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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch

Elgin B.W. Raymond 16s Grade 472 Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This open-face pocket watch, dated to circa 1926 by the source and produced by the Elgin Watch Company, is identified as a B.W. Raymond model. According to the seller, it houses a manual-winding Grade 472 movement with 21 jewels, adjusted to 5 positions, bearing serial number 28930142 and an Invar balance. The white railroad-style dial features bold black Arabic numerals, an outer perimeter track with individual numbers 1 to 60 and red markers at five-minute intervals, blued steel hands, and a subsidiary seconds dial inscribed 'INVAR BALANCE'. The 49 mm case is reported as 14K yellow gold-filled, marked 'B&B ROYAL 20 Years'.

Front view of Elgin open-face pocket watch dial and case
Front view of Elgin open-face pocket watch dial and case — SECOND HAND HOROLOGY. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
secondhandhorology.com
Category
Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Elgin National Watch Company
Reference
Grade 472
Catalogue / lot identifier
WA-0661
Source-reported date
1926
Country
United States
Source-reported serial
28930142

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 and Visual Display

The timepiece features a white railroad-style dial marked with bold black Arabic numerals and an outer perimeter track showing individual minutes 1 through 60, emphasized with red markers at five-minute intervals. Time is indicated by blued spade-style hands, along with a blued seconds hand on the subsidiary register positioned at 6 o'clock.

The dial is signed with the Elgin name at the top and marked 'Invar Balance' on the lower subsidiary dial. Direct visual observation reveals condition wear, specifically fine hairline cracks radiating across the dial surface near the upper center and 10 to 12 markers.

Evidence for this section
  • “White dial shows fine hairline cracks radiating across the surface, notably near the upper center and 10 to 12 markers.”
  • “Blued spade-style hands and blued sub-seconds hand.”
  • “Outer perimeter displays individual minute numbers 1 through 60 with red emphasis at five-minute intervals.”
  • “Also, the dial is signed with the Elgin name/logo on top and "Invar Balance" on the bottom.”

Case Construction and Measurements

The watch is housed in an open-face round case reported by the seller as 'all 14K yellow gold filled'. The listing records internal case back markings as 'B&B ROYAL 20 Years 6371351'.

Reported dimensions include a case diameter listed as 49 mm in the measurements table (and described as '49.2mm round case' in the narrative), a width with crown of 57.7 mm, and a total case thickness of 14.5 mm. Physical inspection of the internal case back is not possible from the single front-facing photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “all 14K yellow gold filled”
  • “It is cased in a 49.2mm round case, all 14K yellow gold filled.”
  • “Case Back Markings: B&B ROYAL 20 Years 6371351”
  • “Measurements (mm): Case Diameter 49 Case w/Crown 57.7 Case Thickness 14.5”

Reported Movement and Mechanism Specifications

According to the seller's description, the pocket watch contains a manual-winding movement signed 'B. W. Raymond Elgin Watch Co. U.S.A.' with caliber grade 472, 21 jewels, and adjustments to 5 positions, bearing serial number 28930142. The seller notes the presence of an Invar balance alloy.

The source dates the watch to 1926, asserting that 'movement grade 472 was made only between 1922 to 1926 and this timepiece is one of 21,000 ever made'. Because the movement is not visible in the provided photo, these mechanical and production details represent source-reported claims rather than verified observations.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement: B. W. Raymond Elgin Watch Co. U.S.A. Grade 472 21 Jewels Adjusted 5 Positions Serial Number 28930142”
  • “caliber grade 472”
  • “The movement grade 472 was made only between 1922 to 1926 and this timepiece is one of 21,000 ever made.”

Open research questions

  • Can direct examination of the movement confirm the reported Grade 472, 21-jewel count, 5-position adjustment markings, and serial number 28930142?
  • Does inspection of the inner case back verify the reported 'B&B ROYAL 20 Years 6371351' stamping?
  • Under magnification, do the visible hairline cracks near the 10 to 12 positions extend through the enamel layer?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Elgin B.W. Raymond 16s Grade 472 Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Grade472“caliber grade 472”
Movement Serial Number28930142“Serial Number 28930142”
Jewel Count21 Jewels“21 jewels”
Adjustments5 Positions“Adjusted 5 Positions”
Case MarkingsB&B ROYAL 20 Years 6371351“B&B ROYAL 20 Years 6371351”
Case Material14K yellow gold filled“all 14K yellow gold filled”
Case Diameter with Crown57.7 mm“Case w/Crown 57.7”
Case Thickness14.5 mm“Case Thickness 14.5”
Alternative Listed Case Diameter49.2 mm“It is cased in a 49.2mm round case”
Reported Total Grade 472 Production21,000“one of 21,000 ever made”

Visible details

  • White dial shows fine hairline cracks radiating across the surface, notably near the upper center and 10 to 12 markers.
  • Blued spade-style hands and blued sub-seconds hand.
  • Outer perimeter displays individual minute numbers 1 through 60 with red emphasis at five-minute intervals.

Research qualifications

  • Movement and interior case back are not shown in the provided photograph.
  • Movement grade, jewel count, adjustments, and case back markings are reported by the source seller and cannot be independently verified from the dial photo alone.

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

Consulted source

Shop 1926 ELGIN Elgin B.W. Raymond Pocket Watch – SECOND HAND HOROLOGY

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 1f2774746c

Terms in this record

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

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