Pocket watch · Railroad grade open face pocket watch with power reserve indicator

1924 Elgin B.W. Raymond Railroad Grade Pocket Watch, Grade 472

Partially verified

This Elgin B.W. Raymond railroad-grade pocket watch is dated by movement serial 26624152 to 1924. According to the source, the size 16s mechanism is an Elgin grade 472, model 15 movement containing 21 jewels and adjusted to five positions. The white dial displays bold black Arabic hour numerals, blued steel hands, an up/down 40-hour power reserve wind indicator at 12 o'clock, and a subsidiary seconds dial inscribed INVAR BALANCE at 6 o'clock. The source reports that the piece is cased in a 10K gold-filled Wadsworth case signed B.W. Raymond Model.

Dial view of the Elgin B.W. Raymond pocket watch displaying power reserve indicator and sub-seconds dial — Sphere Auctions LLC. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: www.liveauctioneers.com
Category: Pocket watch · Railroad grade open face pocket watch with power reserve indicator
Maker / attribution: Elgin National Watch Co.
Reference: Grade 472, Model 15
Catalogue / lot identifier: 0451
Source-reported date: 1924
Country: United States
Source-reported serial: 26624152

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial Configuration

The timepiece features an open-face white dial with bold black Arabic numerals and minute track markers. It includes an up/down power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock, calibrated from 0 to 40.

A subsidiary seconds register is located at 6 o'clock and is inscribed with 'INVAR BALANCE'. The dial includes blued steel hands and is signed 'ELGIN' below the power reserve indicator.

Evidence for this section

“Open-face white dial with bold black Arabic numerals and minute track markers”
“up/down wind indicator complication — a 40-hour power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock”
“Subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock inscribed 'INVAR BALANCE'”
“Signed 'ELGIN' below the power reserve indicator register”

Movement Specifications

The movement is identified as an Elgin grade 472, model 15, size 16s. It is reported to have 21 jewels and is adjusted to five positions.

Based on movement serial number 26624152, the production is dated to 1924.

Evidence for this section

“Movement serial 26624152 dates production to 1924, grade 472, model 15, size 16s, 21 jewels, adjusted to 5 positions.”

Casing

The watch is housed in a 10K gold-filled case signed 'B.W. Raymond Model', attributed to Wadsworth. The case features decorative engraving on the bezel and bow.

The internal hallmarks are not visible in the source material. A patent date of February 21, 1928, is associated with the case.

Evidence for this section

“The case is 10K gold filled, signed B.W. Raymond Model, cased and timed by Elgin National Watch Co., Wadsworth, patented 2-21-28.”
“Engraved decorative pattern along the bezel circumference and upper bow”

Open research questions

How does a 1928 patent date on a Wadsworth case align with a 1924 movement production date?
Does the 'INVAR BALANCE' inscription specifically correlate with Elgin grade 472 production runs?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for 1924 Elgin B.W. Raymond Railroad Grade Pocket Watch, Grade 472
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Movement Serial	26624152	“Movement serial 26624152 dates production to 1924”
Grade and Model	Grade 472, Model 15	“grade 472, model 15, size 16s, 21 jewels, adjusted to 5 positions.”
Case Material	10K gold filled	“The case is 10K gold filled, signed B.W. Raymond Model”
Complication	Up/down wind indicator (40-hour power reserve)	“featuring the rare up/down wind indicator complication — a 40-hour power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock”
Case Maker	Wadsworth	“cased and timed by Elgin National Watch Co., Wadsworth”
Complication	Up/down wind indicator	“rare up/down wind indicator complication”

Visible details

Open-face white dial with bold black Arabic numerals and minute track markers
Blued steel hands including spade hour hand and subsidiary indicator hands
Power reserve subdial at 12 o'clock marked 'DN', 'UP', and calibrated from 0 to 40
Subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock inscribed 'INVAR BALANCE'
Engraved decorative pattern along the bezel circumference and upper bow
Signed 'ELGIN' below the power reserve indicator register

Research qualifications

Movement is not visible in the photograph; serial number, jewel count, and grade details rely on source reporting
Case back and internal hallmarks are not depicted in the image

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

1924 Elgin B.w. Raymond Railroad Grade Pocket Watch With Up/down Wind Indicator, Grade 472, 21 Jewel - Jul 15, 2026 | Sphere Auctions Llc In Wi

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 89c48d22b9

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.