7 Jewel Stopwatch Appraisal

Vintage Elgin 7-Jewel Lever Stopwatch

This is a vintage mechanical stopwatch manufactured for Elgin, featuring a 1/10th second precision movement. The piece is housed in a polished chrome-plated or stainless steel circular case with a large knurled winding crown and integral pusher at the 12 o'clock position. The white dial is in excellent vintage condition, featuring clear black Arabic numerals for seconds and a smaller inset 5-minute register located below the 10-second mark. The main dial tracks 10 seconds per revolution, emphasized by the red '10' at the top. The dial is marked with 'ELGIN', 'LEVER 7 JEWELS', and '1/10 SEC', with 'MADE IN GERMANY' visible at the very bottom edge. The hands are made of heat-blued or black-painted steel, providing high contrast for readability. Regarding condition, the crystal shows minor hairline surface scratches consistent with use, and the metal casing displays light pocket wear and micro-abrasions but no significant denting or brassing. Based on the 'Made in Germany' mark and the font styles, this piece likely dates from the late 1960s to the 1970s, representing a period when American companies like Elgin outsourced specialized mechanical production. The lever escapement and 7-jewel movement indicate a higher quality of durability and accuracy compared to standard pin-lever stopwatches of the era.