I have recently come across some very nice Vintage watches (IWC, Zenith, Rolex) however what has put me off buying them is that the case was not original OEM made, it was made by a third party.
The cases were gold and were made by DS & S (David Shackman and Sons) or Dennison.
I am a bit of a purist and like original dials, crowns etc. so I assume that most people would prefer to have the original case made by the OEM.
Does anyone else have a problem with having a non original case?
Does it devalue the watch?
Thanks,
Piotr.
I don't really understand the question. If the case was made by Dennison then it is the original case, i.e. original to the watch. A 9ct 1950s Rolex was in a Dennison case, just like a 1950s Jaguar had a Lucas alternator. Or would you not buy a Lucas part for a Jaguar because it is not 'OEM'?
As Simon says, they are original cases.
Gray
Ok, maybe I didn't phrase the question correctly... :?Originally Posted by SimonK
I would expect an all original 1960's IWC Cal 89 to have a IWC made case, with their proof marks and IWC/ Probus Scafusia engraved on the back of the case
The same applies for Zenith, Rolex, if the watch is 'complete' the case would also have original OEM marking (Rolex or Zenith).
This isn't the case if it has Dennison on the case or DS & S, as it means that the original movement was cased in the UK by a third party manufacturer.
1950's Jaguar doesn't really apply, as there is a lot of bought out parts on a car, but I would think that an early Ford, like a Ford T would have all parts made by Ford? However, lets use the Jaguar example, would you buy a car with a Jaguar V8 engine in a Ford Mondeo chassis and would you call that car a Jaguar or Ford?
Still not sure I understand. If the Mondeo was supplied by Ford Motors with a Jaguar Engine, sold by a Ford main dealer with a Ford guarantee then it would be a Ford. And if a 1950s (or 2010s) Jaguar has a lot of bought in parts, then so does a wristwatch - springs, springbars, crystal, lubricating oil - unless you buy a Seiko which, as far as I know, is the world's only manufacturer to produce absolutely everything in-house.
So for me a Rolex sold by Rolex UK through a Rolex AD is a Rolex, regardless of where the case or main spring of glass was made. You are put off because the cases you have come across are not OEM - what if you came across a box of Zenith, IWC or Rolex crystals or, say, mainsprings, what you turn your nose up because they too are not OEM?
Agreed, all your statements are true for modern watches, bought from AD. On new watches a lot of items are outsourced (ETA based movements etc.), however a lot of Vintage watches were all made in house, even the case and movements. However, sometimes the movements were sold to various watchmakers or shops and installed in a case, hence to me that is not a true genuine item.
The Ford/Jaguar analogy is true only in reverse as Jaguars have Ford engines in them, modified somewhat but still...
still searching for a baume and mercier onbe myself
.
Going back thru the history of watches you will find that many outlets were finding ways to reduce tax burdens by having bare movements shipped in and then sourcing the cases locally. Quite often these 'local' specialist case-makers were producing better quality work than the original factory.
Very few watch makers produce 'everything' within. Until recently, sapphire crystals and balance springs were only made by a couple of factories and 'everybody' had to buy in.
john
Costume jewellery. Ouch!!!
Disagree completely with the OPs views on this; as stated it was commonplace to export watch movements and have them assembled into locally made cases. This avoided certain taxes apparently.
That's how things were done; accepting this practice is all part of vintage watches. Can`t understand why it should be seen as detracting from the intrinsic value of a vintage watch :?
Paul
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote