Hi
Great that someone can enlighten us when FORTIS can't manage to do their job themselves.
the Kit
Great that someone can enlighten us when FORTIS can't manage to do their job themselves.
the Kit
Fortis has made a complete mess out of the ref. numbers and the actual numbers you will find on the case back of a watch. Hope I do not make a complete mess when trying to explain it.;-)
Ref. numbers:
The ref. numbers of Fortis watches are the catalog numbers, and these should also be written on the warranty card in the field "Ref. no." - at least that's what Fortis asks the ADs to do. The ref. no. consists of 3 number groups, MMM.NN.OO
Where:
MMM is the basic watch type / model
NN is the case / case finish code
OO is for dial / hand variants
These are followed by a suffix, e.g. "M" for bracelet or "L.01" for "Leather strap, black", "K" for "Caoutchouc strap" or "Si.02" for "Silicone strap, white". Combining the numbers with the suffix one has the complete ref. no. (catalog no.).
Some more details bout the case / case finish code NN:
Flieger / Pilot Pro: 11 or 22 for "steel, brushed finish", 10 for "steel, blasted finish" and 18 for "steel, black PVD", 50 is "Gold, blasted, 70 is "Platinum, blasted" (yes - this exists).
On the Cosmonauts the 22 stands for "steel, blasted" and 10 for "steel, brushed", 14 is "steel, brushed, with diamond encrusted bezel", 50 is "Gold, blasted", 70 is "Platinum, blasted".
On the Spacematic and B-42 the case / case finish code 22 always stands for "steel, blasted finish" and 10 stands for "steel, brushed finish". 27 is for "Titanium, blasted finish". Additionally the B-42 cases with the code 22 do have different lugs than the cases with the case code 10 - so the bracelet end links are not interchangeable (but who wants to put a blasted bracelet onto a brushed case anyway?).
Case back numbers:
Depending on the model or series you will find one or two sets of numbers on the case back. One set is the (by Fortis terminology) "case back number" and the other is the "case number" (= serial number). The catalog number (ref. no.) is never printed onto the case back.o|
First: the "case back number", this looks like: MMM.NN.AAA(.B).
The groups MMM.NN are identical to the ref. no. but AAA(.B) is the actual production year and model revision code. Unfortunately Fortis does not disclose what information is all stored in these numbers, sometimes one finds only 3 digits AAA - in other cases the additional .B is found.
Fortis recommends to use this case back number to order spare bracelet end links or the lug screws for the bracelet (these have changed over the years, from screws on both sides holding a tube on early B-42 to a one screw / one bolt set on current models - the newer screw/bolt sets do not fit into early B-42 lugs).o|
Example of these numbers: My B-42 Pilot Pro Chrono GMT has the ref. no. 637.22.11L.01 - but on the case back one finds the number 637.22.172.2 and not the actual ref. number.
Second: The 4-digit "case number" or serial number can only be found on the following watches:
Cosmonauts Chrono / Chrono Alarm
Flieger Chrono / Chrono Alarm
Pilot Pro Chrono / Chrono Alarm
Spacematic Chrono / Chrono Alarm
The other "small" Fortis do not have individually numbered cases, with the exception of limited editions.
All B-42 watches do have individually numbered cases.
Limited editions do normally not have the standard 4-digit "case number", but carry the LE number XXX/YYY.
:thanksThanks for reading this rant.
Cheers,
Markus
