Vintage 16s 1943 Elgin B.W. Raymond Pocket Watch 581 GCT 24 Hour Dial Military

Product Description

• Item: Pocket Watch

• Brand: Elgin Natl Watch Co

• Model: B.W. Raymond

• Size: 16s

• Year: 1943

• Movement: Mechanical

• Jewels: 22

• Grade: 581

• Country: USA

• Gender: Unisex

Product Measurements

• Standardized Size for Pocket Watches: 16s

• Diameter: 42mm

Product Condition

Vintage 16s 1943 Elgin B.W. Raymond Pocket Watch 581 GCT 24 Hour Dial Military ran on Greenwich Civil Time (the Allied standardized time zone, similar to modern UTC). This ensured all aircraft and naval vessels coordinated across the globe using the exact same reference time, eliminating confusion across local time zones. The 24-hour dial layout prevented catastrophic calculation errors by ensuring navigators never confused morning and evening hours during long missions. They featured a "hacking" mechanism that stopped the second hand when the crown was pulled. This allowed crews to synchronize their watches down to the exact second before a mission to accurately calculate longitude and coordinates.

• Overall Condition: Poor, overall condition

• Functions: Not running

• Case: Shows heavy scratches. Has plating wear.

• Crystal: Shows scratches and scuffings. Has acrylic yellowing.

• Dial condition: Has spotting.

• Crown: Shows scratches.

• Hands: Hands are discolored.

• Function:
  • Winding: Does not wind.
  • Balance: The balance staff is broken

• Additional Information: It is missing the sweep wheel.

Elgin: Founded in 1864 as the National Watch Company, Elgin produced watches in Elgin, Illinois at what was once the world’s largest dedicated watch factory. By 1910, the company had built its own observatory to improve timekeeping accuracy. Like many manufacturers, Elgin shifted to military production during World War II. Postwar competition from Swiss imports eventually led to the sale of the company in 1968. While the original Elgin company no longer exists, its legacy lives on through a vast catalog of excellent vintage watches.