1929 Elgin 14 Karat White Gold, Model 210, Enamel Accents, Rare Model

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$1,601.00

• Details
  The Elgin Model 210: An Art Deco Treasure in White Gold
  
  Among American wristwatches of the late 1920s, few embody the elegance and mystery of the Art Deco era quite like the Elgin Model 210. Produced in 1929—a year remembered for both cultural brilliance and devastating financial collapse—this elusive timepiece is as much a historical artifact as it is a design masterpiece.
  
  Rarity and Specifications
  
  The Model 210 is a difficult watch to source, even for seasoned collectors. This particular example features:
  
  • 14k White Gold Case, measuring 24mm wide by 35mm long
  
  • White and Black Enamel Inlays, carefully set into the bezel
  
  • A rare tonneau hinged case, designed and manufactured by Strauss & Neugass, one of the little-known but highly skilled case makers of the Art Deco period
  
  • A correct and original Elgin Caliber 444, 15-jewel movement
  
  Strauss & Neugass cases are seldom acknowledged in horological literature, yet their contribution to the aesthetic richness of the period was significant. For collectors who look beyond the movement to appreciate the artistry of case design, this is a detail worth celebrating.
  
  1929: A Year of Contrasts
  
  The irony of this watch’s manufacture cannot be overlooked. It was introduced in 1929, the same year the U.S. stock market collapsed, plunging the country into the Great Depression. At a time when families struggled to hold on to basic necessities, Elgin released a wristwatch that epitomized sophistication, geometry, and glamour.
  
  This juxtaposition—the brilliance of Art Deco style shining against a backdrop of financial darkness—heightens the significance of the Model 210. It is a reminder that beauty and progress often persist even in the hardest of times.
  
  Art Deco Aesthetic
  
  The Model 210 is a quintessential expression of Art Deco design. The bold black-and-white enamel inlays, coupled with the streamlined tonneau-shaped case, reflect the movement’s emphasis on geometric form and industrial elegance.
  
  Elgin was one of several American watchmakers to embrace this design revolution. Names like Mermaid, Skyscraper, Lady and the Tiger, Avigo, and Oval stand among the brand’s celebrated Art Deco releases, but the Model 210 remains one of the least commonly encountered—and one of the most striking.
  
  On Restoration
  
  The question of restoration often divides collectors. Some believe any intervention erases originality; others argue that careful restoration brings new life to neglected treasures. For a watch like the Model 210, my philosophy is clear: while it may not be a “museum piece” of singular horological innovation, it is a low-production treasure that deserves to be appreciated in its full beauty.
  
  The planned restoration will be ground-up: movement overhaul, case cleaning, enamel stabilization, and careful dial preservation. The goal is not to erase history but to allow the watch to speak again in the way it was intended nearly a century ago.
  
  Legacy and Reflection
  
  When I look at this watch, I think not only of the era it was born into but also of the generations ahead. Perhaps my grandchildren will one day hold it and appreciate its elegance, its mystery, and its story. Art Deco has always been more than a design language—it is a visual movement of progress, glamour, and quiet sophistication.
  
  The Elgin Model 210 is, in every sense, a crown jewel among the ordinary. It is an American Art Deco treasure, one that bridges the past with the present and carries with it the enduring reminder that even in the hardest times, beauty finds a way to endure.
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