Description:

Elgin 17J adj. grade 683 wrist watch, vintage mechanical manual-wind movement, attractive champagne-toned metal dial with raised fancy Arabic numbers has some light scratches near the seconds bit (not distracting), black Continental advertising script above center post, fancy gold steel wedge-style hands, beautiful yellow gold filled (YGF) & stainless steel (SS) rectangular case with sculpted bezel and heavy extended lugs showing only light, even wear, domed thick glass crystal, measures approx. 25mm wide x 35mm lug to lug, textured black leather band. This watch also comes with a red leatherette Elgin presentation box with red satin and red velvet interior with wrist watch display. An attractive vintage Continental advertising piece in excellent+ condition!


Item Specifics:

  • Age Description: 02Vintage (1940-1980)
  • Company: Elgin
  • Jewels: 1117J
  • Setting/Movement Type: manual-wind
  • Adjustments: 1-3 positions
  • Model/Grade: 683
  • Serial #: (case) #6741 U795751
  • Dial Material: metal
  • Dial Color: champagne
  • Dial Details: Continental advertising
  • Hand Style: wedge
  • Case Style: rectangular
  • Case Material: Gold Filled - Yellow, Stainless Steel
  • Case Width, without crown: 25mm (0.98 inches)
  • Case Length, lug to lug:  35mm (1.38 inches)
  • Interior Lug Width:  18mm (11/16")
  • Band Size: 6in. to 6.99in.
    (measurement range includes watch length & band)
  • Band Material: leather strap
  • Crystal Material: glass
  • Box Info: red leatherette Elgin box
  • Condition: Excellent +
  • Gender: Unisex

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.