- Incabloc - invented 1934, in production a few years later.
- Type - Wristwatches only become popular during WWI
- Style - Trench watches were the style during WWI and shortly afterwards. After that a flatter, more modern looking case was produced.
- Movement - some movements can be dated directly - Use the Ranfft archive to ID a movement.
- Jewel Count - Roughly speaking, jewel count was only marketed after WWII I think, thus often not printed on the dial before then.
- By WWII most watches would have had 17 Jewels.
- By WWI most watches would have been 15 Jewels.
- Dial - Enamel dials (I think) were phased out about WWII, to make way for the easier to mass-produce painted ones.
Dating Watches
There are some useful landmarks in watch history that you can use to roughly date a watch.
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Hello,
ReplyDeleteI've come across a West End watch and was hoping you could help me identify it as I'm curious as to it's value. I suspect it's fairly new and not particularly valuable.
It's a Lowan Prima automatic 17 jewel, gold in color with a gold-colored band. On the back, it says "water resistant", there's a circle with a "W" and "West End Watch Co Everbright" around the circle.
There are two numbers on the back. The first is T-5687, and the second is 5531.
Or is that one long number written in two parts due to lack of room? If so, the number is T-56875531.
I've been able to find similar-in-appearance West Ends online, but they're always either 25 jewel or the day indicator box on the face is too short. This one has a long day box on the right side of center, marks instead of numbers.
I'm reasoning that it's fairly new (80's - 90's) and probably worth about 40 USD. It would be great to have an expert opinion. Thank you!