Elgin, Waltham, and Bulova were among the most prolific, best-known American watch brands during much of the 20th century, making high-quality timepieces that competed with those of the Swiss companies that are well-known today. Many later moved production to Switzerland, but without much of the name recognition of comparable prestigious companies, they can remain somewhat overlooked on the vintage market. This is good for the bargain hunter, who can often find solid deals on interesting watches that are full of character. Below are three good examples, all well under $1,000.
Elgin Diver Day-Date
What We Like: A “vintage-sized” diver like this one at 37mm has a certain panache, and while modern companies are starting to agree and make modern tributes and reissues, this particular watch is the real deal. Its colorful, Rolex-like blue and red bezel goes nicely with the gray sunburst dial and blocky hands and indices. The movement, with an Elgin-signed rotor, features automatic winding and day/date displays.
From the Seller: Manufactured in the 1970s, the watch was fully serviced in March 2019.
