Vol. I — The Vintage Watch Register
Section
Reference decoding, caliber identification, dial and case comparison, engraving details and dating methods for pre-owned pieces.
Authentication Guide
Precious metal hallmarks and case-maker punches are among the most reliable dating tools available, and among the least studied by collectors focused on dials and movements.
Authentication Guide
A refinished case is not necessarily a ruined case, but understanding what has been removed is essential to valuing any vintage watch correctly. Lug geometry is the most reliable single tell.
Authentication Guide
Original hands with matching lume and correct pinion diameters are among the most under-examined authentication signals. Replacement hands are common, and they materially affect value.
Authentication Guide
Reference numbers describe what the watch is; serial numbers describe when it was made. Learning to read both is the fastest way to move from beginner to informed collector.
Authentication Guide
The dial carries most of a vintage watch's value. Learning to distinguish an untouched original from a refinished or factory-service dial is the single most important authentication skill.
Authentication Guide
The movement is where a vintage watch either confirms or contradicts its own claimed identity. A brief guide to opening the caseback with intent.
Authentication Guide
Radium, tritium and Super-LumiNova each age in characteristic ways. A UV lamp and a little patience reveal which era of luminous material a dial and hands actually carry.