The taxation codes in detail:
It's really not simple to describe the condition of watches and clocks objectively. A watch, which was carried only with wedding and baptism, otherwise however was optimally stored and waited for 200 years, can quite be "new", even if it set patina evenly. It is crucial that one, at little expenditure, can reach the condition which she had at the date of purchase - if one wants it.
On the other hand one expects perfect surfaces from a modern clock with work and housing, although even very expensive new clocks exhibit sometimes already traces of assembly.
There are no generally valid notes. From some houses a collector accepts only note 0 or 1. We must specify somewhat more exactly, since the prospective customer cannot take the clock into his hand. Therefore we regard a clock, which receives 2 "in all points", as good and thus as acceptable piece of collection. Our notes depend on to what extent a lack is disturbing and at which expenditure it will be possible to eliminate it. General meaning of the notes for case, glass, strap, dial and movement are indicated separately. Characteristics, which do not fit into this pattern, are separately listed. Generally the notes have the following meaning:
- A0: New condition; possibly slight discolourations, which can be chemically removed or assembly traces, as they develop according to the age of the clock even with most careful maintenance. It has to be considered that a new clock looked less perfect before 200 years than a modern new clock. Also finest scratches, how they already develop after short use, do not lead to the devaluation.
- A1: Very good condition; only slight or easily to remove lack, how they develop even with with careful use, storage and maintenance.
- A2: Good condition; easily disturbing lack like deeper scratches, small dents, use and assembly traces, as they unfortunately develop with usual maintenance
- A3: Satisfying condition; clear lack, whose removal is possible at justifiable expenditure however, or which not substantially impair the appearance
- A4: Moderate condition; larger damage which can be repaired only with difficulty, or inappropriate repairs. One must love such a clock, if she receives this note in all parts!
- A5: Bad condition; strictly speaking scrap iron. A Breguet clock of the note 5 is nevertheless possibly more attractive than a simple wrist-watch of the note 0.
Details belonging to the case are not judged. Like that are usually problem-free renewable parts e.g. crowns or spring bars. Only a detail, whose condition deviates completely substantially from that of the remaining case, affects the evaluation.
- G0: No disturbing lack, possibly finest scratches, which can be removed by light polish (but not necessarily should). Also an even discoloration appropriate to the age does not lead to devaluation. If light opening traces are present, these are not visible with closed case.
With enamel cases: immaculately shining surface. Manufacturer-side guaranteed watertightness is not ensured (also with G0) by default. - G1: Very beautiful appearance; only slight traces of use and usual opening traces, which are to be eliminated easily if necessary; no obvious dents. With enamel cases: possibly small scratches or abraded positions, but no tears or outbreaks.
- G2: Beautiful appearance; deeper scratches, small dents, clear wear at Guilloché-work, clear opening traces. Gold platings through-rubbed within small ranges.
With enamel cases: possibly fine tears and small outbreaks at edges, not falling in the eye. - G3: Acceptable appearance; disturbing dents and scratches, problem-free reparable tears, in parts polished Guilloché-work. Gold plating with cleary visible wear.
With enamel cases: clear tears and/or disturbing outbreaks. - G4: Restoration necessary; inappropriate repairs (e.g. soft soldering), cases twisted. Gold plating widely abraded.
With enamel cases: enamelling damaged within larger ranges - G5: The watch case has only scrap value.
Since it can be important, depending the style and age of the watch, it is in each case indicated whether the strap or only the buckle is to be recognized as original. The notes for metal bands correspond to those for watch cases, since in both cases mainly the surface quality is determining. For leather-, plastic- or textile straps applies the following:
- B0: New, unworn.
- B1: By occasional carrying only easily deformed.
- B2: Intact, but clearly twisted or broken, e.g. at the buckle.
- B3: Already indeterminable use traces, but still usable.
- B4: Renewal advisable.
- B5: Missing or worthless.
Particularly with irregularly formed or non-flat glasses a replacement is often difficult and accordingly expensive. Therefore the watch glass condition is noted, whereby the yardstick is somewhat differently put on, whether it concerns acrylic glass on one hand or mineral or sapphire crystal on the other hand.
- C0: new, perfect
- C1: Acrylic: finest scratches, which can be easily polished.
- C2: Acrylic: fine scratches, which can be easily polished
Mineral glass: smallest splinterings at the edges on not disturbing places. - C3: Acrylic: deeper scratches, which can be polished at some expenditure. No tears which could affect the tightness.
Glass: light scratches, which are not disturbing. - C4: Acrylic: Tear, rough scratches, deformation or discolorations caused by mechanical pressure or aging. Glass must be replaced, can however serve as sample.
Glass: Rough scratches, which impair the readability of the clock. No tears which could affect the tightness. - C5: Acrylic: Missing, original form unknown
Glass: Missing or split: useless
The dial is the face of the clock and is accordingly evaluated. It has to be considered however that very old dials often already exhibited damage at the date of their production, as for instance imperfection of edges and irregularities of the surface. It makes a difference naturally whether the damage is in the visible range or in the invisible range under the bezel.
- Z0: Within the visible range immaculately or only with production-determined lack. Possibly slightly abraded positions within the invisible range.
- Z1: Metal: possibly even discoloration, individual hardly visible scratches.
Enamel: hardly visible scratches or abraded positions within the visible range, clearer damage only within the invisible range. - Z2: Metal: easily uneven discoloration, slight corrosion damages, little disturbing scratches.
Enamel: with the magnifying glass recognizable hair-cracks, small outbreaks only within the invisible range. - Z3: Metal: Marks, disturbing corrosion damages and/or scratches.
Enamel: Clear tears, only very small outbreaks within the visible range. - Z4: Restoration necessarily or inappropriately accomplished.
- Z5: Worthless, must be renewed
We take only the following functional tests of the movement (only with mechanical movements):
- Function of the winding mechanism
- Examination on time keeping accuracy with Greiner Quartztimer II in 3 different layers
- Optical control of the balance staff or/and pendulum escapement parts
- Examination of all auxiliary functions
With positive examination results one can assume that by cleaning and at worst revising the taps the clock can be shifted into a technically perfect condition. In addition, for a larger examination substantial costs would arise. The optical preservation condition is more important, since the removal of lack is far more complex here.
- W0: New condition; possibly discoloration of the plates by aging, which can be chemically removed. Assembly traces, which develop according to the age of the clock even with most careful maintenance, e.g. hardly visible deformation of the screw nicks.
- W1: W1: Only fine scratches on plates, clearly visible however not disturbing deformation at screw nicks. Corrosion damages, which are hardly visibly or can be eliminated easily.
- W2: Scratches and/or corrosion damages which hardly impair the appearance or which can be eliminated easily, as for instance on highly polished steel parts. Clear scratches on screw heads.
- W3: Disturbing scratches and/or corrosion damages. Also only small surface defects on parts with decorative finish lead to this note, since they can be eliminated only with difficulty.
- W4: Very disturbing optical damage, which can hardly be eliminated at justifiable expenditure.
- W5: Movement worthless, can serve if necessary as source of spare parts.
This scale corresponds in most parts to the evaluation scale of Ranfft bidfun; permission for the excerpt-wise use is owed hereby cordially!
Visit nevertheless these pages - you will find there many beautiful watches!
Click on the watch!
Visit nevertheless these pages - you will find there many beautiful watches!
Click on the watch!
