| Author | Message | ||
     hst Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I have been offered a gold-filled memovox (round 35mm case with no date function). Not sure whether it is a good buy. Its case no. is C359xx. I would like to know what year it is manufactured and what is a reasonable price? How do I tell if it is a genuine piece? How do I know if it is 10k or 14K gold-filled, and not just gold plated? Is there a gold mark or something. Thanks. | ||
| hst Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
ps. The dial reads "Jaeger Lecoultre", rather than "Lecoultre". I understand that most of the gold-filled case are made under brandname "Lecoultre". Should I expect the crown to be signed? I have not seen the movement yet. What are the things to look out for in inspection of movement. I am very new to collection of vintage watches. Thank you very much | ||
| Brian Bunte Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I am not an expert, but my gold-filled LeCoultre memovox with date is marked with a star & "10k Gold-Filled" on the case back. Both crowns are also marked. Hope this helps a little. -Brian | ||
| Ilja Probst Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 176 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
We need to see a scan. Ilja | ||
| hst Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Please see scans of the watch. As it is an alarm watch, what should be the sound of the alarm if it is working properly? Thanks again   | ||
| Ilja Probst Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 177 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: |
Movement inside is surely a cal. P489 (handwind, first memovox movement) Türler is a Swiss jeweler. Crowns should be unsigned. Impossible to say if case is solid gold or just plated. Usually there is an indication on the caseback: "P" for plated "A" for solid 18k Since the pin which is hit by the alarm hammer is visible from outside it�s more likely a plated case. But I�m guessing here. Check if you find any hallmarks on the lugs. Otherwise you need to open the watch and check the caseback inside. It is surely not goldfilled. A plated Memovox should be worth $600. Ilja | ||
| hst Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Thanks, Ilja. How do I determine if the alarm is working well. Could you tell when was this watch manufactured? | ||
| GregB Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
It will definitely be a plated (plaque) case. Regarding the alarm operation, why don't you simply test it? Either it will work or it won't. Simply wind the top crown fully than pull it out the bottom crown and rotate the hands until the alarm triggers. If the alarm mainspring is strong, you'll get 15-20 seconds of loud "buzzing". When set on a dresser, the sound is magnified and loud. From your case style, I would guess your watch to be from the early to mid 1950s. The caliber 289 was created in 1949 and launched in 1951 as the "Wrist Alarm", so your watch dates after that period. The caliber 815 Memovoxes debuted in about 1956, so your watch would be somewhere between 1951 to 1956. The fact that the caseback is marked "Memovox" would lead me to believe that your watch is one of the later-production cal 489s, because the Memovox name was trademarked later in production. If you provide the movement serial number, we can date the production within a year or two. Greg | ||
| Sebastian Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Hi all, I have this watch at my local store selling for US$3000. Is it an original vintage? Or is it too expensive?   | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1959 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
First of all, I do not believe this to be a real "Memovox Parking", these have specific case references and this does not appear to be one of them. In addition the dial appears to be restored. As such, $3000 is a completely ridiculous price for this watch, but to answer your question, yes it is a vintage piece, albeit a doctored one. | ||
| Clavi Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
In addition, to my knowledge there has never ever been a memovox in such a case with "geometric horn lugs" This type of case was usually found in the power reserve JLCs, but they never came with the alarm feature | ||
| GregB Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Clavi, I'm confused... I can't imagine anyone trying to convert a Powermatic case designed for a caliber 481 bumper automatic for use as a Memovox case housing a caliber 911 manual wind alarm: 1) The movement wouldn't fit. 2) The crown tube at 3 o'clock would have to be filled and 2 new tubes installed at 2 o'clock & 4 o'clock. 3) An alarm pin would need to be installed in the back of the case for the hammer to strike. 4) The back of the case shown is factory engraved with the Memovox name. I'm constantly surprised by new & correct JLC case/dial variations that I hadn't seen before and didn't think existed. I would be a sceptic that the dial configuration is original, but I would expect the case to be correct. Am I missing something? Greg | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1968 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
I think it is a legit alarm, just not a legit "Parking" variant. At $3000 it doesn't matter what it is other than overpriced. | ||
| Clavi Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
In addition to my theory that the case really doesn't belong to a memovox watch initially, a memovox with a cal 911 should be post 1967, which really does not match with the very low serial number of the case back (I know the best reference to judge the age of a JLC is the movment serial number, but it seems that case numbers do increase regularly over the years, and a case number < 600,000 belongs to the 50's IMHO) I have never seen a memovox with the typical powermatic lugs, and don't believe that it has ever existed. Definitely a recased 911 whith an added parking disk, therefore a complete frankenwatch | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1974 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Well, if it is an American made case, the serial #s have nothing to do with the Swiss ones. It's still a little far fetched that someone stuffed a 911 inside a case designed for a 481, laser welded the crown hole and created 2 new ones. The 911 is 13 lignes whereas the 481 is 12 ligne and probably taller. The 911 was made starting in 1964. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1975 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
In addition, it's not a 481 case. The back of a 481 case has like an octogonal pattern, not the screw in ring like found on alarms. So yes, it's a franken, we all agree, but it's a case made for an alarm IMO. |
