1920s 15 Jewel Elgin Art Deco Beauty, 14K White Gold Filled, beautiful chased design.

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$756.00

• Details
  1920s Elgin Art Deco Treasure – Carved Relief Case – 15 Jewel Movement
  
  I’ll admit it — I get downright giddy when I stumble across an authentic Art Deco offering. To me, these watches are not just timekeepers; they’re wearable art. They draw on everything the 1920s stood for: bold design, daring architecture, new color palettes, and the courage to push beyond ordinary lines.
  
  This Elgin is exactly that — a rare treasure with carved relief lugs seamlessly integrated into the case, creating a fluid, linear design that is the very language of Art Deco. Look closely and you’ll notice its most unusual detail: the sub-seconds dial placed at 9 o’clock, an unconventional engineering choice that sets this watch apart.
  
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  ✦ A Survivor of a Transformational Era
  
  This watch represents the wristwatch transition period — the years when pocket watches gave way to the wristwatches we know today. Inside is a 15 jewel Elgin movement (Grade 420), originally crafted around 1918 as a small pocket watch caliber, then recased in the mid-1920s as Elgin embraced wristwatch design. By then, wristwatches had gained full social acceptance — thanks in part to the soldiers of WWI who returned home wearing their trench watches.
  
  To hold this watch is to hold the story of that transformation.
  
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  ✦ Restoration & Details
  
  This piece has undergone a thoughtful restoration, always with respect for its history:
  
  • Case: Ultrasonically cleaned, hand-polished, with black enamel carefully reapplied where missing. The carved relief lugs flow into the case in true Deco style.
  
  • Dial & Hands: Professionally refinished to their original presentation, luminous accents restored.
  
  • Crystal: Replaced with a clear period-appropriate dome.
  
  • Movement: Comprehensive tear-down and service completed (2025) — running beautifully at 15 jewels.
  
  • Band: Custom-made 16mm black alligator strap, high-relief texture, with a classic Deco look.
  
  Case dimensions:
  • Width (9 to 3): 27.3mm
  
  • Lug-to-lug: 34.75mm
  
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  ✦ Why It Matters
  
  Most Art Deco watches you’ll see today are either heavily worn, poorly restored, or stripped of their originality. This one is different. It still carries its soul of the 1920s — the design language of the Great Gatsby era — and it shows how American watchmakers like Elgin dared to embrace boldness in both style and engineering.
  
  And here’s a thought: my shop was recently honored to supply vintage American watches for a major feature film about the 1910s–1920s. Watching those timepieces on screen reminded me that these watches aren’t just collectibles — they’re storytellers. This Elgin would have fit that world perfectly.
  
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  ✦ A Perfect Gift for Life’s Milestones
  
  Imagine giving this watch as a wedding or anniversary gift. Art Deco design was built on themes of love, permanence, and optimism, all of which feel especially fitting for such a milestone. A century ago, a watch like this would have been chosen as a once-in-a-lifetime piece, something treasured for decades.
  
  Unlike modern factory watches, this is a survivor of the Jazz Age, restored to run and ready to be worn again — or cherished as a family heirloom. It’s not just a gift of time, but of history, artistry, and enduring love. Every glance at its bold lines and elegant enamel is a reminder that great design — like great relationships — stands the test of time.
  
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  ✦ Final Notes
  
  • Case: 14k white gold-filled, in remarkable condition for its age. A small nibble exists on the back, but it does not detract from its presentation.
  
  • Movement: Elgin Grade 420, 3/0 size, 15 jewels, serial 20657217 (circa 1918).
  
  • Original hands show light oxidation visible only under a loupe — a sign of authenticity, not flaw.
  
  This is not just a watch. It’s a survivor, a design statement, and a collectible work of art. The kind of piece you’ll wear proudly today, but one destined to be handed down as part of your family’s story.
  
  As always, I pack with care, insure for safety, and stand behind every restoration I complete.
  
  ✨ Think 1920s. Think Art Deco. Think Gatsby. Own a rare bird. Gift it as history itself.
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  I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations

  Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery

  Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery

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