Waltham Pocket Watch Grade Numbers

Waltham watches are highly collectible and are perhaps one of the easiest timepieces to date due to their serial numbers.

Waltham pocket watch grade numbers. Waltham watch serial numbers. See below below is a picture of the serial number on the pocket watch case. The next movements produced serial numbers 5001 to 14 000 were used in the waltham model 1857 watch the first pocket watch produced in america of standard parts. Some of the more popular waltham named grades were.

For instance a riverside grade watch will have a w w co. 399 units were made. A waltham pocket watch will have a w w co and waltham mass on the movement which is the inner workings of the pocket watch. This will also include the grade of the watch.

Waltham named grades in addition to using grade numbers waltham also used many grade names on their watches often choosing the names of board members company investors or other prominent individuals. 81 etc in addition waltham used many of the same grade designations for multiple sizes and models which means that the highest or lowest grade for one particular model may not be the highest or lowest grade for a different model even though the names of the grades are the same. When looking for the number on your watch you should be looking at the serial number on the movement not the case. Write down the serial number.

This grade was available in nickel or gilt finish and in hunting case or open face versions. Looking at the table of waltham serial numbers see example below you can see that number 20 900 000 was made in 1917 and 21 800 000 was made in 1918 marked in red in the table below. Determining the date of your waltham pocket watch involves opening the back cover. The grade name basically designates the model and or level of finish of the watch.

Waltham used both named grades appleton tracy co wm ellery vanguard etc and number grades 992 no. This bears no relation to the movement. 40 for railroad use. Use this table to look up your waltham pocket watch serial number of and hence the year of manufacture.

Parker was introduced as the 1857 model. Let s say you have a waltham watch with serial number 21 607 210 as shown in the photo below. Riverside waltham mass on the movement. Every waltham watch produced since 1852 was engraved with a serial number.