| Author | Message | ||
     Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Hello, I have a question about a missing number on the inside of the caseback. In pictures on the web I have seen there is a serial number under the LeCoultre logo on the inside. Same as movment number? My watch is missing this number, please see photo. What reason can there be for this? Fake, repair, frankenwatch..? From what I can see in Zaf's book the movement incl serial number 17XXXXX looks OK. Any help greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance. Btd     | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4624 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
The case serial # should not match that of the movement. I think the watch looks OK non? | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4625 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
It is a little odd there is no case serial though. | ||
| Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Hi Zaf, thank you for responding. Yes it's odd that there are no case serial on the inside. Others I think everything checks out OK. Dial, hands, case, movement looks OK from my unexperiaced eyes. I have seen photos from I think Clavi with the inside markings: 9-65 E 859 Instead of the inside markings of mine: E 859 5-68 Could it bee that the case back has been replaced during service or repair? And the 65/68 have to do withyear? According to your book, year of movement is 1965 which seams right for this model. Have you ever seen any JLC or Polaris watch without the case serial on the back? Many thanks! Btd | ||
| Gregb Advanced Member Username: Gregb Post Number: 253 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
The dial on your watch is from a '65 model, but the case appears to be from a '68 model. Odd. I haven't seen enough of the Polaris models in my hands to consider my observations conclusive, but the watches I've had all had case date stamps (65 or 68) that agreed with the dial type ('65 with stick hour markers or '68 with triangular luminous hour marks). To me, it would appear that the back (or possibly the entire case) was replaced at some point in time. | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 288 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
I once had a Polaris for restauration at JLC, they exchanged the damaged case back and the old case number was engraved to the new one since it was unnumbered. So my personal conclusion is, maybe your watch is build from parts and a spare case. Does this possible circumstand reflect on the value? Not really. ;) | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 289 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
I once had a Polaris for restauration at JLC, they exchanged the damaged case back and the old case number was engraved to the new one since it was unnumbered. So my personal conclusion is, maybe your watch is build from parts and a spare case. Does this possible circumstand reflect on the value? Not really. ;) | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4626 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Also, regarding the dial, I think tht dial style would have had "dagger" hands not the stick hands... | ||
| Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Hi Greg, thank you for respons and additional info. Sounds logical that 65 goes with 65 and 68 with 68. One more question: If the case back or case has been replaced, shouldn't there be a serial number on the inside from the old watch/case? Could it be a service replacement from Jaeger and thats why there are no serial number? Thank you. Btd | ||
| Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Hi Ilja, Thank you for the info. Thant means that it probably been replaced by someone (not by JLC) and if Greg is right about the 68 marking, with a spear part for a 68. Reflect on the value? Yes, maybe, but I am just interested to have a watch with the correct parts, if it has been replaced with correct type of parts then it's OK by me. I am inlove with the watch and not interested in the watch as an investment. Thank you. Btd | ||
| Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Hi Zaf, the photos I have been able to find on the web it has been stick hands on the LeCoultre version and dagger hands on the JLC version. But you might be right that all of them should have dagger hands. Thank you for the input. Btd | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 4634 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
No, on the JLC version, the dagger hands go with the earlier dial and the stick hands go with the later dial. You have the earlier dial and I would imagine LC followed what JLC did in that regard. | ||
| Gregb Advanced Member Username: Gregb Post Number: 255 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
I've actually seen the stick hands (like yours) with the '65 U.S.-version dial twice before. Though the Swiss-version '65 models I've seen had dagger hands, as Zaf mentioned. | ||
| Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Hello Zaf and Greg, Thank you for your additional input, very helpful. My conclusion is that my watch is a 65 version with JLC/LC original parts. But at some point the case back has been replaced with a spare case back meant for a 68 version. The hands might as well been replaced with the 68 version. If I would like to restore the watch to its original state I would have to find a 65 case back and 65 hands. From a �collectors� point of view this might not be OK to do? The watch is already ruined? Question, would you title this one as �real� Polaris or is it a Frankenwatch? As a JLC enthusiast I just want a correct watch as possible that I am able to wear and call Polaris with good conscience. Thank you. Btd | ||
| Gregb Advanced Member Username: Gregb Post Number: 256 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
As mentioned in my earlier post, I wouldn't rush to replace the hands without further research. I've seen the stick hands with the same '65 LeCoultre model as yours twice before. I would have thought them correct based on the U.S. dialed watches I've seen, but I've seen only about 6-7 Polaris models in my hands, so I don't consider my knowledge authoritative on the subject. Ilja's speculation that perhaps the back is a factory replacement makes some sense, and perhaps you should check with the manufacture to see if they have records of ever having the watch for restoration. I notice that the luminous on the hands and dial also look much fresher than the yellowed luminous I tend to see on these watches, which further lends credence to a possible factory renovation in the recent past. A check with the factory might solve the mystery. If you know the previous owner, they might also be able to share the provenance of the watch and tell you if it has been to the factory for restoration. | ||
| Btd New member Username: Btd Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2010 Rating: N/A |
Thanks again Greg, If the watch isn't a frankenwatch I will not do any alternations to the watch at this point. About the hand, yes i have seen this typ of hands several times (only in photo). To check with JLC is of course the right way to go. I will try that. If I get any awnsers I make sure to post them here. Thank you. Btd | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 290 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Just in as an option, I have a nice used 68 style LeCoultre original dial accomplished with inner disk as a spare... Contact me off board if interested. |