Roamer Case Codes

I have based this page on the information that can be found in the excellent work done by Kris on Roamer cases in this link, and I have copied his data from that page and expanded it based on my observations of watches for sale. There are gaps which will need to be filled by direct examination of cases to determine for example how many microns of plating were applied.

Case numbers up until the late 1960's appear to follow no particular pattern or system. Roamer made many of its own cases in the factory, but they also from time to time bought in specialist cases. Some watches were also cased up in the country of import, so if a pattern is ever to be discovered in the earlier cases, how these three factors interact needs to be taken into account when gathering the data. This is not as easy as it might seem as Roamer didn't on the whole mark the cases that they made and some cases such as the some of the solid gold cases made by G. Balet SA of La Chaux-de-Fonds were marked with Roamer.

In the late sixties and through the early seventies a consistent numbering scheme was used which followed the following pattern XXX-XXXX.XXX All of the X's are numbers, and although there are some variations in layout, it can be broken down into three blocks.

The first three numbers (occasionally four if an ETA calibre was used) show the calibre reference. E.g. 471 would represent the MST 471. Further details of some of these calibres can be found in the calibre reference tables here, although few of the later calibres have been added.

The second group of numbers, normally four in length describe the technical details of the case. The first number describes the construction type of the case. The second and third numbers describe the metal that the case was made from. The purpose of the final digit is as yet unclear.

The last three numbers show the case design style. There is no consistent pattern although there are some trends. On the whole these are just ascending number series.

So a watch with a case number 471-1120.001 would contain an MST 471 in a stainless steel patented waterproof Morf case, and would be in a case design 1. Note that many cases had stainless steel backs but the upper part of the case was normally a different metal and this is what is being described in the metal code.

Note that the table below is a work in progress and can be expected to change. Feedback is welcome!

Digit 1	Case Closing Method:
1	Patent waterproof casing system
2	Screw Back
3	Screw Back
5	Compression back - up to and including 200m compressor cases
8	Dress cases - thin, gold, ladies
9	Special casing system - one offs, e.g. Stingray S with additional rubber o-ring, Mustang 301 front loader etc.

Digits 2 and 3	Case Metal:
10	Chrome
11	Profectus
12	Stainless Steel
20	xx micron yellow gold
21	10 micron yellow gold
22	xx micron yellow gold
23	20 micron yellow gold
25	40 micron yellow gold
31	10 micron rose gold
32	xx micron rose gold
33	20 micron rose gold
35	40 micron rose gold
36	xx micron rose gold?
41	10 micron white gold
42	xx micron white gold
43	20 micron white gold
45	40 micron white gold
50	xx micron yellow gold
60	9ct 375 yellow gold
61	14ct 585 yellow gold
xx	18ct 750

Digit 4	Purpose Unknown - Notes Only
0
1	Stingray S case, flat gold case, waterproof 479
2	Patent case 414 520
7	Ladies screw back, mens gold case
9

First Digit	Case Design Style - notes only
0	Patent waterproof casing system Anfibio, Stingray Screwback - (different marking system) Popular, Elegant, Vanguard Dress case clipback
2	Clipback - sometimes gold
3	Screwback e.g. Superking, Vanguard, Vidar Special casing system e.g. Mustang
6	Special casing system e.g. Stringray, Mustang, Anfibio, Rockshell MkV, MkI Screwback e.g. Searock Special casing system Dress case
7	Dress cases
8	Special casing system e.g. Rockshell MkII
9	Special casing system e.g. Chrono