Elgin Parisienne Watch

Elgin
Parisienne Watch
'The Agnes Model'  
14kt. wit gold filled 
1930 
Mechanisch handopwind    
7 jewels  
Uurwerk kal. 488
U.S.A.  
± 26 x 17 mm 

Elgin at its best, fashion wise, design wise, color wise, size wise…
In the 1920’s Elgin traveled to the heart of fashion Vive La France, Paris with the mission of commissioning a series of Art Deco watches which were to be designed in several of the most luxurious and famous couture houses. One of the outstanding sophisticated talented designers was “Madame Agnes” (Agnes Rittener) who owned shops on Rue St. Honoré, to this day a location with a number of museums and high-end boutiques. She was a hat designer that sculpted abstract artistic hats and she had a preference for black, now I really admire her ツ Her Parisienne watch design is without a doubt my personal favorite, not only because of the black enamel but the design simulating curtains is so beautifully and evenly balanced.

The ad from 1928 described the series as follows:
“These Parisienne watches are chic, gloriously smart, but above all…correct! In good taste!  Free from freakish! In style today, tomorrow, and years from tomorrow! Slip a Parisienne upon your wrist…correct time and correct style shall be yours for long, long years to come…Two things say so…the Parisienne’s basic, unchanging good taste and the ELGIN guarantee.”  
Needless to add to this appraisal, don't you think.

According to the serial number, the Elgin dates from the year 1930.
Inside you will find the manual wind Elgin movement 488 caliber  which has just received a fresh service and is running smoothly. Elgin and Illinois manufactured watches for nearly 100 years (1864 to 1968). They were the world's largest factory dedicated to the production of mechanical watches. The original glass crystal looks practically unblemished, actually the whole watch looks amazing. The watch screams Art Deco from every angle. The case is white gold filled with jet-black enamel, blued steel watch hands, and an original black ribbon strap with original buckle. The closure underneath can slide over the ribbon to create a perfect fit.
Imagine owning your own ‘Parisienne’ watch in ‘The Agnes Model’, baffling right?  Especially as Elgin characterizes the watch as ‘unchanging good taste’, I mean, that alone sounds so appealing.