I have a humble Elgin I picked up for $90.00 at a garage sale. It will never be worth much but I liked the look of it and now I want to get it serviced. Do you have a place you would recommend? What would be the rough year it was made? 1940's?
Where to get a watch serviced
- Thread starter Captain Pre-Capsize
- Start date
A local fine jewelry store may have a watch repair specialist.
Sorry I cannot help you with the repair, but I certainly commend your taste. That is one lovely watch!
Do you know what kind of movement it is? If it’s a lever pin than servicing it will cost you a pretty penny but it will be a gamble if it improves the accuracy.
Nice looking watch! You may be able to get some information on the watch from this site. Though it looks like everything is based on the movement serial number, so you'd need to open the caseback.
[ELGIN] Help on Elgin Watches
elginwatches.org
- Thread starter
- #6
Very helpful and thanks, I was able to get the back off with a pocket knife. There is a little lip on the cap. I tried by thumbnail but no luck. Serial number indicates it was manufactured in 1927, has 15 jewels. @Multum in parvo, are you able to tell me what type of movement it is?
Its a manual wind watch. Not sure if you wanted to spend a lot of money on the service, and I do not know if they would work on it, but Superior Watch Service is super:
Welcome to Superior Watch Service!
Superior Watch Service provides Official Authorized Factory Service for watches made by IWC-Schaffhausen, Porsche Design by IWC, Porsche Design by Orfina. Our web site includes information for owners of fine watches.
www.superiorwatch.com
- Thread starter
- #8
Many thanks Rudy. The watch does not have any sentimental value so it is not likely I'd put a lot into it. Good to have that as a resource.
As Rudy said a manual movement so in principle servicable. Cleaning/oiling shouldn't be a problem for a watchmaker - replacing parts no longer in production is the expensive part.
To echo what others have said: that is a watch that a local watchmaker should be able to service with relative ease, particularly if all it needs is a lube/oil/adjust/polish so to speak.
I was recently speaking with a young watchmaker ( formally trained out of the swatch group affiliated school in Miami) who told me that parts availability/interchangeability for many older brands to include Hamilton and Bulova, is much better than one would think. As Elgin is of the same era, I would be cautiously optimistic that would be the case as well.
It is a wonderful looking watch. Having said that, a "tune up" with any parts to be replaced will likely be more than you paid for it.
This link has your watch dated from the late 20's (27/28)
www.watchdoctor.biz
A servicing of a watch like this looks to be 80ish pus shipping
www.watchdoctor.biz
Mark has done solid work for me and a number of friends on Bulovas, Omega and Rolex.
PS-Given the relative cleanliness inside the watch and overall appearance, it looks like it has been serviced before.
How is it running?
I was recently speaking with a young watchmaker ( formally trained out of the swatch group affiliated school in Miami) who told me that parts availability/interchangeability for many older brands to include Hamilton and Bulova, is much better than one would think. As Elgin is of the same era, I would be cautiously optimistic that would be the case as well.
It is a wonderful looking watch. Having said that, a "tune up" with any parts to be replaced will likely be more than you paid for it.
This link has your watch dated from the late 20's (27/28)
Elgin Watch Company Information | Elgin Watch Repair
The Elgin Watch Company (also known as the Elgin National Watch Company) was the largest American watch manufacturer in terms of total production volume.
A servicing of a watch like this looks to be 80ish pus shipping
Watch Repair & Restoration by Mark Sirianni | The Watch Doctor
I have 41 years experience as a watchmaker. I provide top quality watch repair at a very reasonable price with a quick turnaround time.
Mark has done solid work for me and a number of friends on Bulovas, Omega and Rolex.
PS-Given the relative cleanliness inside the watch and overall appearance, it looks like it has been serviced before.
How is it running?
It's a beatiful watch and should run well once cleaned and oiled. I havent had many watches serviced so can't recommend anyone.
FWIW the crown is a replacement. Not a big deal at all. It is signed but with the later Elgin symbol from the 70's after Elgin closed and their brand was sold off.
FWIW the crown is a replacement. Not a big deal at all. It is signed but with the later Elgin symbol from the 70's after Elgin closed and their brand was sold off.
