Gold-Tone Fashion Quartz Wristwatch with Stainless Steel Back, Model 4002
Jewelry (Wristwatch) · Generic/Unbranded; mass-produced fashion watch. The case back features standard industry designations but lacks a specific designer or luxury house name.
Pattern: Non-specific trade model #4002; features a teardrop-link 'nugget style' decorative bracelet.
Type
Jewelry (Wristwatch)
Maker
Generic/Unbranded; mass-produced fashion watch. The case back features standard industry designations but lacks a specific designer or luxury house name.
Material
Base metal with gold-tone electroplate; the case back is specifically marked 'STAINLESS STEEL BACK', indicating the case body and bracelet are made of an alloy (likely brass or zinc). Not solid silver or solid gold.
Dimensions
Petite ladies' size; case approximately 18-20mm width. Total weight estimated under 30 grams including the quartz movement.
Description
This is a gold-tone ladies' fashion watch designed more as a piece of jewelry than a horological instrument. It features an oval case integrated into a decorative link bracelet. While it mimics the look of high-end precious metal watches, the 'Stainless Steel Back' stamp confirms the main body is made of non-precious base metal.
Key Features
Distinguished by the '4002' model number and the teardrop link bracelet. The primary identification feature is the contrast between the yellow-tone case and the polished silver-toned steel back.
Material & Composition
Base metal with gold-tone electroplate; the case back is specifically marked 'STAINLESS STEEL BACK', indicating the case body and bracelet are made of an alloy (likely brass or zinc). Not solid silver or solid gold.
Finish & Decoration
Polished gold-tone finish with a 'teardrop' or 'macaroni' link bracelet chain. The style mimics late 20th-century jewelry-watch aesthetics found in costume jewelry.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Stamped on case back: 'STAINLESS STEEL BACK', '4002', 'QUARTZ', 'SHOCK RESISTANT'. No precious metal hallmarks (such as 925, 14K, or hallmarks of assay) are present.
Construction Details
Machine-manufactured via die-casting and electroplating. The case back is a 'snap-back' design common in entry-level quartz timepieces.
Functional Features
Analog quartz movement (battery powered), shock-resistant balance, push-pull crown for time setting, and a fold-over jewelry clasp.
Handle & Grip Details
N/A - Features a small fluted gold-tone crown for hand-adjustment of time at the 3 o'clock position.
Craftsmanship Details
Standard industrial assembly; machine-pressed case back and die-cast links. The plating is even but is not intended for multi-generational longevity.
Authentication Indicators
The absence of any fineness marks (like 'Sterling' or '14K') and the descriptive 'Stainless Steel Back' stamp confirm this is costume jewelry rather than a solid precious metal item.
Origin & Manufacturing
Likely manufactured in East Asia (China or Hong Kong), typical of high-volume catalog/department store fashion jewelry of this period.
Era & Period
Modern Era / Late 20th Century (c. 1980s-1990s), following the Quartz Crisis which popularized inexpensive battery-powered jewelry watches.
Age Estimate
Circa 1985-1995 based on the case shape, font of the 'Quartz' stamp, and bracelet style.
Cultural Significance
Represents the 'democratization of luxury' in the late 20th century, where quartz technology allowed jewelry designers to create time-telling accessories without the cost of Swiss mechanical movements.
Condition Notes
Good overall. Visible surface scratches on the steel back and minor wear to the gold plating on high-friction areas of the bracelet links. Light tarnish/oxidation on the inner crevices.
Value Estimate
$5.00 - $15.00 USD. Value is primarily decorative/utilitarian rather than as a precious metal investment or horological collectible.
Care & Maintenance
Avoid chemicals, perfumes, and water as the gold plating is thin. Clean with a dry, soft microfiber cloth. Do not use silver polish, as the abrasives will strip the gold-tone finish to reveal the base metal underneath.
Similar Pieces
Comparable to brands like Anne Klein, Armitron, or Elgin from the same era, which utilized similar base-metal-and-steel-back constructions.
Interesting Facts
Mass-produced watches like these made high-fashion aesthetics accessible to the general public during the 1990s; they were often sold in gift sets or department store kiosks.