The weekly Heritage watch auction which ends today (5/17/11) includes a 992B boxed set
(lot 71083). As you can see from the picture the dial identification on the label "BMNUM" has been crossed out and "HG" written in by hand. Also "108" hand written below on the label (not sure want this means since the dial on the watch is an H.G. RWS #536).
When I saw this I wondered if it was a common practice for jewelers to change dials and hand mark the labels when they didn't have a watch with the dial that the customer wanted. Of course the owner could have also made the change later - no way to know either way. In any case the dial is correct for the 992B.
The watch looks good except for the cracked crystal.

Here is the watch that is part of the set.

Would the model 2 case be correct for this 992B? Roger

possible that the original dial got damaged along the way and someone bought the ensemble and replaced the dial with an age correct dial but not right for the ensemble?

Robert, the serial number on the box indicates that it is a 1941 Wadsworth #2 case. The movement number says that it is a 1941 - 1942.

Yes the Wadsworth case is correct for THAT movement, which is interesting as I was under the impression that they came from the factory in a different case. I really don't remember the exact case, but I'm sere Ed, or someone else knows.

I do know that, for a while Hamilton would let the dealers order them in the same case that the 992E "Elinvar" came in, and the Wadsworth #2 case was one of them. I just don't know how long that was allowed.

Regards,
Larry

Thanks Larry,it just looks to be a odd combination to me.The watch sold for $638.27. Roger

Yes, as Larry said, the Case Model No. 2 was used as a factory case for 992B's of that vintage, and before that it was used as a factory case for the 992 Elinvar.

I have a 992B boxed set in my own collection that is a bit earlier than the auction example (serial #C20441) which is also in a Case 2 (serial #514368) with an HG dial (see picture).


Boxed Set (C20441) from My Collection

I can see the 'B' stamped after the 992 on Ed's boxed set but I cannot see a 'B' on the box of the auction set....

Has anyone seen the 'auction' box in a clearer view...?

Regards,

Jerry

Looks to me like that was added Jerry, so it could have faded over the years. Maybe they were usind up the labels they had left over fron the 992 inventory and just added (or typed) the onfo on them as they were doing them. The serial number is clearly a 992B number. Look at Ed's and you can see that it is not part of the 992 setting.

Thst boxed set looks like NEW ED!! Really nice!!

Regards,
Larry

There is no "B" there on either. I think Ed's box has a mark or cut or indentation. I believe the "B" model notations on boxes were added at around C150xxx on some boxes but not all boxes.

regards,
bb