Some of the pages will be able to provide additional information. Once you have armed your self with the information about your watch, you can go to the Information pages to determine the age of the watch.
Waltham Pocket Watch Serial Number Lookup So now in this example, you know you have a Waltham Riverside 18K gold hunting case pocket watch made in 1886. The serial number on the CASE DOES NOT GIVE ANY MORE INFORMATION. This tells us the case was made by the American Waltham Co. On the inside of the cover we find on this watch, the logo AWco and K18. You can find this information on the American Waltham page.Ĭase Information. The serial number (3097487) allows you to date this watch. This identifies the watch as being made by the American Waltham Watch Co.
The watch on the left above: Keystone Watch Case Serial Numbers 1. Next You need to identify all of the information from the movement. It is not a correct case for the movement. It is a hunting Case pocket watch movement in an open face case. It has no cover over the face of the Pocket Watch. It has a closed cover over the face of the Pocket Watch. The first step is to determine what type of watch you have.
If the watch is not opening, take it to a watch maker. Warningĭo not force open the case of the pocket watch. Hamilton, for example, only began using letter codes in about 1940. Letters in serial numbers typically denote a watch of somewhat later manufacture. Non-English watches did not use jewels until about a century later. Jewels have been used as bearings inside English pocket watches since at least the early 18th century. Early 20th century watches often feature the dynamic geometric shapes of Art Deco or the more sinuous styles of Art Nouveau. Nineteenth century watches are typically highly ornate and reflect the artistic tastes of the Empire, Regency or Victorian periods. Identify watches without serial numbers by examining the style of the case. Lists are also available for specific manufacturers, including Hamilton, Elgin and Waltham. Certain manufacturers used these letter codes as indications of the date of manufacture.Ĭompare the serial number to lists on pocket watch sites, such as The Watch Guy, and Antique Pocket Watch. Note any letters that follow the numbers in the serial number. The name of the manufacturer will appear on the watch face. If the watch was manufactured by Bulova, the serial number will appear on the case itself. Ignore numbers that appear on other parts of the watch. The movement is the set of gears inside the pocket watch. Look for the serial number that is engraved on the watch movement. The presence of very small hinges, and a tiny lip, typically indicates a pry-up case. In most other instances, use a case knife to carefully pry up the lid of the pocket watch case. Cases with an obvious tab, or lip, will simply pull open.
The various features of a pocket watch can help to identity its period of manufacture. Ornate gold cases contained sophisticated movements complete with jewels, second hands and subsidiary dials. With time, the pocket watch became increasingly elaborate.
As the spring unwound, it supplied power to a series of gears that controlled the movement of the watch hands. Early watches were driven by internal springs. The pocket watch started out as a kind of miniature clock. However, there may be exceptions (3 letters with 3 numbers or 6 numbers for certified chronometers). It is generally comprised of two or three letters followed by four numbers. There are two numbers engraved on the caseback of your watch. Call the customer service number located on the Movado website and cross-check the serial number with a company representative.
Check to make sure that the serial number of the watch is correct. It should be written in all caps: MOVADO. Identify watches without serial numbers by examining the style of the case.Ī real Movado watch will always have a logo imprinted on the inside. Compare the serial number to lists on pocket watch sites, such as The Watch Guy, and Antique Pocket Watch.Image for trademark with serial number 72039594.Waltham Pocket Watch Serial Number Lookup.