Codes for Swiss Movements

[mersus99]

I saw this Hamilton Illinois Swiss movement on ebay. It has a TXD code on the movement. I know that a lot of the automatic Hamiltons were Buren movements. Was this a Buren code?

Does anyone know a site where the Swiss watch company codes are listed?

 

[Jerry Treiman]

It is my understanding that these 3-letter codes identify the importer. The ebauche manufacturer is identified by the symbol almost visible under the balance wheel rim and the calibre number is right next to it.

 

[mondodec]

Hi

The three letter code is the 'ebauche' code for US watches. Each manufacturer had a separate code. Eg Omega code is OXG

Here is a list of most of the codes. You'll note that the Buren code is WXC

AOC Roamer

AOL Adolph Schwarcz&Son

AOX Alstate W,Co.

AXA Wittnauer

AXZ Benrus(1)

AYP Audemars Piguet

BOL Lemania

BXC Avia

BXJ Midland

BXN Benrus(2)

BXP Imperial,Pretzfelder&Mills

BXW Bulova

COC Crawford

COW Croton

CXC Concord

CXD Cypres

CXH Clinton

CXV Cort

CXW Central, Benrus(3)

DOB Dreffa W.Co.

DOW Deauville

EOE Elrex

EON Avalon

EOP Harvel

EOT Lavina

EXC Everbrite

FXE Provis

FXU Louis Aisenstein&Bros.

FXW Louis(1)

GXC Gruen

GXI Gotham(Ollendorff)

GXM Girard-Perregaux

GXR Grant

GXW Gothic

HOM Homis

HON Tissot(1);A.Hirsch

HOR Lanco;Langendorf

HOU Oris

HXF Harman

HXM R.H.Macy&Co.

HXN Harvel

HXO Harold K.Oleet

HXW Helbros

HYL Hamilton

HYO Hilton W Co.

JXE Normandie

JXJ Jules Jurgensen

JXR Gallet

KOT Landau

KXJ Wm.J.Kappel

KXV Louis(2)

KXZ Kelton;Benrus(4),Central

LOA Emil Langer

LOD Latham

LOE Packard

LXA Laco,Winton,Elbon

LXE Evkob

LXJ LeCoultre

LXW Longines

MOG Mead&Co.;Boulevard

MOU Tower;Delbana

MXE Monarch

MXH Seeland

MXI Movado

MXT Mathey-Tissot

NOA U.Nardin

NOS Heritage

NOU Louvic

NXJ National Jewelers Co.

NXO Oris

OXG Omega

OXL Wyler(1)

OYT Shriro(Sandoz)

POY Camy;Copley

PXA Pierce

PXP Patek Philippe

PXT Paul Breguette

PXW Parker

PYS Langel

QXO Kelbert

ROC Raleigh

ROL Ribaux

ROP Rodania

ROW Rolex

RXG R.Gsell&Co.

RXM Galmor

RXW Rima

RXY Liengme

RYW Ritex

SOA Felca

SOE Semca

SOW Seeland

SOX Cortebert,Orvin

SXE Savoy;Banner

SXK S.Kocher&Co.

SXS Franco

UOA Actua

UOB Aero

UOW Universal

UXM Medana

UXN Marsh

UYW Stanley W.Co.

VOS Sheffield

VXN Vacheron&Constantin

VXT Kingston

WOA Tower

WOB Wyler(2)

WOG Breitling

WOR Creston

WXC Buren

WXE Welsbro

WXW Westfield

ZFX Zenith W.Co.

ZOV Titus

I saw this Hamilton Illinois Swiss movement on ebay. It has a TXD code on the movement. I know that a lot of the automatic Hamiltons were Buren movements. Was this a Buren code?

Does anyone know a site where the Swiss watch company codes are listed?

 

[mondodec]

Just one other thing.

The ebauch makers stamp is under the balance as a symbol and its next to the calibre number. A Google search of makers stamps should throw up the manufacturer.

Cheers

desmond

 

[mersus99]

To clarify, is the TXD on the balance bridge not a manufacturer's code? The code is under the balance, and could indicate a different manufacturer than the TXD code on the bridge?

 

[mondodec]

As far as I know, the three letter code is a code used only in the US for imported movments. There is some digression of views as to what that code specifically means. Some think that its a code for the importer of specific manufacturer ebauches, while some think that its a mark that is allocated to each separate manufacturer. I think that its probably the latter.

So the TXD is definitely US code for an imported movement by a specific manufacturer/importer.

The makers mark under the balance or elsewhere on the movement is the actual manufacturers stamp. E.g. You may have a locally assembled watch with the local name on the rotor but with an ETA stamp somewhere on the movement indicating the true origin of the movement.

I think that if you can get a pic of the stamp under the balance or describe it accurately in a post then you'll soon solve the riddle of who made the movement.

To clarify, is the TXD on the balance bridge not a manufacturer's code? The code is under the balance, and could indicate a different manufacturer than the TXD code on the bridge?

 

[Jerry Treiman]

This part of a page from the C&E Marshall "Handy Manual" explains the marks used on Swiss movements and clearly shows that the 3-letter code is an importer mark, not a manufacturer I.D. Confusion has resulted because the importer may use the same name as the manufacturer. A watch from a particular maker will have a different import code for different importers (which may change with time).

(sorry, the pictures are posted in the wrong order - look at the lower image first)

 

[mondodec]

Thanks for the clarification Jerry.

Cheers

desmond

 

[gatorcpa]

To clarify the point made in the illustration above, both V&C and LeCoultre used the same "VXN" import code.



This had nothing to do with the actual manufacturers as they clearly are not the same. In this case, the "VXN" refers to the Vacheron & Constantin - LeCoultre Division of Longines-Wittnauer Co. Inc., which was the USA distributor for both brands.



I'm sure there were other examples of multiple brands using the same import codes back in the 1950's and 60's.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

 

[Jeff Hess]

GAtor!

I have been saying this for years! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

importers mark as you and Jerry say is the answer.

Ball watches have their own as well.

Here is one that I cannot find anywhere.

HOX


Jeff

 

[Jeff Hess]

GAtor!

I have been saying this for years! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

importers mark as you and Jerry say is the answer.

Ball watches have their own as well.

Here is one that I cannot find anywhere.

HOX


Jeff

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/vie...llow_track_link=1&track=0238058362-c69bc&sp=0

 

[Wayne D.]

Mr. Hess, my list shows it's a I.W.C. International Watch Co. import code.

 

[danM]

Whatever else it is, it is an ETA 1256 movement - see Bestfit, part 1, page 179.

DM

 

[Jeff Hess]

that patek is an IWC eta? huh? help me understand

 

[Wayne D.]

Is this a trick question? If it's a true Patek why wouldn't it have a PXP code?

 

[danM]

The ETA movement I was referring to is the one illustrated at the top of this thread signed by Illinois Watch Co., -- you can clearly see most of the ETA 1256 stamp.

That movement is the subject of this thread, and thus to answer the questioner, it is not by Buren. Hamilton's Buren movements were of the planetry rotor type based on the Buren 1000 caliber.



DM

 

[Jeff Hess]

post # 748 of 748

Is this a trick question? If it's a true Patek why wouldn't it have a PXP code?
------------

No, not a trick question... I really want to know! This is a historical question. A research question! I saw this and thought it must me a fake of some kind. Bu tI took it apart and the damaskeeing lines up everywhere.

Did patek use other movements for a while? Is this just the "importers mark". (That is what I initially thought). The intereesting thing is that I cannnot find HOX anywhere on google.

Seriously. Help!

Jeff

 

[Wayne D.]

Mr. Hess, all I can tell you is the list I use is at --> www.kaila.net/watches.

 

[Jeff Hess]

fantastic list. thanks.

A real mystery on the Patek. Unless that is an error in the list or if the same company that imported IWC also imported Patek for a while.

confusing!

Thanks.
Jeff

 

[treborwatch]

GAtor!

I have been saying this for years! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

importers mark as you and Jerry say is the answer.

Ball watches have their own as well.

Here is one that I cannot find anywhere.

HOX


Jeff

Hello Jeff - I recently purchased a Patek from the mid 60's with the same import code HOX (or XOH if you view it the other way up) - just wondering if you were able to dig up any info about the importer?
Cheers Robert

 

[Cary Hurt]

Isn't HOX the code for Henri Stern Watch Agency? He was the family member sent here in the 1930s to oversee the importation of Patek (and IWC) up until 1958, when he became president of Patek Philippe. I think the agency stayed around a bit longer as well.

Cary

 

[AbslomRob]

http://www.ranfft.de/uhr/info-uscode-e.html

 

[treborwatch]

Thanks Cary and Abslom
It seems that Dr Ranfft's list should be amended to include Patek as well as IWC as having the import mark HOX for watches imported by Henri Stern Watch Agency of New York. Goggling this new info I found a Sotheby's listing that had this info:
"It is interesting to note that the movement is stamped 'HOX', which indicates a watch made for the American market. Such watches were generally imported for the Henri Stern Watch Agency, the American representative for Patek Philippe. During this time period, most watches intended to be retailed by Cartier were imported by the Stern Agency."

 

[roughbarked]

MXE Monarch

Which tells us nothing new.

 

[roughbarked]

Thanks Cary and Abslom
It seems that Dr Ranfft's list should be amended to include Patek as well as IWC as having the import mark HOX for watches imported by Henri Stern Watch Agency of New York. Goggling this new info I found a Sotheby's listing that had this info:
"It is interesting to note that the movement is stamped 'HOX', which indicates a watch made for the American market. Such watches were generally imported for the Henri Stern Watch Agency, the American representative for Patek Philippe. During this time period, most watches intended to be retailed by Cartier were imported by the Stern Agency."

You know, That the people who imported stuff at the time, were the only people who did it?

 

[Kevin W.]

Ranfft Watches, US Import Codes

www.ranfft.de