| Pocket Watch Sizes You will notice that an American pocket watch size is indicated by a single number (18s), or a number followed by a -0 (3-0). These numbers are not arbitrary, but are numbers that the watch exceeds 1 5/30” of an inch in increments of thirtieths of an inch. For example, an 18s watch is 1 5/30” plus 18/30”, total measurement equaling 1 23/30”. This measurement was of the diameter of the movement plate behind the dial, not the case. A century ago, it was common to select the movement at the jeweler, and then select a case separately (the case was often made by a different manufacturer), so a standard for watch sizes was crucial. A '0' size watch would be 1 5/30”, and a 2-0 (00) watch would be 1 5/30” minus 1/30” (1 4/30”) and so on. |
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Common Sizes and MM equivalent 20s 46.56 mm 18s 44.86 mm 16s 43.18 mm 14s 41.48 mm 12s 39.78 mm 10s 38.10 mm 8s 36.40 mm 6s 34.70 mm 0s 29.62 mm 3/0s 27.94 mm European watches were commonly sized in Millimeters, or lignes (pronounced “lines”). A ligne is 2.26 mm. |