I have an opportunity to buy an Elgin pocket watch that I am unfamiliar with and am asking for help. It is a simple 16 size Elgin 3 finger bridge with a dial signed world's cruise 1908. Movemnet is nothing special but wow what a great dial. Any information would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance. Jim

quote:

world's cruise 1908

it might be the Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

Thanks Peter do you think the movement should be signed to match?

I have seen one other of these dials on a 7 jewel Elgin 3/4 plate, the movement was not marked as the dial is.



Very close to the same image:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwa...wf07-09/gwf07-09.htm

no signature on movement just on dial.

Hi Jim,

Fantastic dial! I have been a Elgin collector for more than 30 years and have never seen this dial before. Elgin produced a great number of specialty dials for clubs, associations and many "fancy" colored dials but I have never seen this dial in any catalogs. If it turns out to be genuine if would make a great addition.

Hi:

I have a watch with this dial. If you search on my website with the term "battleship" you may view it....

If it is an Elgin 3-finger bridge, that could be from production of that period. Also the 3-finger bridge movements were higher jeweled. An Elgin with this dial could be very collectible.

A couple questions;

What is the serial number?

Is the movement actually marked Elgin? (pic from my past coll.)

Buy it

no no no let me buy it

Wow. Theodore Roosevelt was president and our navy was the best in the world.

Here's the watch chain to go with the dial.

Close-up of medallion.

I've got mine on ebay now.

Jim I wonder if this is from the 1898 period when the USN Battleship Maine blew up in Havana?

ca 1912