Elgin 2287

Elgin B.W. Raymond Railroad Wrist Chronometer First Railroad Wristwatch. Great Nothern Railroad. 14K gold.

Basic Info Listing code : NF6ZE5 Brand : Elgin Reference number : 2287 Case material : Yellow gold Bracelet material : Lizard skin Year of production : 1961 Condition : Used (Good) Most Recent Servicing : February 26, 2025 Scope of delivery : Original box, no original papers Gender : Men's watch/Unisex Location : Japan, Shibuya Price : 4,200 [Negotiable Availability : Item is in stock Caliber Caliber/movement : 730a Number of jewels : 23 Case Case material : Yellow gold Case diameter : 35.5 x 40 mm Dial : White Bracelet/strap Bracelet material : Lizard skin Bracelet color : Brown Other Small seconds 1961 Elgin B.W.Raymond Railroad Wrist Chronometer ref.2287 (14k sold gold) with the 730A movement. The Elgin B.W.Raymond Railroad Wrist Chronometer was the first fully approved railroad wristwatch in the U.S.A. It famously came about after a railroad worker wrote an article complaining why the railroad workers still had to rely on railroad pocket watches when the air force and commercial pilots now had wristwatches. Elgin took up the challenge to develop a wristwatch to the demanding standards given. Elgin Watch have an article on this watch, and a photograph of an advertisement is included (there are various videos etc available talking about the significance of this wristwatch on the internet). They are now extremely rare with few surviving, and this is the rarest version of all models, the ref. 2287 which was the 14k solid gold version. As per the case back, this particular watch has direct lineage to the Great Northern Railroad, being awarded by them to employee Cornell Halverson in 1961 to recognize his 50 years of service. The 730A manual wind 23J movement of this railroad wristwatch was even shaped to give the most accurate timing, and this particular one was serviced by a specialist vintage watchmaker in February 2025 and is ready to give the new owner many more years of accurate and reliable service. The dial of this watch has aging around the edges and an overall natural patina adding to its appearance as a historically significant vintage watch, the case has only minor wear, and there is a small scratch in between 3-4 o’clock that has not been polished. A new lizard skin leather strap has been fitted for the new owner. The box is in fair condition. I am a watch enthusiast and collector and this is a private sale of a watch from my personal collection.