Online Elgin Serial Number Database
YES!
Movement serial number |
NO!
Case serial number |
The Online Database for the Elgin Watch Company can tell you a
great deal of information about your watch, based on just the
serial number off the movement. (The "movement" is also sometimes
called the "watch works".)
Important!
- The serial number must be off the movement of the watch (where
the gears are), not off the case. These two serial numbers are unrelated. For more information see the
Watch Serial Number
web page.
- You must give the letter prefix of the serial number, if there
is one.
- If you don't have an exact Serial Number, you can use many other
Search Options. There is a lot of flexibility here.
- There is an example with explanations
that goes over every part of the search results.
The Watch Codes are similar ones
are used by many experienced watch collectors. Also the names
that are marked on the movement have been
abbreviated.
- If you have a quartz watch, one that uses a battery, one with a
logo, instead of the name "Elgin" on the dial, or anything
made after around 1965, then you are pretty much out of luck. I have
zero information about these newer watches. For a longer explanation,
see my Newer Elgins webpage.
- If you have a wrist watch, and the only number on the movement
is a three digit number in the range of 500-999, then there
is no serial number. You may be able to get some limited
information by entering the query
"g=<number>" (where <number> is replaced with the 3 digit
number)
-
This database is the most complete and accurate records of Elgin
watches that I know of. That said, I know of errors in it, and
I know that it isn't complete. If there are
any discrepancies, verify the serial number. If the serial
number is correct please let me know about the problem by emailing me.
How to Open a Watch Case
While opening a watch isn't rocket science, a watch can
be damaged if you try to open it incorrectly. Never use
a screwdriver to try to open a case. I find using my finger
nail to be quite effective and it is soft enough to not scratch
a watch case.
If you really aren't sure what to do, take it to one of your
local jewelers and ask them to show you how to open it. While
it is open, make sure you record everything written on
the movement of the watch and the watch case. These details can
sometimes be important.
Kent Singer has written up a good explanation of
how to open a watch case.
Chris Ozdoba has also written up a good explanation of
how
to open a watch case. Chris' explanation isn't as detailed
as Kent's, but it includes pictures which can be very helpful.
Elgin Watch News
If you visit this website frequently, you may be interested in some of
the things that have changed recently.
| Changing ISPs | 30 Mar 2005 | |
Sometime in the next week or so, I will be moving my website from
one ISP to another. In theory, this should all be
transparent to everyone and there should be zero downtime. If
things don't go well, you might have problems connecting for a
while, but rest assured that I'll try and fix any problems ASAP.
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| Hardware problems | 29 Mar 2005 | |
The power supply on my webserver went out last night. I bought a
new one, it is installed, and things appear to be working ok now.
Sorry about the 12hr outage.
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Older news can be found in the
archive.
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