Specifications
| Brand | Elgin National Watch Co. |
| Serial Number | 20927890 |
| Production Year | 1918 |
| Grade | 455 |
| Variation | B.W. Raymond |
| Model | 15 |
| Estimated Production | 64,000 |
| Run Quantity | 1,000 |
| Jewels | 19 |
| Movement Type | Openface |
| Case Size | 16 Size |
| Dial | Tri-Tone Fancy Dial |
| Movement Finish | Nickel |
| Setting | Lever Set |
| Plate | 3/4 Plate |
| Adjusted | Yes |
| Adjusted Positions | 5 |
| Adjusted to Temperature | Yes |
| Adjusted to Isochronism | Yes |
| Railroad Grade | Yes – Class A |
Condition
The pictures tell the very best description of the condition of this watch.
Comments / Notes
This is a strong and highly desirable Elgin Grade 455 B.W. Raymond railroad grade watch, produced in 1918 during the peak era of American railroad timekeeping.
Pocket Watch Database identifies this watch as:
Grade: 455
Variation: B.W. Raymond
Model: 15
Pocket Watch Database also lists the standard dial type for this grade as Double-Sunk, and indicates that these movements were fitted at the factory with double-sunk dials.
Within the Elgin 45x grade family, the variations are recognized as:
- 453 = Veritas
- 454 = Father Time
- 455 = B.W. Raymond
These 45x grades are often referred to as some of the last of the more visually refined Elgin production runs.
What sets this watch apart is the dial. This is a tri-tone fancy dial (Blue, white,silver), and it is very unusual to find a railroad pocket watch fitted with a fancy dial. Railroad watches were built first and foremost as precision instruments, and were typically fitted with plain, highly legible utility dials. Finding one that combines a correct railroad-grade movement with a more decorative dial configuration is not common.
In the context of American railroad time service, it is very unusual to encounter a watch like this. Railroad standards that developed through the late 19th and early 20th centuries placed heavy emphasis on legibility and consistency, which is why the vast majority of railroad-grade watches were fitted with plain, highly readable dials. Decorative or two-tone fancy dials were typically outside of that norm. At the same time, Elgin and other American manufacturers were producing more elaborate enamel dial work as production techniques advanced, including patented processes such as those developed by Henry Abbott. That makes the combination seen here — a correct, fully adjusted railroad-grade movement paired with a tri-tone fancy dial — stand out as a less commonly encountered configuration and one that carries strong visual appeal while retaining proper railroad specifications.
Dial Condition
The dial has been examined under 20-power magnification and against a direct light source.
There is very light chipping around the perimeter. This is visible in the photos. There are also a few noted flaws, including hairlines around the 7 and 8 o’clock markers, as well as a very small chip directly beside the sub-second dial, between the sub-second center and the 20 mark. These are visible in the provided images.
All of the silver printing stands out extremely well under light and is visually very pleasing. The track itself appears to be completely intact, with no loss observed.
There are gold dot accents present around the outer perimeter at approximately the 10, 11, and 12 o’clock positions. These are difficult to capture in photography and do not show well in the images, but are visible in hand.
It is important to note that under normal viewing conditions, these flaws are not readily visible. At approximately one foot from the dial, the noted hairlines are not visible to the eye. The minor flea bite chips around the perimeter are likewise not noticeable in hand.
Even the chip near the sub-second dial, which may appear more significant under magnification or close-up photography, is in reality extremely small — approximately the size of a pinhead — and is not visually intrusive during normal viewing.
Two-tone and multi-tone enamel dials of this type are well known to exhibit flaws with age. It is uncommon to find examples of this style completely free of imperfections. This dial, despite the noted issues under magnification, presents very well overall.
The true color of the inner portion of the dial has a subtle baby blue tone, which is more apparent in hand than in photographs.
Detailed Watch Inspection
This watch has been closely inspected.
It winds excellent in both directions. The action is smooth, clean, and easy on the fingers with no roughness or resistance. The bow is tight.
There is wear through of the nickel plating to the crown, which is visible in the pictures. The photography tends to overemphasize this slightly — it does show, and it is not being hidden, but it is less noticeable in hand than the images suggest.
The case is a nickel silver composition with machining on the back. The cartouche area for engraving initials remains blank. The watch has clearly been used, but not abused. There is normal surface scratching consistent with everyday use on a watch of this age, but no major scrapes or deep damage. The case would reasonably grade in the 7 to 7.5 out of 10 range, and presents better in hand than in the photos.
Both the bezel and the case back unscrew and return cleanly with no cross-threading.
The lever set mechanism operates exactly as it should. The lever pulls out easily without tools, stays in position properly, and the watch sets smoothly in both directions. Forward setting is recommended as standard practice.
The blue steel hands are correct and present well, aligning properly at 12 o’clock. The sub-second hand shows slight silvering/wear but remains appropriate to the watch and overall presentation.
The interior case back is clearly marked “Sturdy Nickel Silver” with a tree hallmark and serial number 4700079. There are additional small internal markings present, visible in the photos, of unknown origin.
The movement is outstanding. It presents exactly as you would expect from an Elgin B.W. Raymond. The engraving is deep, sharp, and retains its gold fill beautifully. Under magnification, there appear to be no significant screwdriver slips, with possibly a very minor mark on the cock visible only under extreme magnification.
The gold jewel settings are bright and clean. The damaskeening is crisp, well-defined, and really comes alive after proper cleaning. The gold train is visually striking, and the entire movement presents at a very high level.
This movement has been fully serviced. It has been completely disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled, then properly timed. It is currently keeping excellent time within approximately one minute per day.
The watch is fitted with a glass crystal. It is not new old stock, but it is in very good condition and presents well.
This is a fantastic example of early 20th century American watchmaking — a piece of mechanical engineering that continues to perform more than a century after it was made.
It is also an unusual and interesting piece. The combination of a correct railroad-grade movement with a tri-tone fancy dial gives it a character that stands apart from typical railroad watches. It is exactly as it came in, with the dial and case together, untouched in that regard.
This is a watch that will stand out extremely well in a collection or display, and one that offers something just a little different from the standard railroad example.
Review the photos closely. They represent the watch exactly as it is.
Shipping
US shipping is $19.99
Overseas shipping is generally $30 to $40 U.S. dollars, please keep this in mind.