About the inscriptions on the watch cases

GuillerA · Jun 5, 2022

Hello everyone,
I've been wondering if the marks we see sometimes on the watch cases can always tell us about the last service. For instance, I've found these marks in this Omega Seamaster Deville from the 60s which quite obviously mean that the watch has been serviced in nov 2001. Does it make sense when we have a look to the movement ?
Thank you so much !

MtV · Jun 5, 2022

This’ll be anybody’s guess, really. Previous owner might have just wrote those dates in there himself, it’s not unheard of. Buying a black marker is certainly cheaper than actually having a watch serviced.

That being said: movement looks ok, so it‘s in the realm of possibility.

Donn Chambers · Jun 5, 2022

It could mean a service in 2001, or it could mean something else. Old school watchmakers each had their own coding system they used to identify when they serviced, and it wasn’t as simple as a date in most cases. Unless you know their code, it’s really only guess work. Nowadays, most watchmakers no longer scratch or write on the case back, although you’ll still find some old-school guys who do.

About the inscriptions on the watch cases

GuillerA

MtV

Donn Chambers

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