Mystery Elgin Update

After a gentleman on the forum (GeneJockey) he mentioned the grade 190.  This is a 23 jewel 12 size high grade Elgin hunting case movement.  I did find one instance of a 190 marked Lord Elgin with the same kind of damaskeening.  The onlt issue is that the serial number does not fall into the production range of the 190.

The watch serial would not work with any introduction of any digit within the serial on the watch.  I did further look at the watch by removing the dial.  Unlike most Elgin watches, there is no serial on the base plate.

So we still have a mystery as even though it is a grade 190 there is still the mystery of the serial number and the fact that a 23 jewel watch is marked 21.  As you can see from the picture above, there are 3 cap jewels visible.  17 jewels as a full jewel + 4 Cap Jewels + 2 Barrel Jewels = 23.  This does fall in line with the grade 190.  This appears to be a pre-production watch.  Is it possible they were testing finish styles?

I highly suggest anyone who has an interest in Elgin and vintage pocket watches in general visit Gene's blog.  You can find it here GeneJockey's Elgin Watch Blog