Vintage (50s) JLC
Discussion
A long story but I'm having to engage a barrister for some b
ks that's happened to me recently. During the business end of me asking the bloke a load of questions, I noticed that he had a rather lovely vintage JLC watch on.
It looked something like this, rose gold (my favourite if I had to have gold), small, very classic, elegant, I love it.
Now this one is up on eBay for about £800 but I've seen what looks like exactly the same model (identical dial) in various degrees of condition for as little as £150. The cheaper ones either have poorly-looking dials, or are gold-plated as opposed to solid gold, or are stainless steel. All the watches appear to have the same movement (from appearance) - some are gilded, some are not, but the base design is the same.
Personally I'd love a solid red gold one, and they don't appear to depreciate much - and also they are not only the watchmaker's watch (I like JLC movements) but are subtle and, to my mind, incredibly elegant since they're not the in-your-face 42-mm bling watches that all the big marques sell now.
Anyone here got one? Anything to look out for? I don't have the funds for a £1k vintage JLC unless I sell the Breguet which I'm not going to (unless someone makes me a decent swap offer for a 2000 anniversary Schumacher Speedy which I don't wear any more...) and I'd really prefer to hold out for the rose gold one...
The kicker is that there's a similar watch on eBay with a day to go with no bids, currently $1.99 or something silly - bet the reserve is much higher but it's bloody tempting.
Tertius - you mentioned letting vintage JLCs and G-P watches go for the < £500 mark recently, is this too good to be true? I'd love one of these watches, real understated class IMO.
ks that's happened to me recently. During the business end of me asking the bloke a load of questions, I noticed that he had a rather lovely vintage JLC watch on.It looked something like this, rose gold (my favourite if I had to have gold), small, very classic, elegant, I love it.
Now this one is up on eBay for about £800 but I've seen what looks like exactly the same model (identical dial) in various degrees of condition for as little as £150. The cheaper ones either have poorly-looking dials, or are gold-plated as opposed to solid gold, or are stainless steel. All the watches appear to have the same movement (from appearance) - some are gilded, some are not, but the base design is the same.
Personally I'd love a solid red gold one, and they don't appear to depreciate much - and also they are not only the watchmaker's watch (I like JLC movements) but are subtle and, to my mind, incredibly elegant since they're not the in-your-face 42-mm bling watches that all the big marques sell now.
Anyone here got one? Anything to look out for? I don't have the funds for a £1k vintage JLC unless I sell the Breguet which I'm not going to (unless someone makes me a decent swap offer for a 2000 anniversary Schumacher Speedy which I don't wear any more...) and I'd really prefer to hold out for the rose gold one...
The kicker is that there's a similar watch on eBay with a day to go with no bids, currently $1.99 or something silly - bet the reserve is much higher but it's bloody tempting.
Tertius - you mentioned letting vintage JLCs and G-P watches go for the < £500 mark recently, is this too good to be true? I'd love one of these watches, real understated class IMO.
cyberface said:
A long story but I'm having to engage a barrister for some bks that's happened to me recently. During the business end of me asking the bloke a load of questions, I noticed that he had a rather lovely vintage JLC watch on.
It looked something like this, rose gold (my favourite if I had to have gold), small, very classic, elegant, I love it.
Now this one is up on eBay for about £800 but I've seen what looks like exactly the same model (identical dial) in various degrees of condition for as little as £150. The cheaper ones either have poorly-looking dials, or are gold-plated as opposed to solid gold, or are stainless steel. All the watches appear to have the same movement (from appearance) - some are gilded, some are not, but the base design is the same.
Personally I'd love a solid red gold one, and they don't appear to depreciate much - and also they are not only the watchmaker's watch (I like JLC movements) but are subtle and, to my mind, incredibly elegant since they're not the in-your-face 42-mm bling watches that all the big marques sell now.
Anyone here got one? Anything to look out for? I don't have the funds for a £1k vintage JLC unless I sell the Breguet which I'm not going to (unless someone makes me a decent swap offer for a 2000 anniversary Schumacher Speedy which I don't wear any more...) and I'd really prefer to hold out for the rose gold one...
The kicker is that there's a similar watch on eBay with a day to go with no bids, currently $1.99 or something silly - bet the reserve is much higher but it's bloody tempting.
Tertius - you mentioned letting vintage JLCs and G-P watches go for the < £500 mark recently, is this too good to be true? I'd love one of these watches, real understated class IMO.
Hi mate,ks that's happened to me recently. During the business end of me asking the bloke a load of questions, I noticed that he had a rather lovely vintage JLC watch on.It looked something like this, rose gold (my favourite if I had to have gold), small, very classic, elegant, I love it.
Now this one is up on eBay for about £800 but I've seen what looks like exactly the same model (identical dial) in various degrees of condition for as little as £150. The cheaper ones either have poorly-looking dials, or are gold-plated as opposed to solid gold, or are stainless steel. All the watches appear to have the same movement (from appearance) - some are gilded, some are not, but the base design is the same.
Personally I'd love a solid red gold one, and they don't appear to depreciate much - and also they are not only the watchmaker's watch (I like JLC movements) but are subtle and, to my mind, incredibly elegant since they're not the in-your-face 42-mm bling watches that all the big marques sell now.
Anyone here got one? Anything to look out for? I don't have the funds for a £1k vintage JLC unless I sell the Breguet which I'm not going to (unless someone makes me a decent swap offer for a 2000 anniversary Schumacher Speedy which I don't wear any more...) and I'd really prefer to hold out for the rose gold one...
The kicker is that there's a similar watch on eBay with a day to go with no bids, currently $1.99 or something silly - bet the reserve is much higher but it's bloody tempting.
Tertius - you mentioned letting vintage JLCs and G-P watches go for the < £500 mark recently, is this too good to be true? I'd love one of these watches, real understated class IMO.
Last question first - I've recently let a vintage G-P go for that sort of money (quite a bit less actually), however, I haven't sold a vintage JLC that cheaply and wouldn't expect to see a good vintage JLC at that money.
800-1000 sounds nearer the mark to me.
I would be very careful of cheaper JLCs - certainly check that they haven't been re-dialled (seriously devalues a watch) and that they are entirely genuine.
JLC had a number of classic models - Memovox, Futurematic and I'm sure one other I can't remember the name of - that are well worth looking out for.
You might also come across watches branded LeCoultre - I'm pretty sure these are genuine JLCs but branded that way for the American market, and possibly cased in the US. However, they wouldn't, in my opinion, command the same sort of price.
Hi mate - you've pretty much confirmed my gut feeling on these watches.
Much as I liked the £150 GP that I saw recently, JLC are much more attractive to me (like you I appreciate the craftsmanship in the JLC watches, they're also a bit of an underdog even though they have made so many superb movements, I guess the tradition thing appeals as well which is why I covet Breguet watches like no other... sadly the Classique Breguets I love are out of financial reach, and the Type XX I own was pushing it!!!)
I've seen a bunch of JLC watches like this on eBay at lower prices but they are all from India (???) and look very suspiciously to me like re-cased, refurbished-dial watches. I know the movements will go on and on with decent lubrication, and I'm not looking for an investment piece, but if I'm getting a vintage watch I want one that 'looks' genuine, if that makes sense.
Solid rose gold is a must as I've got steel watches (and my grail sports Breguet). However a rose gold and brown leather strap dress watch is what I'd love... Breguet make a beautiful collection (have their catalogue and it's pure porn) but at £12k starting it's out of my league for now. I don't typically like gold, and certainly not yellow gold, but a recent practical joke changed my mind.
I'm sure nobody here is impressed but for a practical joke I bought this fake Franck Muller rose gold 'Chocolat' watch to wind up my cousin, who owns the genuine Jumbo-sized version. It has the correct 2892 ETA movement and is a fair replica, and succeeded in winding my cousin up because he couldn't tell it was a fake - job done. Even though I wouldn't wear it in public (and has since been used to practice servicing the movement), I found that I really loved the rose-gold / brown leather combination. It's a smaller size than the Jumbo watch and suits my wrist perfectly. So, as a result, I would love to have a genuine watch of similar small but elegant style. The JLC above really spins my wheel - it's not like the FM but then again FM don't make the Chocolat watch in the small size anyway...
That said, if things go well (being a consultant to the fund management industry, things are most certainly NOT going well at the moment) then I could raise £800-£1000, maybe some time next year...
Any tips on what to look for? The watch pictured above is what I'd like, but I'm buggered if I'm buying a watch like this off eBay. The usual suspects (Dom, watches.co.uk, etc.) don't seem to deal in these older watches... where do you suggest I keep an eye open for?
Basically if this court case goes well and costs get awarded to me (which will pay the barrister's fees) then I'm in the market...
Much as I liked the £150 GP that I saw recently, JLC are much more attractive to me (like you I appreciate the craftsmanship in the JLC watches, they're also a bit of an underdog even though they have made so many superb movements, I guess the tradition thing appeals as well which is why I covet Breguet watches like no other... sadly the Classique Breguets I love are out of financial reach, and the Type XX I own was pushing it!!!)
I've seen a bunch of JLC watches like this on eBay at lower prices but they are all from India (???) and look very suspiciously to me like re-cased, refurbished-dial watches. I know the movements will go on and on with decent lubrication, and I'm not looking for an investment piece, but if I'm getting a vintage watch I want one that 'looks' genuine, if that makes sense.
Solid rose gold is a must as I've got steel watches (and my grail sports Breguet). However a rose gold and brown leather strap dress watch is what I'd love... Breguet make a beautiful collection (have their catalogue and it's pure porn) but at £12k starting it's out of my league for now. I don't typically like gold, and certainly not yellow gold, but a recent practical joke changed my mind.
I'm sure nobody here is impressed but for a practical joke I bought this fake Franck Muller rose gold 'Chocolat' watch to wind up my cousin, who owns the genuine Jumbo-sized version. It has the correct 2892 ETA movement and is a fair replica, and succeeded in winding my cousin up because he couldn't tell it was a fake - job done. Even though I wouldn't wear it in public (and has since been used to practice servicing the movement), I found that I really loved the rose-gold / brown leather combination. It's a smaller size than the Jumbo watch and suits my wrist perfectly. So, as a result, I would love to have a genuine watch of similar small but elegant style. The JLC above really spins my wheel - it's not like the FM but then again FM don't make the Chocolat watch in the small size anyway...
That said, if things go well (being a consultant to the fund management industry, things are most certainly NOT going well at the moment) then I could raise £800-£1000, maybe some time next year...
Any tips on what to look for? The watch pictured above is what I'd like, but I'm buggered if I'm buying a watch like this off eBay. The usual suspects (Dom, watches.co.uk, etc.) don't seem to deal in these older watches... where do you suggest I keep an eye open for?
Basically if this court case goes well and costs get awarded to me (which will pay the barrister's fees) then I'm in the market...
cyberface said:
Hi mate - you've pretty much confirmed my gut feeling on these watches.
Much as I liked the £150 GP that I saw recently, JLC are much more attractive to me (like you I appreciate the craftsmanship in the JLC watches, they're also a bit of an underdog even though they have made so many superb movements, I guess the tradition thing appeals as well which is why I covet Breguet watches like no other... sadly the Classique Breguets I love are out of financial reach, and the Type XX I own was pushing it!!!)
I've seen a bunch of JLC watches like this on eBay at lower prices but they are all from India (???) and look very suspiciously to me like re-cased, refurbished-dial watches. I know the movements will go on and on with decent lubrication, and I'm not looking for an investment piece, but if I'm getting a vintage watch I want one that 'looks' genuine, if that makes sense.
Solid rose gold is a must as I've got steel watches (and my grail sports Breguet). However a rose gold and brown leather strap dress watch is what I'd love... Breguet make a beautiful collection (have their catalogue and it's pure porn) but at £12k starting it's out of my league for now. I don't typically like gold, and certainly not yellow gold, but a recent practical joke changed my mind.
I'm sure nobody here is impressed but for a practical joke I bought this fake Franck Muller rose gold 'Chocolat' watch to wind up my cousin, who owns the genuine Jumbo-sized version. It has the correct 2892 ETA movement and is a fair replica, and succeeded in winding my cousin up because he couldn't tell it was a fake - job done. Even though I wouldn't wear it in public (and has since been used to practice servicing the movement), I found that I really loved the rose-gold / brown leather combination. It's a smaller size than the Jumbo watch and suits my wrist perfectly. So, as a result, I would love to have a genuine watch of similar small but elegant style. The JLC above really spins my wheel - it's not like the FM but then again FM don't make the Chocolat watch in the small size anyway...
That said, if things go well (being a consultant to the fund management industry, things are most certainly NOT going well at the moment) then I could raise £800-£1000, maybe some time next year...
Any tips on what to look for? The watch pictured above is what I'd like, but I'm buggered if I'm buying a watch like this off eBay. The usual suspects (Dom, watches.co.uk, etc.) don't seem to deal in these older watches... where do you suggest I keep an eye open for?
Basically if this court case goes well and costs get awarded to me (which will pay the barrister's fees) then I'm in the market...
Well, I'd certainly look very carefully at anything vintage from India - re-dialling seems to be the norm.Much as I liked the £150 GP that I saw recently, JLC are much more attractive to me (like you I appreciate the craftsmanship in the JLC watches, they're also a bit of an underdog even though they have made so many superb movements, I guess the tradition thing appeals as well which is why I covet Breguet watches like no other... sadly the Classique Breguets I love are out of financial reach, and the Type XX I own was pushing it!!!)
I've seen a bunch of JLC watches like this on eBay at lower prices but they are all from India (???) and look very suspiciously to me like re-cased, refurbished-dial watches. I know the movements will go on and on with decent lubrication, and I'm not looking for an investment piece, but if I'm getting a vintage watch I want one that 'looks' genuine, if that makes sense.
Solid rose gold is a must as I've got steel watches (and my grail sports Breguet). However a rose gold and brown leather strap dress watch is what I'd love... Breguet make a beautiful collection (have their catalogue and it's pure porn) but at £12k starting it's out of my league for now. I don't typically like gold, and certainly not yellow gold, but a recent practical joke changed my mind.
I'm sure nobody here is impressed but for a practical joke I bought this fake Franck Muller rose gold 'Chocolat' watch to wind up my cousin, who owns the genuine Jumbo-sized version. It has the correct 2892 ETA movement and is a fair replica, and succeeded in winding my cousin up because he couldn't tell it was a fake - job done. Even though I wouldn't wear it in public (and has since been used to practice servicing the movement), I found that I really loved the rose-gold / brown leather combination. It's a smaller size than the Jumbo watch and suits my wrist perfectly. So, as a result, I would love to have a genuine watch of similar small but elegant style. The JLC above really spins my wheel - it's not like the FM but then again FM don't make the Chocolat watch in the small size anyway...
That said, if things go well (being a consultant to the fund management industry, things are most certainly NOT going well at the moment) then I could raise £800-£1000, maybe some time next year...
Any tips on what to look for? The watch pictured above is what I'd like, but I'm buggered if I'm buying a watch like this off eBay. The usual suspects (Dom, watches.co.uk, etc.) don't seem to deal in these older watches... where do you suggest I keep an eye open for?
Basically if this court case goes well and costs get awarded to me (which will pay the barrister's fees) then I'm in the market...
You certainly can buy from ebay, but you have to do your research and as always buy the seller not the watch.
You could also consider Zenith - some of their designs from the 60s were simple and elegant, almost exactly matching your requirements (except not solid) is this which I recently sold on:
Other potential places:
- Sales Corner on timezone.com occasionally has vintage pieces, however, it needs some diligent watching the turnover is v rapid
- www.chrono24.com may be worth a look though I've not personally noticed vintage there
- tz-uk.com has the odd vintage pice
- ditto for thewatchforum.co.uk
Especially on eBay always look for terms like "redial" or "refinished". Check the movement pics, etc..
Other than that have fun looking.
Thanks for the advice
Much as I like the Zenith you've posted there, my heart's on a JLC for the movement really. If the solid red gold ones with either the manual or the 'bumper' automatic (cool movement, though not sure how reliable they are) are available for £800-£1000 then I'm certainly going to keep an eye out.
Are you aware of any gotchas with these watches? As in unreliable movements? The hand-wind movement in the watch I posted up looks fabulous, but the 'bumper' autos I've seen look rather different from the autos I've worked on and with a couple of springs restraining the rotor.... after 50 years they may be a bit fragile?
I've checked the Indian JLCs on eBay and they're all re-dialed - the cheaper examples all have knackered / corroded dials, the one I posted appears to be the best. Ho hum, but I guess anything really decent is going to be expensive...
That said, £800-£1000 for a manufacture movement in a solid red gold case is a steal IMO compared to Breitlings, etc. it's Sinn money FFS.... but I won't start that rant again
Much as I like the Zenith you've posted there, my heart's on a JLC for the movement really. If the solid red gold ones with either the manual or the 'bumper' automatic (cool movement, though not sure how reliable they are) are available for £800-£1000 then I'm certainly going to keep an eye out.
Are you aware of any gotchas with these watches? As in unreliable movements? The hand-wind movement in the watch I posted up looks fabulous, but the 'bumper' autos I've seen look rather different from the autos I've worked on and with a couple of springs restraining the rotor.... after 50 years they may be a bit fragile?
I've checked the Indian JLCs on eBay and they're all re-dialed - the cheaper examples all have knackered / corroded dials, the one I posted appears to be the best. Ho hum, but I guess anything really decent is going to be expensive...
That said, £800-£1000 for a manufacture movement in a solid red gold case is a steal IMO compared to Breitlings, etc. it's Sinn money FFS.... but I won't start that rant again
I really like this - I know it is later, and not gold, and over budget...
http://www.watches.co.uk/watch.php?wid=1496F
http://www.watches.co.uk/watch.php?wid=1496F
I WON!!!!!!
Woo hoo!
Anyway in the midst of the relief this basically means that when I finally get the costs awarded back to me (can take many months, I hear) then I'm on the lookout for a vintage JLC rose gold as pictured above (or one of their automatic 'bumper' watches unless someone can tell me that they are unreliable movements)...
Oddly enough the barrister today wasn't wearing his lovely JLC but a old, untidy steel Rolex Oyster with a stretched bracelet - after the trial got thrown out I asked him where his JLC went, he was surprised that I'd noticed what watches he wore and said he'd just moved house... sad watch geek that I am
Re: the alarm watch at watches.co.uk - nice, but over budget, another steel watch and the alarm complication isn't one that I particularly covet. Also I've seen a bunch of these on eBay and traders who advertise via eBay, and however much I like watches.co.uk (I got my Breguet from them) I reckon that watch is overpriced...
Woo hoo!
Anyway in the midst of the relief this basically means that when I finally get the costs awarded back to me (can take many months, I hear) then I'm on the lookout for a vintage JLC rose gold as pictured above (or one of their automatic 'bumper' watches unless someone can tell me that they are unreliable movements)...
Oddly enough the barrister today wasn't wearing his lovely JLC but a old, untidy steel Rolex Oyster with a stretched bracelet - after the trial got thrown out I asked him where his JLC went, he was surprised that I'd noticed what watches he wore
and said he'd just moved house... sad watch geek that I am Re: the alarm watch at watches.co.uk - nice, but over budget, another steel watch and the alarm complication isn't one that I particularly covet. Also I've seen a bunch of these on eBay and traders who advertise via eBay, and however much I like watches.co.uk (I got my Breguet from them) I reckon that watch is overpriced...
ARSE ARSE ARSE
There was a solid rose gold JLC unrestored watch being sold on eBay, auction finished 4 minutes ago and I lost by a measly £10. Put in a max bid of £550 (before the auction started, it was buy it now for £650), I was top bidder at around £230 until a couple of minutes before the end, when a new bidder (not one of the early ones) jumped in at £400, it went to £500, my bid went in, then the bugger bid £560 one second before the auction ended and I had no time to up it.
He's got a bargain. I'm a bit pissed off. There aren't any others on eBay at the moment, and it looks like there's a trick to eBay that I have no idea about (robots? automatic programs?) - I've only used eBay a couple of times and done a 'buy it now' - never got involved in auctions before.
Anyway if anyone has a watch like this, I'm looking...
There was a solid rose gold JLC unrestored watch being sold on eBay, auction finished 4 minutes ago and I lost by a measly £10. Put in a max bid of £550 (before the auction started, it was buy it now for £650), I was top bidder at around £230 until a couple of minutes before the end, when a new bidder (not one of the early ones) jumped in at £400, it went to £500, my bid went in, then the bugger bid £560 one second before the auction ended and I had no time to up it.
He's got a bargain. I'm a bit pissed off. There aren't any others on eBay at the moment, and it looks like there's a trick to eBay that I have no idea about (robots? automatic programs?) - I've only used eBay a couple of times and done a 'buy it now' - never got involved in auctions before.
Anyway if anyone has a watch like this, I'm looking...
cyberface said:
and it looks like there's a trick to eBay that I have no idea about (robots? automatic programs?) - I've only used eBay a couple of times and done a 'buy it now' - never got involved in auctions before.
Anyway if anyone has a watch like this, I'm looking...
Sniper programs are you friend. Dont bother bidding at all, just set the sniper up for your max bid at the last second. Not sure which the good ones are these days though.Anyway if anyone has a watch like this, I'm looking...
tertius said:
There are three rules to eBay: bid once, bid late and bid your maximum.
If you do that you won't ever feel you've lost out.
There's a reason I've only used eBay 3 times in my life, and given I spend a lot of time on the internet that may be surprising...If you do that you won't ever feel you've lost out.
I'd rather buy from a shop to be honest, but I can't find anyone actually selling these old watches...
Here is a shop cyber:
Austin Kaye?
http://www.austinkaye.co.uk/Products/Pre-Owned-Wat...
The JLC in photo you posted is a beauty!
Steve
Austin Kaye?
http://www.austinkaye.co.uk/Products/Pre-Owned-Wat...
Edited by sb-1 on Wednesday 24th December 11:23
The JLC in photo you posted is a beauty!
Steve
Edited by sb-1 on Wednesday 24th December 11:24
And I have to recommend these guys in Gray's market just next to Bond Street tube
http://www.collected.co.uk/
I've bought some lovely stuff from them and they really know their watches.
http://www.collected.co.uk/
I've bought some lovely stuff from them and they really know their watches.
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