Reply With QuoteDoes anyone have any advice or an opinion? Hope you can help.
Hello All
Not sure if I am trying to recapture my youth, but wondered what you thought of vintage 1970s high quality LED watches, such as Omega, JLC, Girard Perregaux and Tiffany & Co branded watches. They seem to attract very high prices, are they a good investment or very expensive to service, repair and replace parts?
Hope you can help.
Kindest Regards
Does anyone have any advice or an opinion? Hope you can help.
I wouldn't buy one for investment purposes, only because you want one to wear.
I'm getting out of them as we speak.
I just have too many watches, very few of which I can wear to work so when I decided to put an led on they were frequently needing batteries or the time set.
They can be repaired by a few highly skilled guys, sometimes these repairs involve modern parts which might upset purists therefore reducing the value in their eyes.
Graham Wilson @ 70'swatches.com gets the higher end ones you mention....@ a couple of grand I think.
That being said I've got a few Omega I'll sell you if you like!!
Colin.
+1. Buy 'em because you love 'em. They're not investment-grade, like a Rolex diver. There's a vogue for '70s watches now but I wouldn't want to be holding too many when it ends, as it will. That said, I love these things, and I'd personally fully endorse your decision to buy one - at the right price, of course!
LED rules, they are wonders of the modern age and VERY cool, of all the Omegas I own and have own the LED's are the ones everyone loves
Also remember that for the price of an Omega LED in 1970 you could buy three, yes three Omega Speedmaster moon watches, or two and a half ploprofs or two seamaster 1000's
I don't like them, in general. Indeed, I don't much like led displays on watches at all. I do like a led type display (24 hr, with seconds) in the bottom right hand corner of my monitor. My radio controlled Oregon Scientific alarm clock also has an led display, as does my weather station, portable phone, GPS system, and light meters. Those are fine. They fit. They exist in harmony with their plastic surroundings. But, on my wrist? I'll pass. (I do have one led display watch with lots of timer functions. It's a Casio. I never wear it. But I use it for timing when developing film.)
Best wishes,
Bob
Very cool watches, and pretty good bets for investment in my opinion BUT two issues i've found -
1) the batteries dying after a year or so is a pain, as they can be a bugger to replace/fit
2) they can suddenly DIE !! Had a Pulsar (P2?) that was fine for a couple years, took it out to sell and pop it blew something in the module. Still had some functions so wasn't the battery... Another Breitling 9106 i sold went bang a few weeks after departure, had to sort out with the buyer as goodwill as i'm such a nice chap :blackeye:
David, miracles can now be done with "dead" movements.Originally Posted by GraniteQuarry
Colin.
True, but only at specialists and at some cost and hassle, your typical watchmaker will not be able to help. Have you tried sourcing genuine old parts for these things? It's FAR from easy, been there, done it :blackeye:David, miracles can now be done with "dead" movements.
Colin.
My advice is to hire a JCB and give all LED watches a dignified end. :twisted:miracles can now be done with "dead" movements
LCDs are just about bearable but LEDs are the work of Beelzebub. :wink:
I'm just a very naughty boy.
Good deals with- VINSTINK, kevkojak, Optimum, Omegary, seikoking, acg, SPEEDY, kfman, Card Shark, wajhart, Jot, danboy, zenomega, gaz64, minke, Mal52, Alas, norfolkngood, Sparky, rdwiow, mrteatime, gravedodger, joeytheghost, lordoftheflies, Silver Hawk, Filterlab, brooksy, marmisto, Fray Bentos, Bootsy, Harvey69, Mantisgb, bristolboozer, Jedadiah, newtohorology, Zephod, jimm1, Draygo, Raptor.
I may have forgot one or two, apppologies.
Not the sort of thing I would wear but I can appreciate them from an historical prospective.
"I looked with pity not untinged with scorn upon these trivial-minded passers-by"
[quote="watchlovr"]I wouldn't buy one for investment purposes, only because you want one to wear.
I'm getting out of them as we speak.
I just have too many watches, very few of which I can wear to work so when I decided to put an led on they were frequently needing batteries or the time set.
They can be repaired by a few highly skilled guys, sometimes these repairs involve modern parts which might upset purists therefore reducing the value in their eyes.
Graham Wilson @ 70'swatches.com gets the higher end ones you mention....@ a couple of grand I think.
That being said I've got a few Omega I'll sell you if you like!!
Colin.
Lovely watches Colin
Love 'em. But I'm a child of the seventies. I suspect those who demur are rather older.
I'm a big fan of the LED/ LCD Heuer
The problem with these, as has been pointed out, is how fragile the movements can be.
Take a look here at the circuit-board here- no protection for the connecting wires
http://www.calibre11.com/chronosplit-heuer-a-classic/
I'll go along with the Heuer movements being fragile and as has already been stated there is no protection for the wires. The solder on these dry after a couple of decades or so and they pop off but I believe there are people out there who can fix these.
Regarding prices - I started collecting top end models in 1998 and when I look back at what I was paying then I wish I had bought every one I found !!!
Never have been able to see the appeal, honestly.
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