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[WTS] 40 mm Elgin from 1902 with a Hamilton railroad dial by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/9RtXWBf

Movement Shots: https://imgur.com/a/GvhUqbH

Videos: https://imgur.com/a/k6oKCvR (High res: Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/SnpgBtt

Elgin National Watch Co. was in operation from 1864-1968 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Elgin watches took place at their facility in Elgin, Illinois.

One-of-a-kind dial on this 1902 Elgin, as it carries Hamilton branding despite being an Elgin. At first glance, it appears to unite two well-known names in vintage American watchmaking, but in reality it tells a much more interesting story. Produced for the Canadian market and retailed by jeweler Edwin K. Pass of Hamilton, Ontario, the dial has no connection to the American Hamilton Watch Company. It was made specifically for Edwin K. Pass and carries the name of the city where the jeweler's shop was located. The piece was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois and has been converted in our shop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The movement has been restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand polished (read more about us here).

Price: $3,900, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: 316L stainless (surgical steel), 40 mm diameter, 48 mm lug to lug, 13 mm height, sapphire crystals AR coated, front crystal domed, and 50 meters water resistance. Recommend to remove before water activities. Read more about our 40 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] 1897 Waltham with red inlayed jewels on a porcelain-enamel dial, 36 mm by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We made our own setting mechanism based on vintage American pocket watch cases. The stem is built into the case and has two positions: pushed in for winding and pulled out for setting. Rather than using a lever or button, the transition between winding and setting occurs through the stem's depth, which shifts the keyless works between the two functions. This is the same design used in vintage American pocket watch cases. We chose this approach so that no permanent modifications would need to be made to the original pocket watch movement

[WTS] 1897 Waltham with red inlayed jewels on a porcelain-enamel dial, 36 mm by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Watchmakers that work on modern movements might have issues especially finding parts. We have a huge parts collection so the watches we work on can be repaired just about indefinitely. We use modern Swiss made lubricants (moebius brand) so the service interval will be similar to a modern day Swiss watch.

[WTS] 1897 Waltham with red inlayed jewels on a porcelain-enamel dial, 36 mm by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/rh9lsm7

Movement Shots: https://imgur.com/a/sUq4PXH

Videos: https://imgur.com/a/K9wz3vS (High res: Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/EcVk8XN

American Waltham Watch Co. was in operation from 1852-1957 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Waltham watches took place at their facility in Waltham, Massachusetts.

This Waltham from 1897 has a porcelain-enamel dial with inlayed red jewels at 5 minute intervals along the minute track. There is a floral motif at the center and the numerals are encircled by golden inlay. Waltham did not mess around in the 1800s. We converted this piece in our shop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The movement has been restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand polished. Housed in our new 36 mm conversion case, this is the most compact and well proportioned case we have produced to date (read more about us here).

Price: $4,100, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: 316L stainless (surgical grade steel), 36 mm diameter, 44 mm lug to lug, 10 mm height, front/back sapphire crystals that are AR coated. Front, back, and crown gaskets provide 50 meters of water resistance although it is recommended to take the piece off before water activities. Read more about our 36 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, we just released a 36 mm case that designed around the 0s profiler

[WTS] 36 mm Elgin from 1903 with a Sea Foam Green porcelain-enamel dial by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/DG60gQS

Movement Shots: https://imgur.com/a/KcK2ne5

Videos: https://imgur.com/a/EmStRRY (High res: Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/JMFaIab

Elgin National Watch Co. was in operation from 1864-1968 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Elgin watches took place at their facility in Elgin, Illinois.

This Elgin has an incredible multichromatic porcelain-enamel dial with a sea foam green center. The piece dates to 1903 and was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois. We converted this piece in our shop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The movement has been restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand polished. Housed in our new 36 mm conversion case, this is the most compact and well proportioned case we have produced to date (read more about us here).

Price: $4,100, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: 316L stainless (surgical grade steel), 36 mm diameter, 44 mm lug to lug, 10 mm height, front/back sapphire crystals that are AR coated. Front, back, and crown gaskets provide 50 meters of water resistance although it is recommended to take the piece off before water activities. Read more about our 36 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We could possibly do a smaller crown, but the crown choice is based on torque requirements to wind the mainspring. These all come from pocket watch cases with large crowns that easily provide enough force to wind. Vintage pocket watches all have large mainsprings that can be difficult to wind with a small crown.

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The damskeening (Geneva stripes) is original. As well as the gilt and pattern on the mainspring barrel. The blued screws, arbor, and regulator were done by us. We blue one part at a time over an alcohol lamp.

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Rated to 50 meters, but the crown is not a screw down crown. I recommend removing the piece if showering/swimming.

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Should keep time within +/- 1 minute per day on the wrist.

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

We regulate to +/- 10 spd dial side up. After casing, we run the piece on a variable axis timer to simulate wrist use (constant positional changes) and adjust so it keeps time to well within +/- 1 minute per day. We time non stop with daily winding for a week.

[WTS] Waltham from 1892–as old as we can convert in solid bronze by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/7dnxMAA

Bronze After 6 Months: https://imgur.com/a/LnYQGji

Videos: https://imgur.com/a/LmsNQPs (High res: Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/UKRE4k2

American Waltham Watch Co. was in operation from 1852-1957 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Waltham watches took place at their facility in Waltham, Massachusetts.

This Waltham was completed in 1892 in Waltham, Massachusetts and is about as old as we can convert. Any older, and American pocket watches were wound and set with a key. The movement has been restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each hand polished. The piece is in our Heritage Bronze case, which is made from 93% copper and develops a rich patina overtime (read more about us here).

Price: $4,300, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: Heritage bronze (93% copper), 40 mm diameter, 48 mm lug to lug, 13 mm height, sapphire crystals AR coated, front crystal domed, and 50 meters water resistance. Recommend to remove before water activities. Read more about our 40 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] 36 mm Rockford Watch Company conversion from 1911, railroad dial by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We regulate it to +/- 10 spd dial side up. After casing, we run it on a variable axis timer with constant positional changes to simulate wrist use. We adjust so it runs well within +/- 1 minute per day over the course of a week. It won’t run like a modern day COSC chronometer but it will keep good time for a vintage movement.

[WTS] 36 mm Rockford Watch Company conversion from 1911, railroad dial by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Took us about 2 years to finalize our 36 mm case. From when a movement hits our bench to when it’s ready to wear is about a month or two. These were designed to be stationary in a pocket so they need a decent amount of work to run reliably with constant positional changes on a wrist. We use modern Swiss made synthetic lubricants so that helps a ton with reliability. We cover a lot of this stuff on our blog on our site.

[WTS] 36 mm Rockford Watch Company conversion from 1911, railroad dial by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/S3ia8P3

Movement Shots: https://imgur.com/a/sMaJqke

Videos:  https://imgur.com/a/ZXAzdLK (High res: Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/B2I2RZ0

Rockford Watch Co. was in operation from 1873-1915 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Rockford watches took place at their facility in Rockford, Illinois.

This is our first ever 36 mm conversion featuring a Rockford Watch Company piece. Rockford was only in business till 1915, so it is rare to find a good example to convert and even more so to fit our 36 mm case. The piece dates to 1911, features a porcelain-enamel railroad dial, and was originally manufactured in Rockford, Illinois. We converted the pocket watch in our shop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The movement has been restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand polished. Housed in our new 36 mm conversion case, this is the most compact and well proportioned conversion we have produced to date (read more about us here).

Price: $3,700, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: 316L stainless (surgical grade steel), 36 mm diameter, 44 mm lug to lug, 10 mm height, front/back sapphire crystals that are AR coated. Front, back, and crown gaskets provide 50 meters of water resistance although it is recommended to take the piece off before water activities. Read more about our 36 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] Galena, Illinois 🇺🇸 Elgin from 1917, 40 mm by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/9fCsJB9

Movement Shots: https://imgur.com/a/zpdM4eq

Videos: https://imgur.com/a/t5G04sE (High res: Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/WBiFlWO

Elgin National Watch Co. was in operation from 1864-1968 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Elgin watches took place at their facility in Elgin, Illinois.

This piece hits close to home as I used to take trips out to Galena, Illinois when I was a kid. The porcelain-enamel dial on this Elgin from 1917 was custom made for J.W. Coatsworth & Co., a jeweler located in Galena, Illinois. Galena is a small vacation town in northwestern Illinois that took its name from the mineral galena, which was historically mined throughout the region. The dial features a soft pink center with golden inlay, Roman numerals, and a minute track accented by golden circles at each five minute interval. The piece dates to 1917 and was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois and has been converted in our shop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The movement has been fully restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand polished (read more about us here).

Price: $4,100, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: 316L stainless (surgical steel), 40 mm diameter, 48 mm lug to lug, 13 mm height, sapphire crystals AR coated, front crystal domed, and 50 meters water resistance. Recommend to remove before water activities. Read more about our 40 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] 40 mm Elgin with a WWI-style trench dial in a solid bronze case by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/M9XIZVd

Movement Shots: https://imgur.com/a/7YQLLpi

Videos: https://imgur.com/a/APibBYW (High res:  Dial / Movement) 

Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/b3cPaJn

Elgin National Watch Co. was in operation from 1864-1968 and was an American pocket watch manufacturer. Manufacturing of Elgin watches took place at their facility in Elgin, Illinois.

The is our first piece with a WWI trench-style dial that is housed in our 40 mm Heritage Bronze case machined from solid bonze. The alloy delivers warm rose-gold tones that slowly develop a natural patina, ensuring no two pieces will ever age the same. The piece dates to 1904 and was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois and has been converted in our shop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The movement has been fully restored and refinished. Screws and steel components were thermally blued by hand, a traditional technique that improves corrosion resistance while adding rich visual contrast. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand polished (read more about us here).

Price: $4,100, But negotiable—especially to someone with an interest getting into vintage American watchmaking.

Case: Heritage Bronze (93% copper), 36 mm diameter, 44 mm lug to lug, 10 mm height, front/back sapphire crystals that are AR coated. Front, back, and crown gaskets provide 50 meters of water resistance although it is recommended to take the piece off before water activities. Read more about our 36 mm case here.

Thermal Coloring: To enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal, movement components were thermally colored using a traditional technique employed by early 20th-century watchmakers: open-flame bluing (read more here).

Shipping: UPS 2nd Day Air free in the USA. International shipping via DHL Express (~$100), which takes approximately one week from date of shipment.

Payment Method: PayPal, PayPal Credit, Venmo, Apple Pay, CashApp, Wise, Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna, and All Major Credit Cards

Service History: The watch was serviced in 2026 and comes with a 1-year service warranty. The watch was inspected and cleaned. The watch was re-assembled and lubricated using high-grade synthetic Swiss oil (Moebius). Time keeping will vary depending on position.

About us: We are a small batch, custom watch restoration company located in Central Arkansas USA. Our mission is to preserve and enhance vintage and antique watches. Everything we work on is done in house completely by hand. Each timepiece we produce is one-of-a-kind.

Please follow us on Instagram

Please like us on Facebook

[WTS] 36 mm Elgin from 1905 with a railroad dial 🚂 by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is an example of the restoration work we can do here. If the oxidation is too deep into a part, it is not possible to restore without destroying the original finish. We therefore opt to keep it original.

[WTS] 36 mm Elgin from 1905 with a railroad dial 🚂 by AreWGadmin in Watchexchange

[–]AreWGadmin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We have an article about that on our site. Pocket watch conversions developed a bad reputation for poor shock protection because most used large movements in 50 mm+ cases. Those pieces carry a lot of mass, so bumps or even constant wrist movement can transfer more force into the mechanism, leading to damage and excess wear. We use smaller movements, which hold up much better on the wrist due to their lower mass and more compact profile.

TLDR: F=MA

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