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Elgin Gold Filled Art Deco Tortue Shaped Watch with Flawless Original Dial
About the Item
FACTORY / HOUSE: Elgin Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tortue Shape
METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 40mm X Width 25mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 17 Jewels / Caliber 8-0
DIAL / HANDS: Factory Original Silvered with Blued Steel Numerals and Matching Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / BRACELET: Leather, 16mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT
Wow...We have never seen this model with this unique dial. The dial is silvered with Blued Steel Numbers. We have only ever seen a few watches with Blued Steel Numbers. This is a wonderful Art Deco Watch which you will unlikely never see again. This shape was originally designed by Louis Cartier.
The Tortue, meaning "tortoise" in French was first introduced in the early teens. The style has a long and distinguished history within Cartier's watchmaking repertoire. Debuting in 1912, even earlier than the iconic Cartier Tank, the Tortue stood out from the crowd with its unique case shape. He was inspired by giant tortoises he saw holding up columns in an ancient Greek Temple that was 3000 years old. The elongated oval form offered a distinctive alternative to the predominantly round watches of the era. Cartier was one of the first designers to "stylize" basic things around him. He looked at utilitarian items and things in nature and by exaggeration, extension and stylization re-expressed them. Although not as widely recognized as the Tank or Santos, the Tortue was a success, existing comfortably alongside these other famous designs.
ELGIN HISTORY
The Elgin National Watch Company was founded in 1864 in Elgin, Illinois, as the National Watch Company in Chicago, Illinois. In September of the same year, the founders visited the Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Massachusetts to “poach” some of their employees. They successfully convinced seven of Waltham's watchmakers to come to work for their new company. The growing young city of Elgin, Illinois, some 30 miles northwest of Chicago, was chosen as the factory site.
The Elgin Watch Company quickly became one of the leading watchmakers in the United States. In 1870, the company produced its first million watches. By 1890, Elgin was producing over two million watches per year, more than any other watch factory in the world. The company's success was due in part to its innovative manufacturing techniques and its commitment to quality. Elgin recognized that the idea of interchangeable parts was the future of all production methods. Their watches were known for their accuracy and durability.
The Elgin also played a major role in the development of the pocket watches for the railroads. They built fine, dependable, sturdy and very accurate watches. In 1910, Elgin introduced the first wristwatch that met the criteria for the railroads, even though it was not approved for use for 50 years. It was still an achievement. The company continued to produce high-quality pocket and wristwatches throughout the 20th century, and its watches were worn by celebrities, politicians, and other notable figures.
As with other American companies in technology for the times they benefited from military contracts for watches for W.W. 1 and W.W. 2 as well. They built instruments for cars, planes, ships and trains as well.
Elgin invented the “unbreakable” mainspring and many other technological breakthroughs. The Swiss paid licensing fees to Elgin for many of their inventions in watchmaking. Patek Philippe even used Elgin’s technology in their Balance Wheels in the 1950’s.
When I started learning watchmaking in the late 1960’s I was about 13 years old. The man who was my teacher was named Norman Jarrett and he was 85 years old when I started. He had been a Foreman in the Elgin factory in the 1920’s. I learned watchmaking the old-fashioned way. He taught me, “Never fit the watch to the part” he always said, “only fit the part to the watch, or don’t start the project.” He also pointed out, “In the future someone better than you may have the skill to do it right, but you ruined the watch already because you did not have the skill.” Like most of the things he taught me, it was a rule for living life as well.
Norman also said “Watchmaking is a serious craft” and shared with me a story about one of the men he worked within a shop. The man was not able to accurately adjust the timing after many hours. The next day he committed suicide. I decided that if I could not fix the watch to just put it down for a while and look at it another day.
By the time they closed shop Elgin had produced over 60 million watches and left a legacy of excellence and inventions as well.
- Creator:
- Case Material:
- Strap Material:Leather
- Case Shape:Rectangle
- Movement:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. It is worth noting that this watch only had a 12-month warranty when it was new. However, we are so confident of our workmanship and team that we offer an 18-month warranty on all our watches, even those over 100 years old.
- Seller Location:Long Beach, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 44221stDibs: LU422326487972

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View AllWaltham Gold Filled Tortue Shaped Art Deco Watch with Flawless Original Dial
By Waltham
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Waltham Watch Company
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tortue Shape
METAL / MATERIAL: White Gold Filled
CIRCA / YEAR: 1930
DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 37mm X Diameter 30mm
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 7 Jewels / Caliber 0-Size
DIAL / HANDS: Flawless Original Dial with Arabic Numerals / Blued Steel Hands
ATTACHMENT / LENGTH: Leather, 16mm / Regular Length
WARRANTY: 18 months on the movement
LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT
This great looking and all original watch was produced by Waltham in 1930, just after the 1929 banking collapse and the repercussions of that collapse were not yet to be felt.
It appears to be fitted with an original period strap and buckle. The strap is to fragile to wear on a daily basis, but it does indicate what fine condition the watch is in. It is also fitted with an original period buckle, which we have attached to the new strap supplied with the watch.
The watch has a flawless original dial, which we never see on watches this old. Also still has its original Blued Steel Hands as well. This is a "vault find" watch, it has been locked up for nearly 50 years, which means it needs a service. We will give it a factory quality service by our finest watchmaker as part of the purchase price before it is shipped out to you. This will delay shipping for a few days of course. You can really count on this watch as well and can wear it all the time. You will not see another like this one, I am sure of that.
The Waltham Watch Company was an American watch manufacturing house founded in 1850 in Roxbury, Massachusetts. It was the first American company to mass-produce watches using interchangeable parts. The company's watches were known for their quality and affordability, and they quickly became popular with consumers. Waltham played a major role in the development of the American watch industry as well as establishing the concept of “mass produced” products.
By the way, Henry Ford was a watchmaker, and he was inspired to build cars the same way Waltham Watches were produced, for the masses with interchangeable parts.
Waltham’s success helped to make the United States a major player in the global watch market as well as promote the idea of “industrialization.” Before the Waltham Watch Company, watches were generally produced by hand, in “cottage” industries. They were owned by the wealthier class or the “working class” that needed to know the time. The company's affordable watches made them accessible to a wider range of people and helped to change the way people thought about time. Prior to this, people used their local Church bells to direct them in their daily lives.
The Company continued to grow and prosper throughout the 19th century. During the American Civil War, they supplied watches to the military, and of course they grew because of this association.
In 1885, they moved their headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts, and changed their name to the American Waltham Watch Company.
Waltham was a major exhibitor at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The company's exhibit at the exposition was housed in a large pavilion that was designed to resemble a factory. The pavilion was filled with watches of all shapes and sizes, as well as machinery used in the manufacturing process. The exhibit was a major success, and it helped to raise the profile of Waltham watches around the world.
Amongst the visitors at the exhibition was a contingent from Switzerland. When they realized what Waltham was doing, they quickly understood that their methods were outdated and soon enough they would be a country unable to compete. They also went to the Waltham factory for a visit after the exhibition. It is said that they purchased a few of Waltham’s higher grade movements. The director of the factory said he would have them “adjusted” before they left, but they said it was not necessary. When they arrived back in Switzerland, they checked them and were shocked at the level of quality and accuracy. This prompted them to buy some of the equipment that Waltham was using so they could start building better watches that were less expensive and more accurate.
Some of that machinery ended up in the small town of Schaffhausen and became The International Watch Company. They are still in business today making exceptional watches.
The military, for any nation, is a powerful source of revenue for industrial contracts. So, any industry would prosper during war and Waltham continued to be a supplier to the military for over 100 years. Through WW 1...
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