Expert: Melvin Mills - 2/4/2009

Question
I have a Rockford watch (SN 61054) According to what I've been able to find out about the watch it's a size 16, & jewel, 615 grade movement. The case is a wadsworth pilot, (SN 1045852) marked "This case is guarenteed 25 years" in a circle. Inside the circle it is marked "To be made of two plates of solid gold throughout and is warranted to wear". My question. Is the case solid gold or gold filled?

Answer
Todd,

This is gold filled.  Any time there is a number of years indicated on the case, it is gold filled.  In your case, this watch case is guaranteed not to wear through to the base metal for 25 years.  That means more gold is use than in a watch case that is guaranteed for 10 years.  

The way this case was made was to take two sheets of gold and one sheet of a base metal and push them together (under  great pressure, of course).  

Kind regards,

Melvin