Specializing in Antique & Vintage Watches, Clocks, Jewelry and Coins


OFFICIAL GRADING SYSTEM & ABBREVIATIONS

The Jones & Horan plain English
grading system follows this general order from top to bottom for mvts, component parts, metal dials, and hands: Pristine (without defect, untouched) | Mint | Nearly Mint | Excellent | Fine (the average grade for most used, running watches) | Fair | Poor. We no longer use "good" as a grade as it can be misleading, so it only applies to function (see below). We then describe any salient defects that should be called to the attention of the potential buyer.

With respect to
wear, we also use the following terms in order: No wear | Hardly any wear | Very little wear | Little wear | Very light wear | Light wear | Medium wear | Ample wear | Substantial or abundant wear | Worn out. These general terms are used in combination with precise descriptions of defects for further elaboration where needed.

Enamel
dials are not necessarily graded, but called "flawless" when free of cracks, chips or hairlines, which are structural and always noted. As-made in the factory finish imperfections or graphical defects may be present on a "flawless" dial, and may be noted separately.

The term, "
Good," is only used alone to indicate that the watch or its function is doing what it should be doing, as in "good running order, good repeat function and tone, good chronograph and date functions," etc. These functions are not rated or graded. "Good crystal" means without meaningful defect.

"
Running" only means that the balance and escapement are performing in healthy fashion and without apparent defect, but does not guarantee timekeeping or warrantee future performance; unless otherwise noted, our timepieces are not serviced by us, and we do not know when they were last serviced from our sources. We do our best to indicate any potential problems or needs for repair.

Key To Abbreviations:
APW - American pocket watch

cal - caliber

ct - carat weight

ctw - total carat weight for multiple stones

DS -double sunk (for dials)

dwt - pennyweight (20 per ounce troy)

EPW - European pocket watch

g - gram (31.1 per troy ounce)

GJS - gold jewel setting(s)

HC - hunting case

hl - hairline

hls - hairlines

J - jewel(s)

K - karat of gold quality

KW - key-wind

KWKS - key-wind key-set

LPW - lady's pendant watch
LS - lever set



mm - millimeter

mvt - movement

NOS - new old stock

NR - not running

OF - open face

PW - pocket watch

QS - quick set

ref - reference

RR - railroad

S - size

s# - serial number

SS - single-sunk (for dials)

SW-LS - stem-wind lever-set

SW-SS - stem-wind stem-set

WW - wristwatch
Jones & Horan
453 Mast Rd, Goffstown, NH 03045
Tel: 603-623-5314
Fax: 603-626-5974
Email:
auctions@jones-horan.com