Description:

Elgin 18S 7J grade 73 pocket watch #2729516, full plate gilt movement with a brushed finish and engraved balance bridge has some cosmetic discoloration to the plates and is missing a case screw, the movement is still secure in the case however that screw has been sheared off in the setting and we were unable to remove the remnant to replace it, single sunk (SS) porcelain enamel dial with fancy Arabic numbers, red Arabic 5 minute markers, a black-marked subsidiary seconds register and a large red, white & blue Chevrolet "bow tie" emblem above the center post, dial does have some faint hairlines, an arc of discoloration in the seconds bit from the hand dragging on the surface of the dial over time and a bit of fading to the Chevy emblem, blue steel spade style hands, heavy white base metal (WBM) smooth polish screw back & bezel (SB&B) case with a thick glass crystal and French-style bow, case is showing normal moderate to heavy wear with a number of spots of discoloration across all the surfaces, measures approx. 54mm in diameter x 72mm in length x 17mm thick (crystal included). An impressive Elgin from the 1880s that has seen quite a bit of use but is still running strong, a great watch for the Chevrolet collector to carry everyday in good overall condition!

Item Specifics:

Year Made: 1888-1889
Company: Elgin
Movement Size: 0318S
Jewels: 217J
Setting/Movement Type: pendant set
Model/Grade: 73
Serial #: 2729516
Movement Finish: gilt
Dial Material: porcelain enamel
Dial Details: Chevrolet advertising
Hand Style: spade
Case Style: SB&B
Case Material: Base Metal - Silver/White
Case Details: thick glass crystal, French bow
Case Width/Diameter: 54mm (2.13 inches)
Case Length, bow included: 72mm (2.83 inches)
Case Thickness: 17mm (0.67 inches)
Crystal Material: glass
Condition: Good
Gender: Gentlemen's

Logo Info:

On all but a few of the advertising logos, mainly Packard from the Hamilton company and Studebaker from South Bend, the logos would have been commissioned through a professional dial company after they left the factory to have the logo applied. For instance, a car dealership might have them added as a promotion, a motorcycle club would have ones done for each of their members, etc.

On the watch/logo combinations that may not match up on a timeline (the watch was made prior to the automobile company being formed, for instance), what we understand could have happened is, say for a car club, the members would need to provide their own watch to which the emblems would be added. Someone might have wanted a Harley logo on "Grandpa Bob's" old pocket watch, and would have had the dial pulled from that. Other than the Packard/Hamilton & Studebaker/South Bend arrangements, it was a free-for-all on the pairings and you could find just about any combination of manufacturer with the different logos.

We do also have a pretty good selection of the vintage dials that have emblems on them, but that are not attached to a watch yet. Often in the past, a customer would want a watch without the advertising, so we would just pull the printed dial and replace it with a similar-style plain dial, then set the printed one aside. If you have something specific you are looking for, please drop us a note to see if we have anything in our stock that might work for you.