This identifies the watch as being made by the American Waltham Watch Co. The grade of the watch is a Riverside. The movement has been adjusted. The serial number (3097487) allows you to date this watch. You know you have a Waltham Riverside 18K gold hunting case pocket watch made in 1886. The movement is marked Tavannes Watch Co. Swiss; 15 Jewels and the serial number 7682855. My questions are: Would the 14KT gold filled apply to the entire case and if so, white gold given the color? Would the 10 1/2 Ligne equate to the diameter being approx.
I recently had a query on dating these movements so have posted the answer here so I'll not have to do it again.The serial number on these movements are under the dial as show to the right. My dating is based on a reasonable number of watches, listed below, in hallmarked silver or gold movements. The sample is heavily biased to watches retailed by J.W. Benson, largely because other retailers frequently used Swiss hallmarked silver cases which do not carry a date mark. Benson appear to have switched from Revue to Tavannes in about 1932 the database is only good for the 1930s.
It must be remembered that a movement might not go straight into a case which itself may have been on the shelf for a while so there will be some overlap, also the hallmarking years of the various assay houses are not in line with each other or the with calendar but the difference is small and the date is likely to be accurate to plus or minus a year. (updated Feb 2017)
Serial | Date | |
4,322,549 | 1908 | |
12,487,883 | 1919 | |
14,708,666 | 1919 | |
13,079,475 | 1921 | |
14,262,246 | 1924 | |
15,485,579 | 1926? | |
15,485,952 | 1926? | |
15,939,146 | 1926 | |
17,482,498 | 1929? | |
16,624,975 | 1930? | |
17,865,828 | 1932 | |
17,886,973 | 1932 | |
17,888,724 | 1932 | |
17,888,811 | 1931 | |
17,889,975 | 1932 | |
17,899,152 | 1931 | |
17,899,219 | 1932 | |
17,889,918 | 1932 | |
17,902,501 | 1932 | |
17,903,525 | 1932 | |
17,903,625 | 1932 | |
17,908,930 | 1932 | |
17,909,034 | 1932 | |
17,909,035 | 1932 | |
17,944,833 | 1933 | |
17,944,871 | 1933 | |
17,966,044 | 1933 | |
17,970,131 | 1933 | |
18,045,354 | 1935 | |
18,045,567 | 1935 | |
18,050,727 | 1935 | |
18,052,802 | 1936 | |
18,055,283 | 1936 | |
18,055,497 | 1936 | |
18,055,498 | 1936 | |
18,055,544 | 1936 | |
18,066,750 | 1935 | |
18,070,392 | 1936 | |
18,076,649 | 1936 | |
18,090,883 | 1936 | |
18,112,605 | 1937 | |
18,112,379 | 1936 | |
18,113,219 | 1937 | |
18,141,556 | 1937 | |
18,146,434 | 1937 | |
18,146,664 | 1938 | |
18,199,372 | 1937 | |
18,240,750 | 1938 | |
18,245,978 | 1938 | |
18,246,001 | 1938 | |
18,252,273 | 1940 | Benson stock? |
18,253,220 | 1939 | |
18,256,774 | 1938 | |
18,265,158 | 1938 | |
18,268,000 | 1940 | |
18,276,566 | 1947? |
Please use the following tables to help determine the approximate age of your watch. Remove or open the back cover from your watch and look for a number engraved into the movement; this is the serial number for your watch, and by using it, you can find the closest years it was made on these tables. Please note there is a difference between the number marked on the movement and the one marked on the case. These tables are only accurate for the movement serial numbers.
You might also try looking in the book 'The Complete Price Guide to Watches' by Richard M. Gilbert, et al. (ISBN 978-0982948774 for the 2018 edition) for more information about your watch. There is extensive information about different makes of watch, along with nice histories about the companies themselves. The book can be purchased online via Amazon.com. We've also seen it at the local Barnes & Noble bookstore in the 'collectibles' section, so you can also check there.
Another resource is the Pocket Watch Database, an ever-growing online listing of movement grades and serial numbers to aid in pocket watch identification.
To jump to a particular section below, you may click on the following manufacturers:
Aurora Watch Co.: Aurora, IL 1883-1892 | |
serial number | year |
10,000 | 1883 |
52,000 | 1888 |
231,000 | 1892 |
Ball Watch Co.: Cleveland, OH Made by Hamilton Watch Co. | |
serial number | year |
13,001-119,000 | 1895-1900 |
170,001-489,000 | 1901-1905 |
497,001-B603,000 | 1906-1913 |
B603,001-B607,000 | 1914-1920 |
B607,001-B640,000 | 1926-1930 |
B640,001-B670,000 | 1934-1942 |
Ball Watch Co.: Cleveland, OH Made by Waltham Watch Co. | |
serial number | year |
B542,501-B202,800 | 1903 |
B202,801-B225,000 | 1904 |
B225,001-B240,000 | 1907 |
B240,001-B255,500 | 1912 |
B255,001-B265,000 | 1915 |
B265,001-B271,000 | 1919 |
B270,001-B271,000 | 1922 |
Columbus Watch Co.: Columbus, OH 1874-1903 | |
serial number | year |
1 | 1874 |
12,000 | 1879 |
21,000 | 1882 |
25,000 | 1883 |
30,000 | 1884 |
40,000 | 1885 |
53,000 | 1886 |
75,000 | 1887 |
97,000 | 1888 |
119,000 | 1889 |
141,000 | 1890 |
163,000 | 1891 |
185,000 | 1892 |
207,000 | 1893 |
229,000 | 1894 |
251,000 | 1895 |
273,000 | 1896 |
295,000 | 1897 |
317,000 | 1898 |
339,000 | 1899 |
361,000 | 1900 |
383,000 | 1901 |
583,631 | 1902 |
Special Blocks of # | |
500,001 | 1894 |
501,500 | 1896 |
503,000 | 1898 |
504,500 | 1900 |
506,000 | 1902 |
E. Howard & Co.: Boston, MA 1858-1903 | |
serial number | year |
1-2,000 | 1858 |
2,500 | 1859 |
50,000 | 1860 |
73,000 | 1870 |
200,000 | 1875 |
300,000 | 1880 |
430,000 | 1885 |
600,000 | 1890 |
700,000 | 1895 |
812,000 | 1900 |
854,000 | 1903 |
E. Howard Watch Co. (Keystone): Boston, MA 1902-1930 | |
serial number | year |
850,000 | 1902 |
900,000 | 1903 |
980,000 | 1909 |
1,100,000 | 1912 |
1,285,000 | 1915 |
1,340,000 | 1917 |
1,400,000 | 1921 |
1,500,000 | 1930 |
Elgin Watch Co.: Elgin IL 1867-Mid 1900s | |
serial number | year |
101 | 1867 |
100,000 | 1870 |
200,000 | 1874 |
400,000 | 1875 |
500,000 | 1877 |
600,000 | 1879 |
700,000 | 1880 |
800,000 | 1881 |
1,000,000 | 1882 |
2,000,000 | 1886 |
3,000,000 | 1888 |
4,000,000 | 1890 |
5,000,000 | 1893 |
6,000,000 | 1895 |
7,000,000 | 1897 |
8,000,000 | 1899 |
9,000,000 | 1900 |
10,000,000 | 1903 |
11,000,000 | 1904 |
13,000,000 | 1907 |
14,000,000 | 1909 |
15,000,000 | 1910 |
16,000,000 | 1911 |
17,000,000 | 1912 |
18,000,000 | 1914 |
19,000,000 | 1916 |
20,000,000 | 1917 |
21,000,000 | 1918 |
22,000,000 | 1919 |
23,000,000 | 1920 |
26,000,000 | 1923 |
29,000,000 | 1926 |
33,000,000 | 1929 |
34,000,000 | 1933 |
36,000,000 | 1936 |
38,000,000 | 1939 |
41,000,000 | 1942 |
43,000,000 | 1945 |
45,000,000 | 1948 |
50,000,000 | 1953 |
Hamilton Watch Co.: Lancaster, PA 1893-Mid 1900s | |
serial number | year |
1-20 | 1893 |
7,000 | 1894 |
15,000 | 1895 |
160,000 | 1900 |
450,000 | 1905 |
661,000 | 1910 |
1,158,000 | 1915 |
1,400,000 | 1920 |
2,333,000 | 1925 |
2,500,000 | 1930 |
2,600,000 | 1935 |
3,200,000 | 1938 |
4,500,000 | 1940 |
Hampden Watch Co.: Springfield, MA 1877-1888 Canton, OH 1888-1930 | |
serial number | year |
58,000 | 1877 |
65,000 | 1878 |
85,000 | 1879 |
100,000 | 1880 |
125,000 | 1881 |
150,000 | 1882 |
200,000 | 1883 |
250,000 | 1884 |
300,000 | 1885 |
400,000 | 1886 |
500,000 | 1887 |
550,000 | 1888 |
650,000 | 1889 |
750,000 | 1890 |
900,000 | 1891 |
1,000,000 | 1892 |
1,110,000 | 1893 |
1,200,000 | 1894 |
1,300,000 | 1895 |
1,400,000 | 1896 |
1,450,000 | 1897 |
1,525,000 | 1898 |
1,600,000 | 1899 |
1,675,000 | 1900 |
1,700,000 | 1901 |
1,800,000 | 1902 |
1,925,000 | 1903 |
2,150,000 | 1904 |
2,275,000 | 1905 |
2,325,000 | 1906 |
2,450,000 | 1907 |
2,575,000 | 1908 |
2,700,000 | 1909 |
2,800,000 | 1910 |
2,900,000 | 1911 |
3,000,000 | 1912 |
3,100,000 | 1913 |
3,200,000 | 1914 |
3,300,000 | 1915 |
3,375,000 | 1916 |
3,450,000 | 1917 |
3,575,000 | 1918 |
3,705,000 | 1919 |
3,825,000 | 1920 |
3,950,000 | 1921 |
4,175,000 | 1922 |
4,300,000 | 1923 |
4,425,000 | 1924 |
4,550,000 | 1925 |
4,625,000 | 1926 |
Illinois Watch Co: Springfield, IL 1872-1932 | |
serial number | year |
1-2,000 | 1872 |
37,000 | 1873 |
59,000 | 1874 |
81,000 | 1875 |
191,000 | 1880 |
285,000 | 1885 |
432,000 | 1890 |
600,000 | 1895 |
1,000,000 | 1900 |
2,460,000 | 1905 |
3,800,000 | 1910 |
4,220,000 | 1915 |
4,400,000 | 1920 |
5,232,000 | 1925 |
5,400,000 | 1930 |
5,600,000 | 1932 |
Rockford Watch Co.: Rockford IL 1876-1915 | |
serial number | year |
8,000 | 1876 |
18,000 | 1877 |
30,000 | 1878 |
40,000 | 1879 |
50,000 | 1880 |
60,000 | 1881 |
70,000 | 1882 |
80,000 | 1883 |
90,000 | 1884 |
104,000 | 1885 |
116,000 | 1886 |
128,000 | 1887 |
140,000 | 1888 |
152,000 | 1889 |
164,000 | 1890 |
176,000 | 1891 |
198,000 | 1892 |
234,000 | 1894 |
294,000 | 1896 |
324,000 | 1897 |
354,00 | 1898 |
384,000 | 1899 |
414,000 | 1900 |
448,000 | 1901 |
481,000 | 1902 |
550,000 | 1904 |
655,000 | 1907 |
730,000 | 1909 |
815,000 | 1911 |
850,000 | 1912 |
880,000 | 1913 |
930,000 | 1914 |
936,000 | 1915 |
Seth Thomas Watch Co.: Thomaston, CT 1884-1914 | |
serial number | year |
4,000 | 1885 |
9,000 | 1886 |
20,000 | 1887 |
50,000 | 1888 |
80,000 | 1889 |
110,000 | 1890 |
150,000 | 1891 |
176,000 | 1892 |
204,000 | 1893 |
246,000 | 1894 |
288,000 | 1895 |
334,000 | 1896 |
376,000 | 1897 |
418,000 | 1898 |
460,000 | 1899 |
500,000 | 1900 |
552,000 | 1901 |
604,000 | 1902 |
657,000 | 1903 |
710,000 | 1904 |
763,000 | 1905 |
817,000 | 1906 |
937,000 | 1907 |
1,057,000 | 1908 |
1,177,000 | 1909 |
1,325,000 | 1910 |
1,835,000 | 1911 |
2,355,000 | 1912 |
3,000,000 | 1913 |
3,600,000 | 1914 |
South Bend Watch Co.: South Bend, IN 1903-1930 | |
serial number | year |
380,000 | 1903 |
544,000 | 1908 |
700,000 | 1912 |
864,000 | 1918 |
1,028,000 | 1923 |
1,200,000 | 1928 |
Waltham Watch Co.: Waltham, MA 1850-Mid 1900s | |
serial number | year |
1,000 | 1857 |
14,000 | 1858 |
17,000 | 1859 |
20,000 | 1860 |
23,000 | 1861 |
34,000 | 1862 |
46,000 | 1863 |
118,00 | 1864 |
190,000 | 1865 |
262,000 | 1866 |
335,000 | 1867 |
410,000 | 1868 |
470,000 | 1869 |
500,000 | 1870 |
550,000 | 1871 |
600,000 | 1872 |
691,000 | 1873 |
723,000 | 1874 |
800,000 | 1875 |
900,000 | 1876 |
1,000,000 | 1877 |
1,160,000 | 1878 |
1,351,000 | 1879 |
1,499,000 | 1880 |
1,675,000 | 1881 |
1,837,000 | 1882 |
2,000,000 | 1883 |
2,356,000 | 1884 |
2,650,000 | 1885 |
3,000,000 | 1887 |
4,000,000 | 1889 |
6,000,000 | 1892 |
7,000,000 | 1895 |
9,000,000 | 1899 |
10,000,000 | 1901 |
12,000,000 | 1903 |
13,000,000 | 1904 |
14,000,000 | 1905 |
15,000,000 | 1907 |
17,000,000 | 1908 |
18,000,000 | 1910 |
19,000,000 | 1913 |
20,000,000 | 1914 |
21,000,000 | 1917 |
22,000,000 | 1918 |
23,000,000 | 1919 |
24,000,000 | 1921 |
26,000,000 | 1927 |
27,000,000 | 1929 |
28,000,000 | 1934 |
29,000,000 | 1936 |
30,000,000 | 1939 |
31,000,000 | 1942 |
32,000,000 | 1945 |
33,600,000 | 1951 |
33,830,000 | 1953 |
35,000,000 | 1957 |
Other pages that may be of interest...
- 'How To Wear' Guide - Our guide, with examples and photos, on how to wear our various styles of watches and watch accessories.
- Pocket Watch Sizing Chart - A numerical and graphical chart of the different sizes of watches you will find on our site, plus a table of pocket watch chain weight classes.
- Watch Winding, Setting, & Opening Instructions - Instructions (with photos) for setting & winding various types of mechanical watches.
- Abbreviations & Glossary - A list of the abbreviations we use in our descriptions and a glossary of terms.