The Waltham Watch Company, which was based in Waltham, Mass., produced pocket and wrist watches between 1850 and 1957. Today, Waltham watches remain highly desirable collectible timepieces. Dating a Waltham is an easy task. The watchmaker kept thorough records of its products. Waltham etched a serial number on every watch movement along with its name and trademark. Unlike other watchmakers, Waltham went the extra step by usually identifying the model of the watch on the movement as well. This information can be used to find the year that the watch was made.
- Waltham Serial Number Database
- Waltham Serial Number Lookup
- Waltham Serial Number Search
- Waltham Serial Number Lookup
- Waltham Serial Database
Although watches were not always sold and delivered in the exact order they were manufactured, the following table will give you an approximate date for your Waltham watch based on its serial number. [Note, by the way, that the serial number of a watch is inscribed directly on the watch's movement (a.k.a. The 'guts', 'works' or 'inner mechanism. Waltham pocket watch.can you tell metal content b. Bookmark Share Post. Subscribe to RSS Feed. Waltham pocket watch.can you tell metal content by serial numbers? I found a Waltham pocketwatch with a serial number of X138943. American Waltham Grade: Vanguard with wind indicator. The movement was serviced 11/14/17 and the watch is running and keeping time. Nice Keystone 'J Boss' gold filled case. New painted replacement dial. Glass crystal. Manufacturer: Waltham Manufacturer Location: Waltham, Massachusetts Movement Serial Number: 25343103. We offer serial number lookups for manufacturers such as Elgin, Illinois, Waltham. Waltham Pocket Watch Serial Number Lookup. Movement Serial Number.
Use a flat blunt blade to pry open the snap case back of a Waltham wrist watch. A lip or notch on the case back can be found at the 6 or 12 o’clock position. If there is no lip, carefully wedge the blade into the seam and lift. The case should pop open.
How Old Is My Waltham Watch? Due to the fact that I own a lot of Waltham pocket watches [i.e., watches made by the American Waltham Watch Company], I frequently get e-mail from people wanting to find out information about their own Waltham watch.Well, there's usually not much I can tell people without actually seeing the watch, but if someone knows the watch's serial number I can usually at.
Carefully examine the case back of a Waltham pocket watch. Pocket watch case backs vary in design and require different methods to open. For hinge back and bezel cases, examine the case back with a jeweler’s loupe or the naked eye for two small hinges on the case back. The hinges are usually at the 6 o’clock position. Pry the case at the opposite end of the case back first with a fingernail. If that doesn’t work use the flat blunt blade. The case should snap open. Hunting cases feature front and back covers. Press down on the crown and a tiny hatch will release the cover.
Use a jeweler’s loupe to examine the movement. Don’t touch the movement with your fingers. At or near the edge of the movement will be a serial number. Digits in the serial number will range from two to eight depending on the year of production. For example, 1856-1857 Waltham pocket watches will have a serial number between 4000 and 6000. A 1957 Waltham watch will have a serial number of 35,000,000 or greater, according to oldwatch.com. Record the serial number from the movement.
Use the jeweler’s loupe to note the “American Watch Co. Waltham”, “AWCO Waltham” or similar trademark. Note the number of jewels etched on the movement. Note and record the model name, such as “Riverside” or another model name on the movement.
Obtain a Waltham serial number list from the numerous online pocket watch sources or from an experienced watchmaker with an expertise in vintage watch identification and repair. The list will provide the year of production, but not the exact date.
Waltham Serial Number Database
Tip
Ignore the inside case back serial number. It provides no information. The inside case back should have the gold content embossed, such as 18k or lesser grade.
Warning
Waltham Serial Number Lookup
Never force open anything on a vintage pocket or wrist watch. If the case back doesn’t open, have a professional watchmaker open it for you.
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Updated On: February 05, 2019
All Waltham pocket watches have a serial number stamped on the movement (the 'works') inside the watch. The serial number can be checked against an online Waltham pocket watch list, which will give the approximate year of manufacture. Waltham pocket watch serial numbers can be accessed by opening the case back. To open a case back determine whether the watch has a screw-down, hunting or clamshell case.
To unscrew a screw-down Waltham pocket watch case back, locate the seam between the case and case back. The case back is the rear screw-down lid of the watch. Place the watch face down in the palm of your hand. Grip the edges of the case back with your fingers and rotate the case back counterclockwise until it's unscrewed from the case. Use a rubberized jar-lid remover to help unscrew particularly stubborn case backs.
Press the crown down at the 12 o’clock position on a Waltham pocket watch featuring a hunting case. Pressing down the crown releases the spring-loaded latch that opens the front cover over the crystal and the case back cover. Carefully wedge a blunt blade or your fingernail between the case and back cover to help pry it open.
Waltham Serial Number Search
Place your fingernail or a blunt blade under the case back lip at the 3 o’clock position if Waltham pocket watch has a clamshell case. Use the fingers from your other hand to grasp the pendant at 12 o’clock, where the stem that connects to the movement is held. By pulling the pendant and lifting the lip, an inner ring together with the movement will separate from the case.
Examine the movement with a jeweler’s loupe or magnifying glass. On one side of the movement is the Waltham logo and trademark. A model name may be engraved below, such as “Riverside” or “American.” At the edge of the movement is a set of numbers up to eight digits. The fewer the digits, the older the watch. Serial numbers begin in 1852 with 50 and exceeded 35,000,000 in 1957, the last year of manufacture.