| Author | Message | ||
     Shelley Barras New member Username: Caravelle Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2005 Rating: N/A |
This is a 14K white gold watch in excellent condition with the original strap marked green sea turtle. I think it may be from the 50's.  | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1168 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
How is the back marked? | ||
| Shelley Barras New member Username: Caravelle Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2005 Rating: N/A |
I think it is RD 14K  | ||
| Shelley Barras New member Username: Caravelle Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2005 Rating: N/A |
It's not RD, It's KD | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1171 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
It's an American Market, circa 1950s "Mystery dial". It isn't the "Galaxy" model, but in the "planet" series, it may be called the Saturn. It has a full diamond dial, I'd imagine worth collector to collector to be around $1500. | ||
| GregB Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Zaf, This model was indeed called a "Galaxy" by LeCoultre, it was just a later version than the early Vacheron-signed models. It probably dates from the early 1960s, not the 1950s as you guessed. In the early 1960s, LeCoultre changed the movement used in the Galaxy from the cal480 to the smaller cal818 and began signing the dials at the 12 o'clock position instead of the 6 o'clock position. You don't even need to request seeing the back... if you see the dial signed at the top, it isn't a Vacheron-signed case. The "Saturn" model name (according to all the LeCoultre ads I've collected) was used for their model with diamonds only on the hands and plain gold hour markers. I believe it also applied to the models with plain gold markers on the hands and no diamonds at all. I'm unsure what the models with a single round diamond marker at each hour position were called. I haven't ever been able to find a factory ad for that model. Hope this helps! Greg | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 1180 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Very cool. Do you have pictures of these ads? I collect them too, and I'd love to include what you are saying in my book. Contact me privately if that interests you. I do cover the Galaxy in the book, but I have not written about it or done the leg work yet. Now that said, if it is a Galaxy, wouldn't you think that the Vach signed one is worth $500 more? | ||
| GregB Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Zaf, I absolutely agree that the Vacheron-signed model should be worth *at least* $500 more. I actually sold a mint NOS-condition Vacheron model with original box, manual/papers, tags, strap, buckle, etc.) for $4,000 last year... a record, I believe. Though from looking at eBay auction results, I think that a lot of inexperienced buyers have been watching the Vacheron Galaxy models sell for astronomical sums to collectors and are bidding up the non-Vacheron Galaxy models without knowing the difference. I'll drop you a private e-mail to discuss the scans for your book. Greg |