Other movements may be “three quarter” plate, Or “plates.” Some movements are full-plate, meaning they are two plates of Increasing the grade and value of the movement.Ī watch movement is constructed so that wheels are held between “bridges” Means the nickel plates are brushed or decorated by hand or machine, thereby The solid nickel plates of the watch are polished. A “gilt” finish is, in effect, gold-plated. The movement finish of a watch traditionally refers to its appearance: color, Was developed to protect watches from having their hands jostled out of time Of the dial must be pulled out before the hands can be adjusted. Watch should be “lever set”: A hidden lever located in a small slot near the edge Hands gestured to the proper time, then pushing in the crown. Turn them later, watches were set by pulling out the crown turning it until the Early watches hands were “set” by using a key to The setting of a watch movement notes how the hands of the watch are moved Is pushed or, whether it is designed for use in an open-face case, which has no To go in a hunting case – a watch case with a cover that opens when the crown The movement configuration of a watch identifies whether it was manufactured The total run quantity of a model or grade is the complete number assembled before the factory ceased production of that model. This category can be used to note subtle differencesīecause special tooling and manufacturing techniques are required forĮach model and grade of movement, mechanisms are produced in groups called “runs.” A run can consist of a hundred or less up to tens of thousands per group. Models names can be words or numbers.Īn internal notation used by a watch factory to note the level of production and Model names and numbers are used to determine railroad eligibility use and level Of the piece and the level of labor and jeweling that went into the movement. Much like the model of a car, the model of a watch movement indicates the style Grading can be increased/decreased by adding jewels, damascening or adding Value of the material was a much greater proportion, with some extra labor going To a lesser extent, the pleasing appearance of the movement. Some relationship to the cost of materials, but the greater cost was the labor toįinish and adjust the parts to the precision necessary for good timekeeping and, The grade of a movement is the identification of the level of quality to which it isįinished, generally reflecting the amount of labor that went into them. Number does not always mean an increase in watch quality. WhileĪ certain number of jewels are necessary at vital points, an increase beyond this The watch that give them value and make your watch run so dependably. Raw jewelsĪlone cost little it’s their incredibly precise finish and their perfect positioning in

The microscopic droplets of oil that lubricate each tiny pivot point. Unceasingly year after year with a minimum of wear and friction. Only jewels have a surface hard and perfect enough to allow metal parts to turn Sizing have no correlation to the actual measurement of the piece.

The numbers used for American watch movement System developed and agreed-upon by American watch manufacturers toĭetermine the diameter of a watch movement. For this reason, many factory production dates are approximate. Factory records differįrom year-to-year and factory-to-factory. Approximate date the movement of a watch is produced.

Elgin pocket watch serial numbers