Elgin: what's the deal?

[srmdalt]

I have seen interest in vintage Elgins. The brand name seems to have an air of sophistication, or "elgance" to it, for some reason, but I noticed they sell low end watches at Sears.

Are they still a respected brand, or have they devolved? I really see very little mention of them outside the vintage forum.

[Watchbreath]

How do say "Elgin" in Chinese?

[dualtime]

MZ Berger bought the rights to their name and now they are very cheap quartz watches for the most part.. Nothing to do with the vintage Elgin watches..

[Ray MacDonald]

Elgin has been dead since the 1960s. What you see now is just somebody marketing their brand name with junk. At least Hamilton escaped their fate. Pity.
[ELGIN] What About Newer Elgin Watches?

[Ovalteenie]

The original Elgin went defunct, their factories closed in the late 60s.

I am not surprised the resurrected Elgin is producing affordable quartz - that's what most people buy. Most investors who snap up defunct brand names are interested only in $$$; rarely are they watch aficionados interested reviving names to their former glory, which entails huge investment. There are exceptions such as Blancpain.

[Ovalteenie]

MZ Berger bought the rights to their name and now they are very cheap quartz watches for the most part.. Nothing to do with the vintage Elgin watches..

MZ Berger also snapped up the brand rights to Gruen.

At least it's a US-based company I suppose

[Watchbreath]

Jaquet Droz could be tossed in also.

The original Elgin went defunct, their factories closed in the late 60s.

I am not surprised the resurrected Elgin is producing affordable quartz - that's what most people buy. Most investors who snap up defunct brand names are interested only in $$$; rarely are they watch aficionados interested reviving names to their former glory, which entails huge investment. There are exceptions such as Blancpain.

[Ray MacDonald]

MZ Berger also snapped up the brand rights to Gruen.

Not to mention Waltham in the US. The Swiss version of Waltham survives and makes some decent stuff.
Waltham | The manufacturer of fine Swiss wrist and pocket watches

[Ovalteenie]

Jaquet Droz could be tossed in also.

Yes I suppose another too could be Bovet.

[srmdalt]

Eh, bummer, that's what I figured though. Those Waltham watches are pretty cool though.