| Author | Message | ||
     Pnischt New member Username: Pnischt Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2011 Rating: N/A |
Hi All, When I was a little boy (still in elementary school. I'm 24 now) my late grandfather decided I needed a watch and gave me what I have just found to be a gold JLC Memovox with a "Parking" dial. I feel like this was probably something he just had laying around, and that it wasn't really appropriate for a boy that age as I had no capacity to comprehend what it was. I seem to remember one day scraping the heck out of the original crystal and needing to replace it. I have no idea how that happened, though. Anyways, the watch is still in beautiful condition and works perfectly. Whatever my boy-self did to the crystal did nothing to the rest of the watch. I have several questions. My first is how hard is it to find the original crystals for these? The one I had it replaced with back in the day (probably with the help of my mother) seems to stand up pretty tall on the face of the watch, and I'm not sure that's how these are supposed to look. My second question is whether or not it's possible to date these things using the serial on the back? Mine reads 754932. My last question is whether anyone knows or would be willing to guestimate the approximate value of these watches in good condition? I'm new to the forum, and to fine watches in general. Any help or other info on this watch would be much appreciated! I've attached fuzzy cell phone pics... Thanks so much! Pete    | ||
| Gatorcpa Intermediate Member Username: Gatorcpa Post Number: 118 Registered: 11-2006 Rating: N/A |
You have a very nice looking Memovox Parking Meter watch there. I recently read a great thread on another forum with a lot of information and original JLC advertising for the model here: http://jlc.watchprosite.com/?show=forumpostf&fi=2&pi=4750868&ti=724948&s=0 I don't there is any such thing as an "original" JLC crystal for these as I don't believe they were marked. Any good watchmaker should be able to source a lower profile crystal, although the one you have doesn't look too bad. I think these were made around the mid-1950's, but Zaf should be along and can give a more exact date and an idea of value. Hope this helps, gatorcpa | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 305 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Value depends on case material - case back seems stainless steel from the pictures and case serial without any leading A or B. Is there any hallmark on the case top? Is movement signed LeCoultre or Jaeger-LeCoutre? For a reliable production date we need to know the movement number, case serial is useless unfortunately. | ||
| Ilja Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 306 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Movement is most likely a calibre 814, we need to know the mvmt serial to give a production date. Caseback seems stainless steel, is there any hallmark on the case-top? Value depends on case material and if the movement is signed Jaeger-LeCoultre as the dial leads to believe. Also the inside of the caseback may has a reference number. | ||
| Pnischt New member Username: Pnischt Post Number: 2 Registered: 07-2011 Rating: N/A |
Thank you both for your help with this! I'm excited to get this all figured out. In answer to your questions... I am taking it to a good watchmaker in town tomorrow to get the whole thing looked at. I'd like to have him look for a lower profile crystal. I'm not sure there is a hallmark on the case top. I'm not sure what "movement" means in terms of watches. Will I need to open the case up to find the movement number and alleged signature? Is that something better left to the watchmaker? Also, I have recently noticed something else about this watch, every day or two the hands get stuck. I have to bump them (like I'm setting the time) to get them unstuck. Are these pretty expensive to service, and does this sound like a big or little problem? | ||
| Pnischt New member Username: Pnischt Post Number: 3 Registered: 07-2011 Rating: N/A |
Also, I believe you're right about the stainless steel back. | ||
| Gatorcpa Intermediate Member Username: Gatorcpa Post Number: 119 Registered: 11-2006 Rating: N/A |
From your description, the watch case is likely gold-plated with a steel back. The movement is the engine of the watch and makes everything move. The case will need to be opened up to get the info Ilja needs to determine the date of manufacture. If you can take pictures, that would be better. Memovoxes are a little more difficult to service than normal time-only watches, as there is a separate assembly for the alarm function that has to be taken apart and lubricated. The watchmaker should be able to address the issue you have with the hands when the rest of the cleaning is done. Take care, gatorcpa | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 5321 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Hi, if it's a Euro watch, the top is most likely a lower karat solid gold, like 14k. It won't be stamped as gold though, since it's low karat. | ||
| Pnischt New member Username: Pnischt Post Number: 4 Registered: 07-2011 Rating: N/A |
Hi, all! Thank you so much for your input! I took the watch into a recommended jeweler who turned out not to be a watchmaker. After trying to buy the watch and teaching me how to wind it (embarrased... but this fixed the sticking problem. I wasn't winding it all the way), he told me that the best thing I could do about getting a lower profile crystal and getting it cleaned (there are some dust particles under the crystal) would be to ship it to Jaeger to have them do it. He didn't want to touch it. Does this sound like an ok idea or will an actual watchmaker be able to do these things? | ||
| Gatorcpa Intermediate Member Username: Gatorcpa Post Number: 120 Registered: 11-2006 Rating: N/A |
Jaeger-LeCoultre will charge you over $1,000 to clean your watch and will keep it up to a year. However, I understand they do excellent work. The owner of this website (Zaf) is a watchmaker who specializes in vintage JLC. Maybe you should contact him offline. Take care, gatorcpa | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 5322 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
JLC may even charge $1500. We can do mechaincal restorations, in most cases well under $400. Contact me if interested. [email protected] |