The Comprehensive List of Elgin B.W. Raymond Grades

When the National Watch Company was organized in 1865, former Chicago mayor Benjamin Wright Raymond was appointed as the company’s first president.

After organizing a factory at Elgin, Illinois, the company introduced a watch to the market in 1867 – christened the “B.W. Raymond” in honor of the company’s president. Despite Raymond only remaining with the watch company for a couple years, the company maintained the “B.W. Raymond” in its product line for nearly a century, establishing a brand synonymous with quality.

The following list contains the 35 known grades manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company that were marked “B.W. Raymond.” This comprehensive list includes grades that are often overlooked due to mixed production, noted with “Mixed” coverage in the table below. All data is compiled using the Elgin factory grade number classification system, which provides the best logical stratification for a comprehensive list. Early B.W. Raymond grades did not receive number classifications until a later era.

Comprehensive B.W. Raymond Grade List

Elgin B.W. Raymond Grade Production Timeline

Click the image below to view the timeline details or to print a copy.

Interesting Insights

Rarest B.W. Raymond Watches

Based on this information, we can identify the rarest B.W. Raymond grades – the ones most difficult to add to a collection:

1. Grade 274 (c.1905) – Estimated Total Production: 87
2. Grade 448 (c.1917) – Estimated Total Production: ~100
3. Grade 401 (c.1912) – Estimated Total Production: ~200
4. Grade 544 (c.1941) – Estimated Total Production: 200
5. Grade 280 (c.1904) – Estimated Total Production: ~500

B.W. Raymond Watches with Highest Jewel Counts

The most prestigious B.W. Raymond grades offered by Elgin were the 23-Jewel Grade 494 and Grade 540. In addition to the impressive jewel count, these two grades were the only movements produced at the Elgin factory with a motor barrel. One attractive feature of the Grade 494 over the Grade 540 is the 494 movements are fitted with wind indicators – desirable by collectors.

Total Estimated Production for All B.W. Raymond Movements

While production totals for certain grades require calculated guestimation due to mixed runs, we can estimate a close approximation for the total production for all “B.W. Raymond” pocket watch movements manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company. From 1867 to the end of production, Elgin produced around 1,257,831 pocket watch movements marked “B.W. Raymond.”

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