I have an 1882 or 1883 Elgin Pocket watch in a hunters case with a very elaborate engraved design. I have looked up the serial number being 1193606 and confirmed it is an 11jewel, grade 94, hunters case size 6 (i think). There is a hallmark on the case that has a crown with a 5 point star above it-and I have been unable to find this anywhere online. The serial number of the case is 14293. The watch holds time very well, and is in overall excellent condition. There are scratches on the case and the color remains the same at the bottom of the scratches as the surface-so I am wondering if this is solid gold? There are no carat marks or anything like that. A guy online said if it was a certain year-it wasnt solid gold, but there are no years on the watch or case at all? The man I contacted sold Elgin watches on ebay and said mine was not an early model Elgin, nor did he think it was valuable at all really. I am no expert, but I see the movements that are for sale for repair parts on ebay for $50 or $60...and mine has the cool case it is in and is in nearly mint condition, and holds time to a degree that it doesnt lose even more than a second when set with a digital clock.
I would love to hear it is worth a lot, obviously, but an accurate value is more important than a large dollar value-that is largely incorrect! The case apears to be what it has been in since it was made-if not this case, another one-but it is in too good of shape to have not been in a case. It my be engraved by hand, and if it is, well, it , would have taken a very long time and doen by someone with skill. I think one side has the sun on it, with rays coming out of it, and i do see flowers in the rays...I could be entirely wrong-it may be something else. Either way-I have always found this to be very cool...everything about it seems unique and made with care. I have read Elgin was a middle of the line manufacturer; they made decent quality watches, but not watches for the rich...and the fact that it still works-well that says a lot, to me anyways!
Any info would be greatly appreciated, Im sorry the pics arent more clear.
