Engravings and watchmaker marks on the case back/lugs?

hansaboy · Mar 13, 2024

Hi Forum Friends!

I have been wondering sometime how you/we feel about personal engravings,
and also marks that have been done by a watch maker?

Regarding case backs, these could (maybe not all of them...) be exchanged with a fresh one.
But if it is on the case or lug…?

I have sometimes found these on my never ending search (mostly Speedys...😗),
and the questions that I have are:

How much does this bother you?
And of course - how would one set a value (negative) on them?

I have bought a Speedy myself with an engraving on the case back,
and since I got it for a fair price, it doesn't bother me at all.
And it is also a bit of history regarding the watch!

What are your thoughts?

JimInOz · Mar 13, 2024

If you own the watch you can engrave the crap out of it. It's your watch.

If you don't own the watch, don't touch the exterior at all.

Watchmaker details should be on the INSIDE of the caseback, if at all.
Many watchmakers these days don't even mark the watch in any way.

PS: Owner engravings don't worry me.
"Watchmaker" engravings (exterior) annoy me.

Larry S · Mar 13, 2024

That’s just rude behavior by the watchmaker. Overall I think personal engravings, well done, add to the story of the watch. They don’t bug me and I’d never risk case damage to remove them.

Archer · Mar 13, 2024

Scratching anything on a customers watch is considered intentional damage these days, at least by most professional watchmakers.

I've never had the need to mark a watch I've serviced. I have photos and records of the serial numbers so it's really not needed.

ketiljo · Mar 13, 2024

The name on the back looks Norwegian. The number on the lug is apparently a NUF number (Norwegian Watchmaker Union) that some watchmakers engrave to track watch service. It's discussed here (Norwegian site): https://www.tidssonen.no/forum/threads/noen-som-vet-hva-dette-betyr.52025/

Archer · Mar 13, 2024

ketiljo
The name on the back looks Norwegian. The number on the lug is apparently a NUF number (Norwegian Watchmaker Union) that some watchmakers engrave to track watch service. It's discussed here (Norwegian site): https://www.tidssonen.no/forum/threads/noen-som-vet-hva-dette-betyr.52025/

According to that link, it's for tracking where the watch was sold, not where it was serviced. From a post there...

"This is an "NUF" (Norwegian Watchmakers Association) number that identifies where the watch has been purchased and what archive number this has at the watchmaker in question. The corresponding "service number" is usually etched on the inside of the bell.
Thus, the watch's history will always be traceable.
If you return from a trip abroad and encounter a customs problem, this will also be able to "prove" to customs that this is a "Norwegian watch".

Edit;
Some believe that this is an antiquarian practice, but when an AD sells many different watches and where each watch manufacturer uses different (often "random") serial number systems, then this is not as idiotic as some claim."

And yes, it's completely idiotic...

ketiljo · Mar 13, 2024

What I meant to say, but not very accurate. I assume, and hope, that having the serial number of the watch on the outside stops this stupid practice.

Mark020 · Mar 13, 2024

There used to be a Rolex AD in The Netherlands which scratched an inventory number on the back of the lugs…

hansaboy · Mar 13, 2024

ketiljo
The name on the back looks Norwegian. The number on the lug is apparently a NUF number (Norwegian Watchmaker Union) that some watchmakers engrave to track watch service. It's discussed here (Norwegian site): https://www.tidssonen.no/forum/threads/noen-som-vet-hva-dette-betyr.52025/

Aahaa!

Thanks for the info and link!

hansaboy · Mar 13, 2024

Some of the etching made on the lug are actually Swedish social security numbers...
So the owner must have played with a dremel!
😲

Evitzee · Mar 13, 2024

Tiffany used to scratch mark an inventory number on many of their more expensive items. I have a small (1 3/4") round gilt Tiffany alarm clock that I picked up at a garage sale years ago for a pittance. It's probably from the 1960's but it is scratch marked on the back with a number: 62-54-327. I don't think they do that anymore. It's just not considered acceptable any longer.

hansaboy · Mar 14, 2024

Evitzee
Tiffany used to scratch mark an inventory number on many of their more expensive items. I have a small (1 3/4") round gilt Tiffany alarm clock that I picked up at a garage sale years ago for a pittance. It's probably from the 1960's but it is scratch marked on the back with a number: 62-54-327. I don't think they do that anymore. It's just not considered acceptable any longer.

I totally understand if the owner of the watch wants to "brand" the watch,
but that the store marks it for inventory is really stupid?
I have also read this somewhere about inventory nr.
Why not just have a sticker with the numbers on?
And nice that they have stopped that now...

hansaboy · Oct 10, 2024

Bumping up this post, with a question (or two...)!
😉
We love Speedys, and often try to set a value on them.
But how much does etching/engravings set back the value?
I understand that a nice engraving might not bother so much, but these Darn watchmaker marks...

How do you Guys (and Gals) feel about them?
Is it to set the grading one notch down because of them??

Skärmavbild 2024-10-10 kl. 11.52.14.webp

Skärmavbild 2024-10-10 kl. 11.52.06.webp

Skärmavbild 2024-10-10 kl. 11.51.58.webp

Laneside · Oct 10, 2024

There are engravings and then there are engravings. It's a bit like tattoos. Some people love them and others don't. BUT would you want someone else's tattoo?

Pastorbottle · Oct 10, 2024

Well engravings can add to the history of the watch I have a retirement presentation pocket watch that bares the most beautifully engraved message to the original recipient that in my opinion really makes what would otherwise be an ordinary watch a lot more special.
I guess it all depends on what it is, where it is, how well done it is and when it was done!

I mean if some one scratched their name on the back of a brand new watch with a rusty nail, then I don't think that that would add all that much to it!

Canuck · Oct 10, 2024

On occasion, a watch comes your way about which you know nothing. Most of the watches in my collection are like that. In particular, case back initials of the original owner of the watch might be considered by some to be a defacement of the watch. There are exceptions. I have shown a picture of my 12-size Waltham Colonial watch in a Keystone 10-karat gold case with the initials SK on the case back. Open it up and behold! This was a 25-year presentation watch from 1937, to a guy who never used it! Dig a little, and the Winnipeg (Manitoba) outfit he worked for was devastated by major fire, after which they re-opened, but later folded for good.

hansaboy · Oct 10, 2024

A nice and well done engraving could be very interesting to have, some history from the former owner!

But I was thinking more about the etching done on the underside of the luggs…🙁

asloper6001 · Oct 10, 2024

Lug marks are brutal to look at. Dont mind personal engravings.

mseamaster · Oct 10, 2024

I would buy watches with caseback engravings.
I have never engraved stuff I have though.
However it would be mutilation to do so on the lugs.

After all casebacks can be replaced. And you don't see it when wearing the watch.

Pastorbottle · Oct 10, 2024

Canuck
On occasion, a watch comes your way about which you know nothing. Most of the watches in my collection are like that. In particular, case back initials of the original owner of the watch might be considered by some to be a defacement of the watch. There are exceptions. I have shown a picture of my 12-size Waltham Colonial watch in a Keystone 10-karat gold case with the initials SK on the case back. Open it up and behold! This was a 25-year presentation watch from 1937, to a guy who never used it! Dig a little, and the Winnipeg (Manitoba) outfit he worked for was devastated by major fire, after which they re-opened, but later folded for good.

That is beautiful engraving work! and yeah I think that adds something to the watch......a sense of history!

Engravings and watchmaker marks on the case back/lugs?

hansaboy

JimInOz

Larry S

Archer

ketiljo

Archer

ketiljo

Mark020

hansaboy

hansaboy

Evitzee

hansaboy

hansaboy

Laneside

Pastorbottle

Canuck

hansaboy

asloper6001

mseamaster

Pastorbottle

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