How to Locate the Serial Number of Your Watch?

Let's assume you acquire a pre-owned or vintage watch and want to know when it was created, how much it's worth, and so on. In many circumstances, the serial number of the watch might assist you in tracking down this information when combined with internet or company-owned databases. But where exactly is this number? Unfortunately, it varies on the watch, but here are some pointers to help you find it:

If you have the watch's papers, the watch serial number check service and reference numbers should be included.

If you have your watch's documentation, such as the warranty, receipt, and so on, you may be able to spare yourself some investigative work. The model number is also known as the "style number" or "reference number," whereas the serial number is presented without any qualifiers. If you're not sure which is which, check the notice about online databases below.

Check to see whether the firm has a free online serial number database.

Online watch serial number check databases may frequently assist you narrow down the age of your watch to the year it was created, or close to it. This won't always tell you the nation where the watch was shipped; for that, you may need to pay for a "extract" from the company's archives, which may cost a few hundred dollars. (Lost & Stolen Watch Register Firm, unusually, provides this service free of charge for any of its watches; merely give them the numbers from your watch and some photographs, and then wait for a response.) However, studying these tables up ahead of time may assist you distinguish between watches.

Examine the watch's back.

The Watch Serial Number Check of the watch may be present on the case back, depending on the brand, the era in which it was created, and so on — this is especially true of many more recent watches. You will, however, need to learn to distinguish between a serial number, which identifies a specific watch, and a reference number, which is the model number. If in doubt, enter each number together with the name of the watchmaker into a search engine and see what comes up.

Check between the lugs if the watch is a Rolex.

Rolex is distinguished by the placement of its model and serial numbers between the watch lugs. Remove your bracelet or strap, and these should be visible. Check Watch Serial numbers can be up to eight digits long, although model numbers are typically four, five, or six digits long. When in doubt, enter both digits into Google with the phrase "Rolex," and the search results should inform you which is a model number and which is a serial number.

Examine the movement if the case back is transparent.

Is your watch a contemporary model with a sapphire case back that allows you to view the movement? The serial numbers — if they're etched on the movement — will most likely be difficult to see from the case back, but it's worth a look, especially if you have a jeweler's loupe handy.

Return the case to its original position.

It's ideal to have a jeweller perform this so you don't scratch the case back, but in the case of many old watches, you'll have to do (or have done). Longines vintage watches, for example, include serial and model numbers (as well as movement numbers – more on that later) within the watch case. The serial number may include the case serial and model numbers, while the movement may have its own number.

Serial numbers for the casing and movement may differ.

Keep in mind that the movement of an antique watch may have its own traceable serial number, while the casing may have a different serial number. In some situations, you may be required to send both of these numbers, as well as photos of the watch, to a tracing business. (In one scenario where a watch business contracted with many case manufacturers, having individual case and movement serial numbers allowed them to closely track manufacturing from each vendor.)