Wind Up Watch Appraisal

Vintage Ladies' Elgin 17 Jewel Manual Wind Wristwatch

This is a vintage ladies' manual wind wristwatch, likely dating from the mid-20th century, possibly the 1940s-1950s, given the style and movement details. The watch features an oval-shaped, light-colored dial with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, and baton markers for the intervening hours. The dial is marked with 'ELGIN' at the top, and '17 JEWELS' and 'UNADJUSTED' below the center, indicating a mechanical movement with 17 jewels, common for quality timepieces of that era. There is also 'SWISS' visible at the bottom of the dial, suggesting the movement itself was manufactured in Switzerland, a common practice for Elgin and other American watch companies. The hour and minute hands appear to be gold-toned or rose gold-toned, while a smaller sub-second hand is visible, also in a similar tone. The watch case is a silver-toned metal, possibly white gold filled, chrome-plated, or stainless steel, with decorative floral or scroll-like accents at the lugs where the band attaches to the case. The crown, used for winding and setting the watch, is located on the right side of the case and shows some slight discoloration or oxidation. The watch is attached to a metal link bracelet, also in silver tone, consisting of elongated, hexagonal-shaped links. The overall condition appears to be good for its age, with some visible patina and minor wear consistent with use. There are no obvious signs of major damage or repair, though a professional cleaning and servicing might be beneficial. The crystal is clear but it's hard to tell if it's glass or plastic from the image alone. The craftsmanship, particularly the detailed case design and the specified jewel count, indicates a respectable level of quality for a watch from its period.