Elgin National Watch Co. — Military Watch Overview
Founded: 1864, Elgin, Illinois
Role: Primary U.S. military wristwatch supplier from WWI through the early Cold War
Legacy: Standardized the look and function of the modern field watch
Elgin A-11 (WWII, c. 1942–1945)
Historical Importance
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Known as “The Watch That Won the War”
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Issued widely to U.S. Army Air Forces pilots, navigators, and ground crew
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Elgin produced more A-11 watches than Waltham and Bulova combined
Military Specification
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Type: A-11 (later AN-5740 Army-Navy spec)
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Issue status: Officially issued government property
Case & Dial
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Case size: ~32–33 mm
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Case material: Parkerized steel or stainless steel
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Lugs: Fixed bars
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Crystal: Acrylic
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Dial: Matte black
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Hands: White pencil or sword
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Numerals: White Arabic, high-contrast
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Seconds: Center seconds (critical for navigation)
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No date
Movement
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Elgin Grade 539 (6/0-size)
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15 jewels
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Manual wind
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Temperature-compensated balance
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Extremely durable, easy to service in the field
Caseback Markings
Common engravings include:
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“A-11”
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“AN-5740”
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“U.S. Army” or “U.S. Army Air Forces”
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Contract and serial numbers
Collector Notes
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Elgin A-11 dials show minor font and logo variations
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Many surviving examples were re-cased post-war—original cases matter
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Original radium lume should appear aged, not bright
Elgin A-17 (Late WWII → Early Cold War, c. 1944–1950s)
What Is the A-17?
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Successor to the A-11, developed to improve readability and navigation
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Issued primarily to U.S. Air Force pilots and navigators
Key Differences from A-11
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Larger case: ~35–36 mm
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Dial: Black with white Arabic numerals and minute hash marks
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Seconds: Center seconds with hacking
Movement
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Elgin Grade 571 or 572
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17 jewels
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Manual wind
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Hacking seconds
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Higher finishing than A-11 movements
Caseback Markings
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“A-17”
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“U.S. Air Force”
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Contract numbers (often MIL-W-6433)
Collectibility
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Scarcer than A-11
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Strong interest from aviation collectors
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Original examples command a premium
Elgin WWII Ground & Field Watches (Non-A-11)
Elgin also produced non-aviation field watches for soldiers, engineers, and support units.
Typical Features
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Smaller cases (31–34 mm)
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Sub-seconds or center seconds
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Black or white dials
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Radium lume
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Less standardized markings than A-11/A-17
These are less famous but historically important and often more affordable.
⌚ Elgin Cold War Military Watches (1950s–1960s)
Transition Era
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Military needs shifted toward improved water resistance and shock protection
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Elgin remained a key supplier until U.S. production declined
Notable Specs & Models
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MIL-W-3818 (early field watch specification)
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Improved hacking mechanisms
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Stronger cases and crystals
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Issued during:
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Korean War
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Early Vietnam era
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Movements
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Elgin manual-wind military grades
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Later contracts included imported Swiss movements as U.S. watchmaking declined
Why Elgin Is a Cornerstone Military Brand
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Backbone of U.S. wartime timekeeping
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Direct ancestor of modern military and field watch design
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Huge production numbers ensure availability, but correct examples are increasingly scarce
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Historically tied to WWII aviation, Korea, and early Vietnam
