Instructions for using our serial number look-up tables
This page contains INSTRUCTIONS for using the serial number look-up tables that are found on many of our watch company history pages. The example below uses information from the American Waltham Watch Company, but that is just an example. You should consult the serial number table for the specific brand of watch movement you are trying to date by selecting a company from the menu on the left.
Not all vintage watches can be dated using the serial number. Some American watch brands did not use a consistent series of serial numbers, but most of the big manufacturers did. Most vintage Swiss pocket watches did NOT have serial numbers and can't be dated by this method.
Can't find YOUR exact serial number in our lookup tables?
Many watch companies made hundreds of thousands of watches, and some companies made millions of watches! It would be impractical to list the individual serial numbers of EVERY watch made... that would make some really long pages! Our serial number tables list RANGES of serial numbers. So to determine when your watch was manufactured, you will need to find where your serial number fits within the range of numbers.
Serial number look-up example:
Let's say you have a Waltham watch with serial number 21,607,210 as shown in the photo below. Note that we're using the serial number from the watch movement, not from the watch case. Looking at the table of Waltham serial numbers (see example below), you can see that number 20,900,000 was made in 1917 and 21,800,000 was made in 1918 (marked in red in the table below). Since your serial number falls between those two numbers, you know that your watch was made in 1917 or 1918.
Here you can find the list of calibres manufactured by Helvetia. Please click on the calibre number to view more details about the movement and spares available Please reach out to me by email if you are unable to find the info about any specific calibre. Help with Helvetia Serial Number and Year of Watch- Request I found a lovely Helvetia watch and want to get it for my husband if I can verify it was made close to 1949. I need advice, after finding very little during my online research. The watch is manual wind. The dial is army green with Arabic numbers, 'Helvetia', and 'Waterproof' on the face.
Not sure which serial number to use?
You must use the serial number from the MOVEMENT of the watch... the working part with the wheels and gears... not the serial number from the watch case. Cases and watches were often made by different companies and each usually has its own serial number. You usually have to take the back off the watch case to see the movement serial number which may appear anywhere on the watch movement.
![Watch Watch](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125841017/478662598.jpg)
Use the movement serial number. Do NOT use the case serial number!
This is an example only. Your movement serial number may not be in exactly the same location as the one in the photo, but you are looking for the serial number that is on the watch mechanism itself... not the serial number on the external case.
Year | S/N |
---|---|
1852 | 50 |
1853 | 400 |
1854 | 1000 |
1855 | 2500 |
1856 | 4000 |
1857 | 6000 |
1858 | 10,000 |
1859 | 15,000 |
1860 | 20,000 |
1861 | 30,000 |
1862 | 45,000 |
1863 | 65,000 |
1864 | 110,000 |
1865 | 180,000 |
1866 | 260,000 |
1867 | 330,000 |
1868 | 410,000 |
1869 | 460,000 |
1870 | 500,000 |
1871 | 540,000 |
1872 | 590,000 |
1873 | 680,000 |
1874 | 730,000 |
1875 | 810,000 |
1876 | 910,000 |
1877 | 1,000,000 |
1878 | 1,150,000 |
1879 | 1,350,000 |
1880 | 1,500,000 |
1881 | 1,670,000 |
1882 | 1,835,000 |
1883 | 2,000,000 |
1884 | 2,350,000 |
1885 | 2,650,000 |
1886 | 3,000,000 |
1887 | 3,400,000 |
Year | S/N |
---|---|
1888 | 3,800,000 |
1889 | 4,200,000 |
1890 | 4,700,000 |
1891 | 5,200,000 |
1892 | 5,800,000 |
1893 | 6,300,000 |
1894 | 6,700,000 |
1895 | 7,100,000 |
1896 | 7,450,000 |
1897 | 8,100,000 |
1898 | 8,400,000 |
1899 | 9,000,000 |
1900 | 9,500,000 |
1901 | 10,200,000 |
1902 | 11,100,000 |
1903 | 12,100,000 |
1904 | 13,500,000 |
1905 | 14,300,000 |
1906 | 14,700,000 |
1907 | 15,500,000 |
1908 | 16,400,000 |
1909 | 17,600,000 |
1910 | 17,900,000 |
1911 | 18,100,000 |
1912 | 18,200,000 |
1913 | 18,900,000 |
1914 | 19,500,000 |
1915 | 20,000,000 |
1916 | 20,500,000 |
1917 | 20,900,000 |
1918 | 21,800,000 |
1919 | 22,500,000 |
1920 | 23,400,000 |
1921 | 23,900,000 |
1922 | 24,100,000 |
1923 | 24,300,000 |
Year | S/N |
---|---|
1924 | 24,550,000 |
1925 | 24,800,000 |
1926 | 25,200,000 |
1927 | 26,100,000 |
1928 | 26,400,000 |
1929 | 26,900,000 |
1930 | 27,100,000 |
1931 | 27,300,000 |
1932 | 27,550,000 |
1933 | 27,750,000 |
1934 | 28,100,000 |
1935 | 28,600,000 |
1936 | 29,100,000 |
1937 | 29,400,000 |
1938 | 29,750,000 |
1939 | 30,050,000 |
1940 | 30,250,000 |
1941 | 30,750,000 |
1942 | 31,050,000 |
1943 | 31,400,000 |
1944 | 31,700,000 |
1945 | 32,100,000 |
1946 | 32,350,000 |
1947 | 32,750,000 |
1948 | 33,100,000 |
1949 | 33,500,000 |
1950 | 33,560,000 |
1951 | 33,600,000 |
1952 | 33,700,000 |
1953 | 33,800,000 |
1954 | 34,100,000 |
1955 | 34,450,000 |
1956 | 34,700,000 |
1957 | 35,000,000 |
- | - |
- | - |
This is an example using the Waltham serial number table. Be sure to use the table that is specific
to YOUR brand of watch when looking up your serial number.
to YOUR brand of watch when looking up your serial number.
![Serial Serial](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125841017/534004221.jpg)
Be sure to use the serial number on the watch movement (the mechanism).
Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Do not use the serial number from the watch case.
Description
Click watch above…more detail will appear…
SOLD!
Take a look at this WW2 GERMAN military HELVETIA in chromium over metal! The “Deutsches Heer” (DH) property mark indicates hat this is a GERMAN service military watch. The 33.9mm. case really appears much cleaner with the naked eye. Any wear on the case is really visible in my close-up photos and NOT in “real life”. The completely original dial is deep and dark glossy black, and again, looks cleaner in real life, with the spotting not appearing near as much and mainly on an angle. The hands are also original. The manual winding SWISS movement was just cleaned and is accurate.