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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Collecting

Case number

A serial number stamped in the case, independent of the movement number.

Explanation

The case number is stamped inside a watch case by the case maker and identifies the case, not the movement. Case and movement numbers rarely match, and case numbers follow the case maker's own series. They help date cases when the maker's records survive and help detect re-cased or married watches when they conflict with the movement's period.

In the object catalogue

Catalogued objects whose own source record mentions “Case number”. The quoted line shows where; it is the seller’s or museum’s wording, not independent verification.