I'm going to guess this is either a silly question or one that has been asked and answered a long time ago, but here goes. Is there some sort of....central database I guess, that "tracks" the whereabouts of watches? I don't mean that someone is keeping a list of names of watch owners. I mean for example, is there a complete list of Hamilton pocket watches somewhere that has holes in it where nobody is sure about the existence or whereabouts of an individual watch? Say, it's known that someone owns watch number 22, 23 and 25, but nobody is sure about the existence of number 24. If someone says, "Hey, I own watch 24", then the list can be updated to show another watch in the line that has been accounted for. By the same token, if someone can say, "sorry, watch 24 was destroyed", then that can be noted too. Just curious.

There are various clubs and individuals who keep records, many are somewhat reluctant to share/divulge the info they have collected.

This particular resource Pocket Watch Data Base is making an effort to collect serial numbers of know examples and make them available to whoever wants the info.

The more input there is from collectors the more accurate it will become.

You do not have to own the watch to submit it's serial number just input info you are sure of.

Free registration is required.

Thanks for the response Lorne. That's pretty much what I was looking for. The funny thing is that I've been to that site a number of times and never realized that's what they were doing!