John F
07-29-2002, 12:32 PM
Jody,
Some pictures would help (see "How to post images" on the upper right hand corner of the page), but from your description it sounds like you have a small watch movement (a 3/0 based on the serial number - a little more than 1" across), which would have been a ladies small pocket or pendant watch, or at that size might possibly have been worn on the wrist. A fairly large number of these 7 jewel watches were made by Elgin (about 1 million), although from your description yours seems to have a "fancy" dial instead of the usual "plain" one, so it's a somewhat less common combination.
I'm guessing here, but if I understand your message correctly, "Lady Irene" is marked on both the dial and the movement. As far as I know, "Lady Irene" was not an Elgin name, so this is likely a "private label" watch. Jewelers or wholesalers could have their names marked on the watch at the factory - typically they would have the name and city inscribed on them, but sometimes (as yours seems to be) they don't follow that convention. I don't know who that would have been done for.
I'm also understanding from your description that the movement is still in its original shipping tin and box (and if so, it should have the grade and serial number written on the top). Finding both togther like this isn't particularly common. It likely wasn't a "replacement" but a new watch which was never cased - early on, movements and cases were selected separately by the customer, and the jeweler would put the watch in the case of the customer's choosing. Usually the tins were discarded once the movement was placed in the case. I'm surmising that the one you have wasn't ever cased.
Unfortunately, we can't discuss values here (see the upper left hand corner of the page). To give it a proper appraisal, though, it's probably best to be able to see it in person.
John
[This message has been edited by John F (edited 07-29-2002).]
Some pictures would help (see "How to post images" on the upper right hand corner of the page), but from your description it sounds like you have a small watch movement (a 3/0 based on the serial number - a little more than 1" across), which would have been a ladies small pocket or pendant watch, or at that size might possibly have been worn on the wrist. A fairly large number of these 7 jewel watches were made by Elgin (about 1 million), although from your description yours seems to have a "fancy" dial instead of the usual "plain" one, so it's a somewhat less common combination.
I'm guessing here, but if I understand your message correctly, "Lady Irene" is marked on both the dial and the movement. As far as I know, "Lady Irene" was not an Elgin name, so this is likely a "private label" watch. Jewelers or wholesalers could have their names marked on the watch at the factory - typically they would have the name and city inscribed on them, but sometimes (as yours seems to be) they don't follow that convention. I don't know who that would have been done for.
I'm also understanding from your description that the movement is still in its original shipping tin and box (and if so, it should have the grade and serial number written on the top). Finding both togther like this isn't particularly common. It likely wasn't a "replacement" but a new watch which was never cased - early on, movements and cases were selected separately by the customer, and the jeweler would put the watch in the case of the customer's choosing. Usually the tins were discarded once the movement was placed in the case. I'm surmising that the one you have wasn't ever cased.
Unfortunately, we can't discuss values here (see the upper left hand corner of the page). To give it a proper appraisal, though, it's probably best to be able to see it in person.
John
[This message has been edited by John F (edited 07-29-2002).]