Need Help With This Lord Elgin 21J Wrist Watch.

[OldYooper]

Need to Know Year Made and Mov't if Possible. Thank For Looking. OldYooper.

 

[bdGreen]

Your Lord Elgin watch with 21 jewels, serial number 811825, case number X106363, and a 14k gold-filled case marked "Elgin-U.S.A." is a vintage timepiece from the Elgin National Watch Company.
Lord Elgin was a premium line of wristwatches produced by Elgin.
The 21-jewel movement indicates a high-grade mechanical movement.
The 14k gold-filled case, made by Schwab and Wuischard of New York is not solid gold but has a thick layer of 14k gold bonded to a base metal. The base metal for this period was typically brass.
While the exact serial number 811825 isn’t listed in available records, similar Lord Elgin watches with serial numbers from the 1950s (e.g., those starting with letters like U or J) are dated to 1951–1955. Lord Elgin with a 21-jewel calibre 670 movement and a serial number in this range is likely from 1951–1952.
The "Elgin-U.S.A." marking confirms it was made before Elgin shifted some production to Switzerland in the late 1950s, making this an American-made watch, a point of pride for collectors due to Elgin’s heritage.
A well-preserved, serviced watch with an intact gold-filled case and original dial can fetch $400–$1,500.
The serial number (811825) and case number (X106363) are unique identifiers but don’t directly affect value unless they indicate a rare model or limited production run. Collectors value watches with documented provenance (e.g., original box or papers), which can increase worth by 10–20%.
Your watch’s 14k gold-filled case suggests it’s more affordable than solid gold models but still desirable for its vintage appeal and American craftsmanship.
Avoid polishing the case, as it can wear down the gold layer. If replacing the band, opt for a leather strap (e.g., 18mm brown alligator grain, as seen in similar models) to maintain vintage aesthetics.
This Lord Elgin is a beautiful piece of American horological history, likely a stylish dress watch from the early 1950s, perfect for collectors or as a cherished keepsake.
The "F.S." marking near the regulator suggests fine adjustment capabilities, typical of Lord Elgin’s precision engineering. The rectangular movement plate indicates a rectangular case design, which was popular in the 1940s–1950s for dress watches.

I hope this gives you what you need on this 'prized' vintage American made watch.

bdGreen

 

[s&wchad]

I don't see a rotor, so it's a manual wind and not an automatic. The dial and crystal are in rough shape and proper servicing (clean and lube) will set you back $200-$300.

You may be able to improve the crystal with a gentle polish using a soft cloth and some Brasso. Mask off the case, so you don't wear the plating.

Unless it's a family watch with some sentimental value, I wouldn't put any money into it. If it runs and keeps decent time when you wind it and is something you'd use, I'd polish the crystal, replace the band and call it good.

 

[Timothy2700]

Your Lord Elgin watch with 21 jewels, serial number 811825, case number X106363, and a 14k gold-filled case marked "Elgin-U.S.A." is a vintage timepiece from the Elgin National Watch Company.
Lord Elgin was a premium line of wristwatches produced by Elgin.
The 21-jewel movement indicates a high-grade mechanical movement.
The 14k gold-filled case, made by Schwab and Wuischard of New York is not solid gold but has a thick layer of 14k gold bonded to a base metal. The base metal for this period was typically brass.
While the exact serial number 811825 isn’t listed in available records, similar Lord Elgin watches with serial numbers from the 1950s (e.g., those starting with letters like U or J) are dated to 1951–1955. Lord Elgin with a 21-jewel calibre 670 movement and a serial number in this range is likely from 1951–1952.
The "Elgin-U.S.A." marking confirms it was made before Elgin shifted some production to Switzerland in the late 1950s, making this an American-made watch, a point of pride for collectors due to Elgin’s heritage.
A well-preserved, serviced watch with an intact gold-filled case and original dial can fetch $400–$1,500.
The serial number (811825) and case number (X106363) are unique identifiers but don’t directly affect value unless they indicate a rare model or limited production run. Collectors value watches with documented provenance (e.g., original box or papers), which can increase worth by 10–20%.
Your watch’s 14k gold-filled case suggests it’s more affordable than solid gold models but still desirable for its vintage appeal and American craftsmanship.
Avoid polishing the case, as it can wear down the gold layer. If replacing the band, opt for a leather strap (e.g., 18mm brown alligator grain, as seen in similar models) to maintain vintage aesthetics.
This Lord Elgin is a beautiful piece of American horological history, likely a stylish dress watch from the early 1950s, perfect for collectors or as a cherished keepsake.
The "F.S." marking near the regulator suggests fine adjustment capabilities, typical of Lord Elgin’s precision engineering. The rectangular movement plate indicates a rectangular case design, which was popular in the 1940s–1950s for dress watches.

I hope this gives you what you need on this 'prized' vintage American made watch.

bdGreen

Holy mackerel! This is a SW factory letter on steroids.

 

[Jon651]

The serial number X106363 tells us this watch was built in 1939. It is a Grade 538, Model 3 of which 25,000 were produced of that model and a total of 89,000 of that grade. You can look up additional information on www.pocketwatchdatabase.com including size, barrel type, regulator type and much more. This is a good reference site for nearly all classic American pocket watches if you can get the serial number from the movement.

Here is the link for the data on this specific movement: https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/elgin/X106363

The serial number on the case doesn't tell us anything about the watch as it is not from Elgin but rather the maker of the case. There is no exact moment when this began, but it was around this time and later that timepieces began coming from the factory already cased. Before this, they were shipped as bare movements in shipping tins and it was more common for a person to walk into a jeweler and select the movement and the case separately depending on the intended use and the available budget. This is why it is not unusual to frequently see high-grade movements in a plain nickel case (for its ruggedness) and/or a solid gold case containing a lower-grade movement (to meet a budget).

 

[Jon651]

FYI - I forgot to mention that the hand-scribed markings on the case are from when the watch was serviced. Some jewelers/watchsmiths did this while others did not, and there is no standard format for deciphering them. Usually it's a combination of the date and servicer's initials while occasionally there was either a number or letter to indicate what type of service was performed.

I've been looking for someplace to repair an old Elgin pocket watch that was put into a modern wristwatch case, but unfortunately unless you know someone the wait is long and the price is steep...

 

[s&wchad]

I can recommend these folks...

Homepage | Illinois Watch Company

Watch repair vintage watch repair Omega certified OWME 1120 and 8500 certified Omega watch repair Omega chronograph watch repair Omega 321 repair Omega speedmaster repair Omega 861 repair Omega seamaster repair Omega 550 repair Omega constellation repair Omega 501 repair Illinois watch company...

illinoiswatchcompany.com

 

[hsguy]

As a resident of Elgin I find these threads fascinating. I know nothing about watches but do appreciate the local history I learn. A recent project in Elgin some may fine interesting. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/ep...p-former-silbert-watch-co-site-elgin-illinois

 

[Jon651]

I can recommend these folks...

Homepage | Illinois Watch Company

Watch repair vintage watch repair Omega certified OWME 1120 and 8500 certified Omega watch repair Omega chronograph watch repair Omega 321 repair Omega speedmaster repair Omega 861 repair Omega seamaster repair Omega 550 repair Omega constellation repair Omega 501 repair Illinois watch company...

illinoiswatchcompany.com

Thanks for the info! I've given up finding anyone within 100 miles of my residence so I will give them a try and see what they say. Fingers crossed...