| Author | Message | ||
     Brian W. Bunte Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Hi, What type of strap or bracelet did the factory put on the Lecoultre Memovox? I have a gold-filled memovox with date and I am trying to restore it to its original state. I purchased it from the estate of its original owner, but it had a replacement stretch band on it. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Regards, Brian | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1645 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Most likely the original strap, for a US market watch would be a LeCoultre leather strap with LeCoultre signed GF buckle. I see a lot with American made stretch bracelets, which may have been installed at the time of purchase but are generally not LeCoultre product, so it would not be original in that sense. | ||
| Brian W. Bunte Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Thank you. What type of hides would have been used during that time. I know that current models come with alligator or ostrich. Do you have access to original straps & buckles or can you recommend someplace? Regards, Brian | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1646 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
They are not easy to find. The few NOS ones I have in my collection have been plain calf or lizard. I have not seen vintage ones in alligator or ostrich though I am sure they existed. | ||
| Brian W. Bunte Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Thank you again for your prompt responses. Please keep me in mind if you find some that you are willing to part with. I would also be interested in a gold-filled LC bracelet that would fit like the stainless one on this site's banner, if there is such a thing. Regards, Brian [email protected] | ||
| GregB Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I can confirm that LeCoultre vintage straps were indeed issued in exotic leathers like alligator and crocodile. I have owned original vintage straps in both. Brian, you didn't mention the year of your Memovox, but the later gold-filled versions were also available with gold-filled metal bands that had a signed folding clasp. Greg | ||
| Brian W. Bunte Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Thanks Greg, I am not sure of my memovox's vintage. I just know that it is marked as gold filled. Is there archive information available for LeCoultre? I would be interested in finding out more about when & where it was assembled & were it was sold. Regards, Brian | ||
| GregB Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Brian, Sorry, you'll not find any archive info on (U.S.) LeCoultre like you will with Omega, Patek and others. The Jaeger-LeCoultre factory in Switzerland will barely even admit that their U.S. arm "LeCoultre" even existed. No records from the LeCoultre operation seem to have been archived. I've met people who used to work at LeCoultre in the U.S. and they said it was quite a mess towards the end. All of the movement production for LeCoultre took place in Switzerland at the JLC factory and the watches were simply cased and sold in the U.S., so the movement records (sketchy) are available from JLC if you know who to ask. That's about all you'll find on your watch. A few of us have gathered magazine articles, vintage ads, dealer literature, catalogs, repair notes, etc., to try to fill in as many blanks as we can. Greg | ||
| Brian W. Bunte Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Thanks for all of the great info. My watch appears to be identical to the one just posted for sale by ZAF. Very similar in condtion as well & both crowns are signed. What were the production years for this watch? I'm not going to attempt to open it, so I will have to wait until it needs maintanance to get the # off of the movement. Regards, Brian | ||
| gatorcpa Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I have dealt with the US JLC office in New York regarding authentication of vintage LeCoultre movements and have found them very helpful. They have provided dated serial number production information, even though records no longer exist for export and sales of the finished watch. They may be contacted through the JLC web site at: http://www.jaegerlecoultre.com Hope this helps, gatorcpa |