Elgin’s early wristwatches- converted pocket watch movements

 Elgin’s first wristwatch was introduced around 1910–1912, during the early rise of wristwatches in the United States. Before that, Elgin had been almost entirely focused on pocket watches, which were the dominant style of personal timekeeping in the 19th century.

Elgin’s early wristwatches were essentially converted pocket watch movements (often ladies’ pendant watch movements) cased with wire lugs to be worn on the wrist. These early pieces were marketed primarily toward women—men still considered pocket watches more “proper” until World War I popularized the wristwatch for soldiers.

By the mid-1910s, Elgin began producing purpose-built wristwatches with smaller, round movements and enamel dials, often in silver or gold-filled cases. These set the stage for Elgin’s more refined wristwatch lines of the 1920s and 1930s, including their popular “Lord Elgin” dress watches and military-issued models.