Production

Illinois Watch Company Dials: Circular No. 102 Published in May 1927

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Excerpt from the Illinois Watch Company Dials Circular No. 102, Published May 1927 By the 1920s, metal dials were quickly becoming the standard option on the majority of American watches smaller than 16 Size. The art deco designs adorning many of the metal dials...

Dials , E. Howard , History , Production

Introduction of the E. Howard Watch Co. Extra-Thin 12-Size Watch

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: E. Howard Extra Thin Watch Advertisement, Published in the January 1908 Issue of The Keystone In the midst of Elgin and Waltham introducing new lines of extra-thin watches, the.

Catalogs & Resources , Dials , Elgin , History , Production

Venetian Hard Enamel vs. English Soft Enamel Dials: Part 5 – Early Market Pricing of Soft Glass Enamel Dials

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: 1882 Elgin Material Catalog Showing Hard vs. Soft Enamel Dial Pricing [Catalog Scans Courtesy of Rick Hufnagel] Innovative and novel products commonly demand a premium when first introduced to.

Venetian Hard Enamel vs. English Soft Enamel Dials: Part 4 – Primary Differences in Production

By Nathan Moore

In Dials , Factories , Production

The process of manufacturing Venetian hard enamel dials is very similar to manufacturing English soft glass enamel dials. In both instances, hard enamel is utilized for the backs of the dials. The preparation of the hard enamel for the backs, or the “bottoms,” is not...

Dials , Elgin , History , Production

Venetian Hard Enamel vs. English Soft Enamel Dials: Part 3 – The Process of Making Glass Enamel Dials

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Edge of 18-Size Soft Glass Enamel Dial by the Elgin National Watch Company, showcasing the two layers of glass (soft) enamel applied to the front of the dial. The.

Dials , Factories , History , Production

The Eaton Dial Manufacturing Company Failure

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: The Eaton Dial Factory (2nd Floor of the Hampton Mills Building), c.1890s In March 1892, The Eaton Dial Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital stock of $7,000 at.

Rise of the “Fancy Dial” Trend on Pocket Watches

By Nathan Moore

In Dials , Elgin , History , Production , Trends

Pictured: Elgin Pink Enameled Fancy Dial with Silver and Gold Embellishments, c.1890s. While colored enameled dials were sparsely available in the American market prior to the 1880s, it was not until the end of the decade that the demand for “fancy dials” began to increase...

Dials , Elgin , History , Production

Coloring Enamel on Pocket Watch Dials

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Elgin Colored Enamel Dial with Gold Embellishments, c.1880s. The 1880s proved to be a pivotal decade for the manufacturing of watch dials. Experimentation with different methods led to innovative.

Dials , History , Production

The Original Quartz Watches: Enamel Recipe for White Watch Dials

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Elgin White Double-Sunk Enamel Dial, c.1900. The quartz watch is a relatively modern invention, allowing accurate timepieces to be produced inexpensively. However, the watchmaking industry was using quartz well.

Broad Market Introduction of The Montgomery Dial: “A Dial That Almost Speaks the Time”

By Nathan Moore

In Dials , Elgin , History , Patents & Innovations , Production , Railroad Watches , Railroads , Trends

Once Henry S. Montgomery introduced his “Safety Dial” to the broad watch market in 1910, the practical dial design became an instant success. Royalty deals were arranged with the major watch factories in America, and Montgomery’s numerical dial was quickly accepted as the favorite option...

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