| Author | Message | ||
     Martyw New member Username: Martyw Post Number: 25 Registered: 07-2007 Rating: N/A |
Hi, I am still trying to get myself familiar with the vintage JLC, and thought I can try to learn from some old auctions. The following one is one of the recent completed auction. I have made a few observations and would like to see if I am correct or not, and hopefully someone will also fill in what I've missed. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110140126876&ssPageName= STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=001 The three things stood out for me are: 1) the finish on the top of the movement is not the standard stripe pattern (Geneva?). Is this normal for the 50's? Or this movement might not be geniune or of frankenwatch nature? 2) "LeCoultre" was not engraved on the inside of the caseback. Is that okay? 3) "Swiss" instead of "Swiss Made" in the bottom of the dial. Since this is a JLC, should that be "Swiss Made"? Any other comments? Like - was the dial original? - dial untouched? - crown suppose to be unmarked? - was that a good price for that watch? Thanks in advance. | ||
| Herman New member Username: Herman Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
"was the dial original?" In response to a question the seller says the dial has been refinished. "good price?" To my taste this isn't really an irrestible watch - no distinctive features whatsoever - and the sub-thousand price may reflect this. | ||
| Martyw New member Username: Martyw Post Number: 26 Registered: 07-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Herman. I missed the Q&A as I've missed scrolling down past the pictures. I think the redialing was done nicely, including the second dial with all the 60 marks. I certainly don't have the enough experience to know what the original dial of that watch should look like. The reason why I asked about the price was the following watch, the one that started me asking all these questions and the one that I lost in the bidding: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170131732938&ssPageName= STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=007 made me wonder whether this 1950's one was a good bargain in comparison. After all, I think the JLC cross-hair dress watch should be a pretty common one too (as being an entry level JLC). But as they've said, it only takes two people that really want the same thing to bid up the price. | ||
| Herman New member Username: Herman Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
IMHO the crosshair JLC was overpriced eventually for a rather simple model. On balance I think the other one should be a little more valuable because of its size. However I'd gladly stand corrected. | ||
| Martyw New member Username: Martyw Post Number: 27 Registered: 07-2007 Rating: N/A |
I kind of thought the same way too, 37mm vs 34mm should have the 37mm one in favor in today's market. Nevertheless my quest is a dress watch and so if I have to choose I will still pick the JLC dress watch for my father. | ||
| Gatorcpa New member Username: Gatorcpa Post Number: 35 Registered: 11-2006 Rating: N/A |
IMHO, the crosshair JLC was near mint with a clean original dial and the sub-seconds one may have been redialed. The dial is much cleaner that the hands, which look worn and need plating. That would be enough to lower my estimate of the latter watch. That being said, it's very tough judging these by eBay pictures. Hope this helps, gatorcpa | ||
| Gregb New member Username: Gregb Post Number: 53 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
As mentioned in post 23 by Herman, the seller has positively stated that the subseconds model was refinished. However the dauphine hands were nice (see picture 2). They were just in the lens shadow for all but one of the pix. Poor auction pictures are one of the easiest ways to get a bargain, if you're willing to spend the time really examining pictures or writing the seller for answers or more pix. Responding to the second question from Marty's post #25, the large case was definitely original, though it was difficult to make out the inner case markings. However, you could clearly make out the "A" marking on the back, which is the classic JLC factory code to indicate an 18K case. An aftermarket case wouldn't be marked this way. Greg | ||
| Martyw New member Username: Martyw Post Number: 28 Registered: 07-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the input, guys. So I guess although the top plate of the movement was not as finished as the later crop, it was geniune. As for the watch caseback, I looked at the enlarged version of the picture and there is no engraving of "LeCoultre" on the caseback. I suppose the case was outsourced to a third party company and JLC didn't always engrave its name on it when they assembled the watch? I did see the "A" on the flip side of the caseback. I didn't know that was JLC specific. Now I know. Thanks. | ||
| Martyw New member Username: Martyw Post Number: 46 Registered: 07-2007 Rating: N/A |
On the question about redialing affecting the value, if the dial on this watch is totally original, how much the price could have been? |