| Author | Message | ||
     Drew83 New member Username: Drew83 Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2013 Rating: N/A |
Join Date Jun 2012 Location Czech Republic Posts 82 Please help my identify this vintage JLC dress watch Hi, I got my first vintage JLC dress watch recently. I went against my personal take-no-chances rules and bought from a relatively new ebay seller. It is a small sized (at about 33mm) mens watch presumably with gold-plated case and manual winding. I found a similar one for sale on a reputable watch forum, the seller claimed it had the JLC 450 movement inside. Can anybody please tell me more about my fresh acquisition ? Thanks a lot, cheers O. http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/drew83fm/JLC_zps4c6cad57.jpg http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/drew83fm/JLC2_zps711c2fd0.jpg | ||
| Drew83 New member Username: Drew83 Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2013 Rating: N/A |
Since no one has posted a reply, I was just curious if there is any sort of vintage catalogue for JLC available online such as Omega has ? | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 358 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
We need a bit more information, like movement caliber and serial#. The case inscription tells you the material depending on which market the watch was sold. Capital A tells you 18k solid gold. Also look for hallmarks. | ||
| Drew83 New member Username: Drew83 Post Number: 3 Registered: 02-2013 Rating: N/A |
Hi Ilja, thank you very much for your kind answer. Please check the pictures below, the caseback nr. is 823360, movement is signed K 478/C and the serial nr. is 1425805. It appears that the watch has quite a famed calibre that eventually made it to VC Patrimony ? Please tell me more about the movement and approximate year of manufacture if possible. http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/drew83fm/jlcmovement_zps7c494e89.jpg http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y491/drew83fm/calibrenr_zps7a8299c1.jpg Thank you very much Cheers, O | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 360 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Movement dates to 1960. The case serial indicates a swiss made case. Case back inscription from inside will tell you if it is solid 18k gold. Movement looks very clean and not amateurish abused - really nice! Cal. 478 is a 12 1/2 lines movement and the last evolution step of this caliber group (450, 468, 470 etc.), but nothing special like the P478BWSbr found in the Geophysic or 488Sbr in the Mark 11. The leading letter K describes the balance shock protection Kif. The /C means it is slightly belveled on the back side. | ||
| Drew83 New member Username: Drew83 Post Number: 4 Registered: 02-2013 Rating: N/A |
Ilja, thank you so much for your kind reply and tremendous insight ! The movement is indeed very nice and clean and of fine heritage as I can see, although not chronometer rated. Anyway, from what I have learned, only a few vintage JLCs were. Considering the famous quality of their movements, there may well have been no need to certify the obvious. The inside of the case back only say LeCoultre Swiss, it is obviously a gold plated one. Cheers, Ondra |