help with identifying mark on a pocket watch

[kevalie]

Hi, there are a few marks on the pocket watch, apart from 0585 which I assume is 14ct I have no idea what the rest represent. Also what is interesting is that for an expensive 14ct gold watch there is no brand marking on the clock face, and in the last photo it is showing the letters "SRH". Any information would be appreciate.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u45 ... 8aade4.jpg

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u45 ... 43255b.jpg

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u45 ... a5f757.jpg

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u45 ... bf4cc4.jpg

[kevalie]

I was just informed that the letters in the movement (last photo) are SR and FA

[oel]

Hi,

The Crown for Germany, the National Gold Mark, a crown in a circle, is self-applied by the manufacturer or German importer of the watchcase, to designate gold items with a minimum of 585 fine, in use 1884 to Date. Squirrel, hallmarks for Switzerland for gold 583/585 fine, letter or symbol under or perhaps above squirrel to indicate the Assay office. For example the symbol + is for Berne used 1883-1995 and the letter G is for Geneva 1880 to Date. International gold mark; 0.585=14K=56 Russian zolotniks. The little clover (flower) could be importer's/ watch case maker's mark.
I believe the watch to be made in Swiss and exported to Germany, hence the German crown.

From NAWCC;
SR and FA
These markings do not refer to the maker of the movement. They typically occur on watches made in Switzerland for export. The SR FA markings are found on the balance cock, and show the direction that the regulator should be moved to speed up or slow down the movement.
"S" stands for "Slow", "F" for "Fast", "R" stands for "Retard" (which is French for "delay"), while "A" stands for the French word "Avance" (which means "advance"). Alternately, some report the "A" stands for the French word "Accélérer" (which means "speed up"), while "R" stands for "Ralentir" (which is French for "slow down").



Oel.

[kevalie]

Thanks Oel, that's very informative. Do you know what the number 14 above 56, "308" and "103308" (on the other case) stand for? And is it common to have a relatively expensive watch to have no brand on the clock face.

[oel]

It's not uncommon to find a pretty basic movement like this in a gold case, signed & high quality movements with famous brand names are often far more expensive.
I believe the number 14 to indicate 14Karat=52(zolotnik)=0.585 or 58.5% pure gold has been used to manufacture the watchcase. The numbers ‘308’ & ‘103308’ are of no importance; internal reference code put on by the case maker or case serial numbers. However numbers in the movement could be important to identify the maker of the watch. To my knowledge movement and case serial numbers are almost always unrelated.

[kevalie]

Once again thanks for the help