Elgin – Circa 1873 Elgin National Watch Co. 18K Gold Key Wound

 

Elgin – Circa 1873

(Elgin National Watch Co. was founded 1864)

By 1873:

• Elgin was still in its early manufacturing phase

• Most watches were key wind / key set

• Sizes were typically 18 size or 16 size

• Movements were full plate or early 3/4 plate designs

If yours is truly 1873, it is from Elgin’s first decade of production — that’s significant.

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Key Wind Explained

A key-wind watch means:

• You wind the mainspring using a small key

• You also set the time with a key (unless it’s key-wind, lever-set)

These were phased out by the late 1870s–1880s as stem-wind took over.

Collectors like early key-wind pieces because:

• They represent early American industrial watchmaking

• Production numbers were lower than later mass-market models

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18K Gold Case (Major Value Driver)

An 18K case from 1873 would usually be:

• Heavy

• Hand-engraved

• Often hunter-case style

• Possibly made by a premium case maker (Keystone, Fahys, etc.)

Gold value alone today could be:

 $1,500–$3,500+

(depending on weight and case size)

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Movement Possibilities (1873 Era)

You mentioned:

 15 Jewel

Very common for better-grade watches of that time.

 B.W. Raymond Grade

If it is an early B.W. Raymond, that’s strong.

Early Raymond grades:

• 15 jewel

• Adjusted

• High-quality finish

• Railroad-preferred later on

An 1873 Raymond is more desirable than a basic grade.

The Elgin Giant Watch (1893)

 

The Elgin Giant Watch (1893)

Built by: Elgin National Watch Company
Purpose: Showcase American watchmaking at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

Jaw-dropping specs

• Dial diameter: approx. 18 feet

• Hands: several feet long (minute hand alone weighed hundreds of pounds)

• Movement:

  • Custom-built, fully mechanical

  • Functioned like an enormous pocket watch movement

• Weight: several tons (exact figures vary in historical sources)

• Display: Fully operational and visible to fairgoers

Elgin essentially took the concept of a precision pocket watch and scaled it up to architectural proportions.