It would be great find for any collector

Up for sale is a truly fascinating and historic piece of American horology – a vintage Elgin mechanical conversion wristwatch. During the 1940s, high-grade American pocket watch movements and cases were frequently adapted by master watchmakers into oversized wristwatches ("trench watches") by soldering custom wire lugs onto the metal housing – a highly characteristic modification of that era.

This timepiece features a classic white enamel dial with black Roman numerals and a sub-second dial at 6 o'clock. Inside beats a gorgeous, intricately engraved 17-jewel Elgin movement (serial #12072216). The watch comes paired with a brand new PU leather strap and is in fully working condition, keeping good time!

CRITICAL WARNING FOR TIME SETTING (PIN-SET MECHANISM):

This is a historic pocket-watch-based movement utilizing a pin-set mechanism. To set the time, you must gently press down the small pin/button located on the case next to the crown while rotating the crown. DO NOT simply pull the crown outward like on a standard modern wristwatch, as forcing it can severely damage the clutch and setting levers!

DEFECTS: The enamel dial is in overall good condition but features several small hairline cracks. Honest signs of aging and wear on the outer case appropriate for a 1940s conversion piece.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

MANUFACTURER: Elgin National Watch Company

OVERALL CONDITION (10-point scale): 7

CASE

Oversized metal conversion case with custom-soldered vintage wire lugs (typical 1940s style modification) and a press-fit back cover.

Condition (10-point scale): 7

Inscriptions on the back cover: Elgin factory hallmark stamp inside

GLASS

High-grade acrylic crystal protecting the classic dial.

Material: Acrylic Glass

Condition (10-point scale): 7-8

DIAL

Original white porcelain enamel dial in good collectible condition with a few small hairline cracks. Elegant black Roman numerals, outer minute track, and a sub-second subsidiary dial at 6 o'clock. *(Note: photos of the dial were taken without the crystal to allow a better and clearer assessment of its actual condition).*

Condition (10-point scale): 7-8

Inscriptions on the dial: Elgin

STRAP

Brand new PU leather strap fitted!

Condition (10-point scale): 10

MOVEMENT

Mechanical: Hand-winding

Caliber: Elgin 17-Jewel Pocket Watch Movement (Safety Pinion)

Engravings & Markings on movement:
- Elgin Nat. Watch Co. U.S.A.
- Serial number: 12072216
- 17 Jewels, Adjusted, Safety Pinion
- Exquisite damaskeening / decorative pattern engraving

Features:
Manual wind / Stem wind
Pin-set mechanism (press pin to set time)
Sub-second dial at 6 o'clock

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, FUNCTIONS

Dimensions of watches

HISTORY & LORE

All Antique and vintage watches are mechanical. Repairs require precision, so please handle this historical artifact with care.

• Vintage mechanical watches should not be beaten or dropped - shocks can damage the balance staff.
• Vintage watches are generally NOT waterproof. Protect your timekeeper from direct contact with water, heavy rain, or high humidity.
• If your watch becomes wet it should be dried off quickly. Carefully open all covers and use a hair drier to blow dry the movement, dial, covers, crown. This will reduce the amount of rust.
• If your watch becomes wet with any kind of salt water you should immediately immerse or spray your watch with fresh (no-salt) water to remove all the salt from the works before drying the watch completely. Any salt left in the watch will combine with moisture in the air to rust metal components of the movement, case etc.
• Winding any mechanical watch tight may break the mainspring. Stop winding as soon as you feel the natural resistance tightening up.
• When adjusting the hands of your watch, move them in a clockwise direction only to prevent stress on the gear train.
• If you must adjust counter-clockwise make it for small adjustments only (i.e. for minutes, NOT hours).
• Be careful and gentle when adjusting the movement speed (faster or slower). Don't make sharp movements, and don't touch other components in the movement especially the pendulum mechanism.
• Every 2-3 years it is recommended to service, clean, and oil vintage watches to keep them running accurately for decades to come.
• IF the watch is dirty - allow the watch to run down, don't wind it again until you have it serviced by a qualified watch repair expert. Dust will absorb and remove important lubricants and cause the movement pieces to wear down.
• To clean the case, dial and crystal you should use a cloth that does NOT leave fibers as these may get caught up in the movement. Check with your Watch repair expert to get an appropriate cloth.
• Keep your watch away from strong magnetic fields (large speakers, modern computers, magnets) since magnetic exposure can alter the balance spring performance.
• Most Cases and Covers are fine components and will not handle abuse well. The watch should not be shaken, beaten, or stressed.
• Vintage mechanical watches naturally experience a daily deviation error of up to a few minutes. An accuracy of +/- 3 to 5 minutes a day is considered excellent for a classic timepiece.
• Mechanical watch is not recommended to use for engage in extreme sports, and expose them to excessive vibration loads. Recoil force, which take on the clock, affect their reliability and precision. No matter how perfect was not anti-shock mechanism, there is always the chance of excessive load that details of the mechanism can not survive.
• Watch with calendar. It is not recommended to adjust, the date between 20.00 and 06.00, because at this time involved a mechanism for automatic adjustment date. Translation pointers calendars manually in this position arrows may damage the mechanism. Date changes should be made, relegating pre-clockwise to lower sector of the dial (for example, to position 6 (18.00) hours).
• Chronograph watches. In most cases, these watches contain the "start/stop" button and "reset" button. It is strongly recommended not to press the "reset" if the chronograph is running. Before you use the "Reset" button need to stop the chronograph by button "start/stop". Using the "reset" when running chronograph can damage the mechanism of most models of watches.

1. Total amount due includes the final item price plus Shipping.
2. Shipping charges are determined based upon the destination address. Please note that buyers are responsible for any applicable local customs procedures.

We ship worldwide! This item will be securely packed and dispatched to you from Europe (Ukraine) via registered international airmail, complete with a tracking number and insurance coverage. Shipments are processed within 1-3 business days after payment clears.

Typical Delivery Timeframes:

• European Countries: approximately 7-14 days;
• USA & Worldwide: approximately 10-21 days.

NOTE: Actual delivery speeds depend heavily on your local customs handling and postal services. Rest assured, we pack all items with extreme care to guarantee they reach your doorstep in perfect condition!

We accept returns in compliance with standard platform terms. Items must be returned in their original vintage condition as received. Return shipping costs are to be covered by the Buyer.

We strive for 100% customer satisfaction and look forward to earning your positive feedback! If you experience any issues or have any doubts upon receiving your parcel, please contact us immediately *before* leaving neutral or negative marks. We are always here to help resolve any issues amicably.

Thank you for your interest in our vintage treasures!

Please let us know if you have any questions. Good luck!