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SLS · 22 March 2009, 01:55 AM

I was wondering if there is a way to decipher the tiny numbers that are often written inside the casebacks of watches that have been serviced. Sometimes it is very obvious when the watch was serviced like when you see "Feb 05", but other times there is a bunch of numbers that make no chronological sense to me. So is there a universal code that is used by watchmakers or not.
Thanks,
Scott

Vanessa CW21 · 22 March 2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLS

I was wondering if there is a way to decipher the tiny numbers that are often written inside the casebacks of watches that have been serviced. Sometimes it is very obvious when the watch was serviced like when you see "Feb 05", but other times there is a bunch of numbers that make no chronological sense to me. So is there a universal code that is used by watchmakers or not.
Thanks,
Scott

No, there's not, unfortunately. For us its hard too to figure out what the previous watchmaker did!

I write for example: store code-date(MM/YY)-ROSCTXT-VC

ROS: Rolex Oyster Service
CT: Crown-Tube
XT: Crystal
VC: my initials

SLS · 23 March 2009, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanessa

No, there's not, unfortunately. For us its hard too to figure out what the previous watchmaker did!

I write for example: store code-date(MM/YY)-ROSCTXT-VC

ROS: Rolex Oyster Service
CT: Crown-Tube
XT: Crystal
VC: my initials

Very interesting! Thank you for the info.

~Scott

Spare201 · 31 March 2009, 06:48 AM

more often than not it is mainly a job# reference/date/initials.

Rikki · 29 July 2009, 11:06 AM

The AWCI gives you a lifetime code for personal identification Mine is 10^RD the little mark between the 10 and rd is actually the delta symbol but I don't have one on my keyboard. So when i mark a watch it's 10^RD then the date say 7/28/09 then under that say coa t/c/cry/ax/2g's which translates to tube and crown crystal axle and 2g's Now understand all this I fit into and area under 1/4/inch you have to use a 10 power scope to read it. Hope that helps Rik the Watchmaker

skywag · 1 November 2009, 03:24 PM

I'd rather not have scribbling inside my watch.

mda · 1 November 2009, 06:09 PM

With the advent of computer & Internet, do RSCs still put these notes inside the caseback?

Would it be possible to request the watchmaker not to do that?

Rikki · 8 November 2009, 12:32 PM

You could request it for sure but it's a practice that has been on going for centuries.

Tim Wells · 31 December 2009, 09:58 AM

Most of the "scribblings" in a case were made by a watchmaker that serviced it every time it came in so he would know what it meant. Old watchmakers had their own individual "system" for making service notes in cases that only meant anything to them.

That's how a few old timers explained it to me. Back then when there was a lot of that going on, you typically stayed in one place a long time you know, you worked in a place and your kids grew up and went to school and you retired and so it went for generations.

Well, you just naturally took your watch to the same guy down town when you got your first one and kept on doing it only now that guy is old, gray and still wearing that loupe.

He knows what that stuff was but when your grandkids pawn it off while in Vegas while in need of more "spending money" well the watchmaker that lives where ever that old tank case Hamilton your grandpa was so proud of ends up, won't have a clue what that scribbling is either most of the time.

Personally I have never marked a case, I put all that info in my watchmaker's record book made for that purpose. All I have to do is look at the serial number to track it.

sheldonsmith · 3 January 2010, 03:48 AM

From http://www.minus4plus6.com/caseback.htm

After purchasing the 16710, I had the watch pressure tested at the Beverly Hills RSC. Upon inspecting the original caseback, one can see the watchmakers inscriptions indicating when and where the watch was opened.

The inscription reads as follows: RBH 5/07 3/008 7380
The RBH (Rolex Beverly Hills) makes sense, as does the 5/07 (date). The other numbers are greek to me.

Watchmakers inscriptions on the caseback is a long held tradition that even Rolex follows.

-Sheldon

Rikki · 9 January 2010, 02:13 PM

What he said

22 March 2009, 01:55 AM	#1
SLS "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Real Name: Scott Location: GMT -7 Watch: GMT's & Sub's Posts: 10,401	Watchmaker code I was wondering if there is a way to decipher the tiny numbers that are often written inside the casebacks of watches that have been serviced. Sometimes it is very obvious when the watch was serviced like when you see "Feb 05", but other times there is a bunch of numbers that make no chronological sense to me. So is there a universal code that is used by watchmakers or not. Thanks, Scott __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of lower price is forgotten." -Benjamin Franklin Member No. 922

1 November 2009, 03:24 PM	#6
skywag Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: N47.9 W122.7 Watch: S/S "P" Daytona Posts: 216	No thanks! I'd rather not have scribbling inside my watch.

31 March 2009, 06:48 AM	#4
Spare201 Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Spare201 Location: U.S.A. Watch: 1970 Day-Date Posts: 197	more often than not it is mainly a job# reference/date/initials.

29 July 2009, 11:06 AM	#5
Rikki TechXpert Join Date: Jun 2009 Real Name: Rik Dietel Location: Seminole Fla Watch: 5512 s/s Sub Posts: 1,818	The AWCI gives you a lifetime code for personal identification Mine is 10^RD the little mark between the 10 and rd is actually the delta symbol but I don't have one on my keyboard. So when i mark a watch it's 10^RD then the date say 7/28/09 then under that say coa t/c/cry/ax/2g's which translates to tube and crown crystal axle and 2g's Now understand all this I fit into and area under 1/4/inch you have to use a 10 power scope to read it. Hope that helps Rik the Watchmaker

1 November 2009, 06:09 PM	#7
mda Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Real Name: Don Location: Midwest Posts: 46	With the advent of computer & Internet, do RSCs still put these notes inside the caseback? Would it be possible to request the watchmaker not to do that?

8 November 2009, 12:32 PM	#8
Rikki TechXpert Join Date: Jun 2009 Real Name: Rik Dietel Location: Seminole Fla Watch: 5512 s/s Sub Posts: 1,818	You could request it for sure but it's a practice that has been on going for centuries.

31 December 2009, 09:58 AM	#9
Tim Wells "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Dallas, GA Watch: Rolex GMT Master Posts: 74	Most of the "scribblings" in a case were made by a watchmaker that serviced it every time it came in so he would know what it meant. Old watchmakers had their own individual "system" for making service notes in cases that only meant anything to them. That's how a few old timers explained it to me. Back then when there was a lot of that going on, you typically stayed in one place a long time you know, you worked in a place and your kids grew up and went to school and you retired and so it went for generations. Well, you just naturally took your watch to the same guy down town when you got your first one and kept on doing it only now that guy is old, gray and still wearing that loupe. He knows what that stuff was but when your grandkids pawn it off while in Vegas while in need of more "spending money" well the watchmaker that lives where ever that old tank case Hamilton your grandpa was so proud of ends up, won't have a clue what that scribbling is either most of the time. Personally I have never marked a case, I put all that info in my watchmaker's record book made for that purpose. All I have to do is look at the serial number to track it.

3 January 2010, 03:48 AM	#10
sheldonsmith 2025 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Member 202♛ Posts: 1,820	From http://www.minus4plus6.com/caseback.htm After purchasing the 16710, I had the watch pressure tested at the Beverly Hills RSC. Upon inspecting the original caseback, one can see the watchmakers inscriptions indicating when and where the watch was opened. The inscription reads as follows: RBH 5/07 3/008 7380 The RBH (Rolex Beverly Hills) makes sense, as does the 5/07 (date). The other numbers are greek to me. Watchmakers inscriptions on the caseback is a long held tradition that even Rolex follows. -Sheldon

9 January 2010, 02:13 PM	#11
Rikki TechXpert Join Date: Jun 2009 Real Name: Rik Dietel Location: Seminole Fla Watch: 5512 s/s Sub Posts: 1,818	What he said

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