Value advise please. The vintage JLC

[markl]

Hi

I have been given the option to purchase this , it belonged to the late father of a friend of a friend. I understand he bought it new just after the war.

Hallmark 9ct. No box, papers service record etc. 34/35mm.

I've been asked to 'make an offer, no-one seems to have idea of value.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Mark




Sent from my STV100-4 using Tapatalk

[Mark lowman]

I searched Chrono 24 from 1935 - 1955 filtered yellow gold / red gold / pink gold gender male.
Cheapest appears at £750 with bunches of them between £1500-£1700. JLC does not seem to have huge value retention beyond some of their super rare dive watches. Even the Reverso is a great buy 2nd hand based on the fact that it takes a depreciation hit.
I presume there may be family involvement as well so not sure if you want to hammer a deal? My best guess is £950-£1000. I'd doubt it's some sort of £3-£4K watch but I'm constantly surprised by recent watch valuations.

[Parny1983]

My advice would be to check out the auction houses and see what watches similar to this have gone for recently, this would give a good gauge. Watches of Knightsbridge have had JLC like this in the last year for sure.

[Plume]

You need to ask Zaf Basha, www.classicwatch.com. He's got a special section on his website where people can ask for (free) estimates of JLC vintage watches. He wrote an authoritative collectors' reference book about Jaeger LeCoultre watches.

But before you do that you need a very crisp picture of the dial so people looking at it can make sure it hasn't been refinished. Serious vintage collectors simply don't buy "redials". At the very least it would lose 60% of its value if refinished.
This picture cannot be used. You also need a more crisp picture of the movement so its condition can be ascertained better.
You can post here first if you want so people can tell you if it's good enough.

Cheers

[TapAptPat]

You need to ask Zaf Basha, www.classicwatch.com. He's got a special section on his website where people can ask for (free) estimates of JLC vintage watches. He wrote an authoritative collectors' reference book about Jaeger LeCoultre watches.

But before you do that you need a very crisp picture of the dial so people looking at it can make sure it hasn't been refinished. Serious vintage collectors simply don't buy "redials". At the very least it would lose 60% of its value if refinished.
This picture cannot be used. You also need a more crisp picture of the movement so its condition can be ascertained better.
You can post here first if you want so people can tell you if it's good enough.

Cheers

What plume said o think it's a Cal 470 or there abouts. Mine cost gbp400 but 200 to get fixed. Note mine has a central second hand and is military issued. Ill consider myself a noob so like plume said join Zaf on his excellent forum. Alt check ranftt and check of shape of movement, screws and jewels match Cal 470. Good luck


Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

[Plume]

What plume said o think it's a Cal 470 or there abouts. Mine cost gbp400 but 200 to get fixed. Note mine has a central second hand and is military issued. Ill consider myself a noob so like plume said join Zaf on his excellent forum. Alt check ranftt and check of shape of movement, screws and jewels match Cal 470. Good luck


Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Military issued at 400GBP? That must have been a while ago.

[TapAptPat]

Yes bargains are found from time to time, mine was 3-4y ago but none the less broken crystal broken inside, loose second hand. Etc etc. Point being at least he has a price point of 600+ depending on of there is a market for 9k capped jlc, I would not pay more for it imho.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-...&LeCoultre_470




Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

[Plume]

Yes bargains are found from time to time, mine was 3-4y ago but none the less broken crystal broken inside, loose second hand. Etc etc. Point being at least he has a price point of 600+ depending on of there is a market for 9k capped jlc, I would not pay more for it imho.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-...&LeCoultre_470

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Dunno... prices have gone up.
Values are nothing like what they were 4 years ago. Two years ago even.

[alfat33]

I hope the OP doesn't mind but I'm trying to educate myself a bit (and maybe it helps the discussion). How does the OP's watch compare with this one - which is 18K and apparently mint from a dealer, but otherwise appears very similar to me?

https://www.chrono24.com/en/jaegerle...id3552569.htm?

[Mick P]

OP please be aware that old JLC's are mega expensive to service and repair and if something goes wrong they have to go back to Switzerland and the prices are stiff.

To give an instance, I put mine in for a service ( including a new winding stem) 5 years ago with a bill for £1290.00 and the assistant did in all fairness warn me of this. Also they are a delicate watch, just don't drop them.

Regards

Mick

[alfat33]

Presumably a good independent would be a better (and cheaper) bet?

[Mick P]

Presumably a good independent would be a better (and cheaper) bet?

Sadly no, the stem ( a two stepped rod that connects the winding knob to the mechanism) is damn difficult to copy for the norm ultra smooth action. I tried several good independents as I then worked near Hatton Garden but they all said - " sorry son, it has to go back to JLC".

Mick

[alfat33]

Might be worth trying Brendan (webwatchmaker) next time.

[Plume]

Sadly no, the stem ( a two stepped rod that connects the winding knob to the mechanism) is damn difficult to copy for the norm ultra smooth action. I tried several good independents as I then worked near Hatton Garden but they all said - " sorry son, it has to go back to JLC".

Mick

Sorry to hear about it, just curious, what caliber was that?
Are your watchmakers true vintage specialists?
For future reference, there's a UK certified British Institute of Horology watchmaker who does amazingly fine work, his name is Rob Horan, based in the Charente region of France, and from what I've seen of his posts nothing seems too delicate for him.
He posted several threads on the Military Watch Resource Forum where members are seasoned and knowledgeable collectors and they were all wowed by close up pictures of his work.

[alfat33]

As you say the true specialists can access pretty well any part, modern or vintage. In Brendan's case he can also have them made, and I'm sure the same is true of Rob Horan.

[GrandS]

I've been asked to 'make an offer, no-one seems to have idea of value.

The question is, is the watch attractive to you as is? If not, then how much will you have to spend to restore it? It is really hard to tell if it is worth anything before it has been assessed by a watchmaker.

I would politely decline their request and my excuse would be that I am not a JLC expert.

[Plume]

I would politely decline their request and my excuse would be that I am not a JLC expert.

Why would anyone do this if they like the watch? Looks like it could be a fantastic watch if everything checks out and the price is right. if the OP likes the watch he just needs to do full due diligence to figure out all the implications. (Including the possibility of needed repairs and the level of risk /potential costs involved).

[Mick P]

Sorry to hear about it, just curious, what caliber was that?
Are your watchmakers true vintage specialists?
For future reference, there's a UK certified British Institute of Horology watchmaker who does amazingly fine work, his name is Rob Horan, based in the Charente region of France, and from what I've seen of his posts nothing seems too delicate for him.
He posted several threads on the Military Watch Resource Forum where members are seasoned and knowledgeable collectors and they were all wowed by close up pictures of his work.

Hi Plume

I won the watch in a card game around 1982. I wore it daily for about 4 years and locked it away in a cupboard when I bought a new Omega Constellation in 1986. To be honest my knowledge of the watch was skimpy. It was, I believe 14ct gold and had what was know as a bumper movement and possibly it has a 476 calibre but I am not certain of that. It had a red power reserve indicator and was a nice looking watch.

I started to wear it at formal evening events and one day I noticed that the winding knob had fallen off . I went around a few specialist watch repairers in Hatton Garden and none of them wanted to take it on. They were 100% in their advice to send it back to JLC which eventually I did.

I still just wear it for evening wear about one evening a month.

Regards

Mick

[GrandS]

Why would anyone do this if they like the watch? Looks like it could be a fantastic watch if everything checks out and the price is right. if the OP likes the watch he just needs to do full due diligence to figure out all the implications. (Including the possibility of needed repairs and the level of risk /potential costs involved).

Did you miss this bit?: "The question is, is the watch attractive to you as is? If not, then how much will you have to spend to restore it? It is really hard to tell if it is worth anything before it has been assessed by a watchmaker."

[markl]

Thanks for all the comments and advice.

I have registered with classic watches and ask the question, but no reply yet.

Its similar to the one on chrono24, but with different dial and lacks second hand.

My initial gut feeling was £900-1000.

However I am concerned about potential liability for service and repair.

Consequently, unless it is cheap, I think I am going to pass!

Again many thanks for the help.

Mark

[Plume]

Hi Plume

I won the watch in a card game around 1982. I wore it daily for about 4 years and locked it away in a cupboard when I bought a new Omega Constellation in 1986. To be honest my knowledge of the watch was skimpy. It was, I believe 14ct gold and had what was know as a bumper movement and possibly it has a 476 calibre but I am not certain of that. It had a red power reserve indicator and was a nice looking watch.

I started to wear it at formal evening events and one day I noticed that the winding knob had fallen off . I went around a few specialist watch repairers in Hatton Garden and none of them wanted to take it on. They were 100% in their advice to send it back to JLC which eventually I did.

I still just wear it for evening wear about one evening a month.

Regards

Mick

Sounds nice, those 1950s JLC are incredibly classy and elegant. Wear it in good health.

I really like the one in the OP but the question of repair costs is a true one.

I always try to minimize risks of future costs by ensuring the watch keeps time within +/- 2 minutes over a 24 hour period or having the watch inspected. But you never know if something might break down the line.