

- #Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup serial numbers#
- #Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup code#
In 1953 they began government-wide use of the Federal Stock Number system, an 11-digit numeric code with place-specific digits to define both the type of thing and the specific thing itself. With millions of items to track over decades of procurement, the US government developed a numeric system for keeping track of everything it buys and owns. Hamilton Mil-W-46374A – Batch date “November 1972”Īs is the case for any large organization, keeping track of contract items and inventory is a huge and important process in the military. Left to right: RCAF Breitling – Contract date “67”, RAAF JLC Mk XI – Purchase date “53”, U.S.


Unfortunately, few issued watches were stamped with the actual date of issuance to the user, leaving collectors to deduce this by other methods. Again, this sometimes leads to confusion about when the watch actually found its way to someone’s wrist. Finally, some date marks represent the year that the watch was manufactured. In this case, watches may have been produced on that contract for a number of years following the initial contract date, but would display that original contract date on their cases. In a similar way, some date marks represent the year that the contract was awarded to the manufacturer. Watches could sometimes sit around in government inventory for months or years, so the date on the watch may not reflect the actual date of issue to the soldier, sailor, or airman who wore it. Most dates stamped on military watches are the date that the issuing agency received the watch from the manufacturer. The date engraving on an issued watch can mean a couple of different things. It seems simple enough, but this one is a little less straightforward than the serial number. Benrus Type 1, Sterile – Serial number is the only engraving on the caseback British CWC G10 – Serial number second row from bottom French Marine Nationale Casio G-Shock DW-9000 – Serial number is the only thing different than the civilian version of the watchĪnother very common case back marking on issued watches is a date. On some issued watches, the serial number is the only mark seen while on others, it’s the only feature that distinguishes the watch from an everyday civilian watch by the same manufacturer. Watches made specifically for the military and never for public sale will often have only one serial number, while watches with a civilian variant or adapted for military service may have both manufacturer and issuing agency serial numbers.
#Cwc co pocket watch case serial number lookup serial numbers#
Serial numbers are almost always stamped or engraved on the case back, and depending on how the watch was procured by the issuing agency, multiple serial numbers may exist. The serial number is unique to each individual watch and allows it to be traced in the stocking and maintenance systems. This is the most common issue mark among all issued watches. Using this guide, you should be able to develop a basic understanding of the issue markings on most military watches you encounter. The guide is organized into a few major categories of markings, with a few examples in each category. Today, we’ll share a quick guide for deciphering a majority of military and government issue watch markings. Interpreting those meanings can sometimes be like solving a puzzle, with long strings of numbers telling you important information about the watch, like where it’s from, how it was designed to be used, when it was made, and a lot more. These numbers and symbols–sometimes on the dial and almost always on the case–can carry a number of different meanings. One of the more interesting and unique characteristics of military watches that sets them apart from their civilian counterparts are the issue markings.
