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Help to identify watch

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TonyS
Coventry
1 of 14  Mon 19th Dec 2011 9:15pm  

I have recently discovered this watch amongst my possessions, and as my ancestors were watchmakers in this city of ours I would be interested in discovering whether this (rather poor) example is a local watch or not? The finish of the casing appears almost black in places - but could simply be tarnished. Any help anyone can give would be appreciated Thumbs up Front Back Inside case Sorry about the bad lighting, I just didn't want to get my lighting rig out this time of night!
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
morgana
the secret garden
2 of 14  Mon 19th Dec 2011 10:26pm  

Wave Normally the maker of the watch will stamp inside on the mechanism workings, try opening it up and look around the workings for a stamp or mark. Smile By the way 925 is 9kt gold Big grin
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
K
Somewhere
3 of 14  Mon 19th Dec 2011 10:43pm  

Tony, the case carries the Swiss import mark. If you open the back inner cover (cuvette), and photograph the movement, I can probably give you more information.

Question

Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
nirvana
coventry
4 of 14  Mon 19th Dec 2011 11:04pm  

I think you will find 925 denotes sterling silver.
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
K
Somewhere
5 of 14  Mon 19th Dec 2011 11:10pm  

Yes it does. Which is used on the Continent too. You often see 0800 silver in cheaper Swiss watch cases, but 935 in better ones. They never used the Britannia standard, 975, which is too soft, really, for watch cases.

Question

Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
morgana
the secret garden
6 of 14  Tue 20th Dec 2011 12:04am  

On 19th Dec 2011 11:04pm, nirvana said: I think you will find 925 denotes sterling silver.
Yes, you're right Bernie, it's silver, my error. Wave
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
K
Somewhere
7 of 14  Tue 20th Dec 2011 10:49am  

Tony The date letter suggests 1931; but it's hard to be sure with import marks (the usual assumption is London date letters, but there is no guarantee of that). Anything much after 1900 is unlikely to have an English movement, except for late Ehrhardt watches. They were mostly in Dennison cases, though. BTW, morgana, the name on the movement means little, and especially with pocket watches. E.g. Rolex pocket watches were actually made by either Cortebert or Revue. And with a Rolex name on the dial they fetch around 10 times as much. Breitling didn't make their own movements (Venus, Landeron, Valjoux). In the 1930s there were 8,000 Swiss brand names, but only about 100 makers.
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
morgana
the secret garden
8 of 14  Tue 20th Dec 2011 11:56am  

Oh! I thought he just wanted to know if it was local or not, on the Antiques Roadshow they always open the watches, clocks, up to see where the movement was made.
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
TonyS
Coventry
Thread starter
9 of 14  Tue 20th Dec 2011 8:07pm  

Yes I did, and thank you so much for all that have helped. I basically did simply want to know whether it might have been made "locally" but that looks highly unlikely now! Smile Keith; not sure if I can get it open to photograph the movement, but I'll come back to you if I can Thumbs up
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
K
Somewhere
10 of 14  Wed 21st Dec 2011 2:07pm  

You should find a slight 'relief' in the inner cover, near the top. Just get a table knife blade in it and twist. It should pop open, but is probably stiff, if it hasn't been used. BTW - is it key or button wound?
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
TonyS
Coventry
Thread starter
11 of 14  Wed 21st Dec 2011 3:14pm  

Thanks for that Keith. It's button wound, but the hands are rather tight to turn and I'm not going to force them
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
K
Somewhere
12 of 14  Wed 21st Dec 2011 4:51pm  

I looked up the casemaker. It's almost certainly George Stockwell and Co, Watch Importer, 126-128 Finsbury St, London and 272 Corporation St, Birmingham (listed 1907-18). All the Coventry GS's are too early.
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
TonyS
Coventry
Thread starter
13 of 14  Wed 21st Dec 2011 7:31pm  

Wow, how did you find that?! Thanks Keith, I appreciate your help Thumbs up
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch
K
Somewhere
14 of 14  Wed 21st Dec 2011 7:33pm  

I have an awful lot of info here. Like I said, I repair them. Properly.
Local History and Heritage - Help to identify watch

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