The watch came to me as you see it. The case covered in fine scratches, but nothing deep at least.
The case has the 14k Duber markings, aong with dirt and finger prints.
When I say dirty I mean dirty. There was so much around the inside of the case it made me wonder when it could have been last cleaned.
The dial was dirty as well. All those specs of dirt and dust are a sign of many years of neglect.
The dial does have cracks but I am happy with the originality and lack of being messed with like so many around. The hands are all original and fit the style of the watch just right.
The movement is a 15 jewel Adjusted 18 size Grade 27 lever set hunting case BW Raymond. The nickle finish is beautiful, even under all that dust.
Once I started my cleaning I found out to what extent the dust and dirt has gotten to inside the watch. These pictures show it very well.
With this level of dust and dirt I would suspect the watch has not been serviced in 30+ years. The amazing thing is how much got into the watch even with a crystal in place. So I went to work cleaning and oiling it. I blew out the case with canned air. Polished it. Cleaned the dial. Cleaned the crystal. And.....
The case polished up very nicely and looks much better without the finger prints and dirt.
The movement cleaned up very nicely and the watch is running great now.
I love using the elginwatches.org website for researching elgin watches. In this case it tells me that of grade 27 this is watch number 507 in the first run of the first year of this grade. They made 45,000 of grade 27 but there is no way of knowing how many would have been put in a case this nice. Box hinge cases are not cheap, even back then.
Over 45 dwt (2.25 ozt) of 14k gold is not cheap in any era.....well maybe the 1980's. Still that is a lot of gold. So that was my big find of last week. I should have more showing up once I have paid this one off.
