I found this watch listed online and while the seller has it listed as being gold plated, the scratches and dings seen in the photos give me some doubts (or wishful thinking). Hoping someone with a more trained eye can help shed some light. The watch is from the 1930's or 40's. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!
I bought this one online about a month ago still waiting for it to come back from service and repair ( broken balance wheel ). It, like your one has me guessing as to gold plate or other, no brassing or rub thru and unusual rounded style lugs stamped with just AU but like yours has a stainless back?
It is my understanding that watches in the 1930s and 1940s were more often gold plated and gold filled then solid gold. If the watch was solid gold it would not have a steel caseback. Also, the high end brands, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Rolex, etc, would be far more likely to have a solid gold case. Solid gold cases from less known brands were often melted down for their gold content. Many of the more expensive brands had gold hallmarks inside the case to indicate the metal content of the case; 18K, 14k, or 9K, gold filled, etc. I can almost guarantee you that the watch you found online is as the seller has advertised... gold plated.
The early Paul Peugeot watches were always solid gold cased, but that was generations ago. The brand is a shadow of it former glory, and has been for a long time.
I was basing my post on the case back. The best one can hope from any watch that is gold colored with a stainless case back would be gold filled.
He's right. I once owned a Rolex two toned stainless steel and rose gold doctor's watch and the caseback was stainless steel. I don't have a picture, but I found one similar online and have attached the image. I sold the stainless steel and rose gold to buy a white gold and yellow gold Rolex Prince Blanchard Doctor's watch ref 971 which I still have today.
