Tavannes Watch Company Serial Numbers
During WWI, the Tavannes Watch Co was approached by two British submarine commanders to consider the construction of a watch suitable for work on submarine decks awash in water - This watch was supposed to be water-tight, non-magnetic, and the balance wheel had to be of a material which shows a minimum of expansion and contraction with variations in temperature - The face had to be. Number: TA A07.108/ST01 Watch Description. The elegant look and quality of a Tavannes watch! This Superb Automatic Gents Stainless Steel Men s Watch will make a perfect gift or an addition to your collection.
Do you know the value of your vintage pocket watch?
- Brand: Tavannes: Style: Art Deco: Type: Pocket Watch: Serial Number: 46009: Bezel Material: 14K Yellow Gold: Case Material: 14K Yellow Gold: Caseback Material: 14K.
- Event date: event description: 2016-03-24: sn assigned for sect 66a subseq desig from ib: 2016-03-28: new application office supplied data entered in tram.
Perhaps you have inherited an antique timepiece, passed through your family for generations? Or perhaps you’ve found an old pocket watch at an antique fair and are curious about its value?
Antique pocket watches can bring in some serious money, but determining their value can be difficult. So, what exactly should you be looking out for? Here are the top 6 things to consider when determining the value of your pocket watch.
Brand
Most watches will have the brand name written somewhere on the design, whether on the casing or the watch face itself. Double check your pocket watch for this information, alongside any further identification that may be useful, such as serial numbers or manufacturers numbers.
By researching this information, you may be able to get an idea of the era your watch is from, and prices of similar pieces. Look out for any big names such as Omega, Longines or Elgin, as these will hold an instantly higher value.
Material
It goes without saying that a quality gold or silver pocket watch will carry a greater value than a non-precious metal, based on the material alone. Check the casing of your watch: is the material high quality? Are they any additional gems or embellishments? Premium materials and precious metals, gems or stones will all add to the overall value of your timepiece.
Movement
However, don’t solely judge a watch by its cover – it really is what’s inside that counts! The movement of your pocket watch can actually indicate a lot more than the casing when it comes to quality and value, with a complicated movement generally always being worth more. Quite often you will need to remove the movement from the watch in order to examine it. The absolute utmost care should be taken when doing this – never force the movement out of a watch. If you don’t have experience handling timepieces in this manner, always seek professional help.
Adjustments
Higher quality (and therefore more valuable) pocket watches tend to have much higher attention to detail, so take a look at the adjustments, gears and jewels inside your watch. These make up the calibrations inside your pocket watch, with a higher amount indicating a higher quality timepiece. As a general rule of thumb, the more jewels, gears and adjustments inside your pocket watch, the more value it holds.
Vintage Tavannes Watch
Condition
The condition of your pocket watch, both internally and externally, is a huge factor in determining the value that it holds today. Is your watch in a good, working condition? Wind the watch: are the hands moving smoothly, and is the time showing accurately? Internally, it is important that the movement and adjustments are all working as they should be for the highest possible value. Again, if you are unsure about these factors, seek professional advice.
Externally, is the casing and design of your pocket watch in good physical condition? Has there been any water damage, or does your watch display signs of rust? Are there cracks or dents in the watch casing? Damage, both to the watch aesthetics and inner workings, will instantly lower the value of your timepiece. Any antique pocket watches in impeccable condition are guaranteed to hold a much higher value today.
Professional opinions
Finally – and we cannot stress this enough! – if you are looking to sell your vintage or antique pocket watch, always get a professional opinion. A professional will instantly know what to look for in your pocket watch and will be equipped to handle older, delicate watches without causing damage. While the above factors can all help indicate the value of a pocket watch, you will not know for sure until it is valued by an expert.
Tavannes Pocket Watch Identification
If you’re looking for a new pocket watch to add to your collection, be sure to explore the full range at Greenwich Pocket Watch. From sleek open face pocket watches to half double hunter pocket watch designs, you’re sure to discover your new special occasion go-to.
I recently had a query on dating these movements so have posted the answer here so I'll not have to do it again.Tavannes Pocket Watch Serial Numbers
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? |