation of its delicate porcelain dial. The movement appears remarkably clean with no visible rust, and the damaskeening remains bright.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The market for antique American pocket watches in non-precious cases is currently soft but highly liquid, driven primarily by hobbyists and entry-level collectors. Valuation for this piece is strictly determined by its configuration: an Elgin movement, a 15-jewel mid-grade specification, and a base-metal Silveroid case. Verified sales data establishes a hard ceiling of $95–$100 for running, cosmetically clean 15-jewel Silveroid examples (such as those sold by Watt's Antiques and Yesterday's Change). A baseline floor of $30–$40 exists for unserviced, unknown-jewel, or non-running examples (seen in Berner's Auction records). Because replacing a mainspring or servicing the movement costs more than the secondary market value of the watch, the current $50-$90 Fair Market Value range assumes typical, unserviced condition with decent cosmetic survival.
▲ 15-jewel movement (represents a mid-grade upgrade over entry-level 7-jewel variants)
▲ Original Keystone Silveroid case remains intact
▲ Historical appeal as an accessible WWI-era American timepiece
▼ 'Silveroid' is a cupronickel base metal and contains no actual silver-tone, eliminating any precious metal scrap value
▼ Millions of these configurations were produced, keeping supply significantly higher than collector demand
▼ Without recent service records, the market prices the movement as unserviced/needing an overhaul
Best Venue
eBay or Etsy
Upside Potential
Confirmation of a pristine, uncracked porcelain dial and a strongly running movement with stable amplitude could push the piece toward the top of the retail/collector band ($90-$100).
Authenticity Risk
Risk level: Low. While outright counterfeits of base-metal Elgins are rare due to low secondary market values, 'franken-watches' (movements transplanted into incorrect, non-original era cases) are extremely common. Buyers evaluate dial originality and serial-number production era consistency.