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Is the crown really supposed to stick out like that?
The price seems reasonable to me -- if it is supposed to be like that.
Hi All,
I am considering buying this watch for a relative who owned something very similar in the 70's.
Is there anyone on the forum who has a knowledge of the the brand and can let me know if the asking price for the watch is a fair one?
The link is here:
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/helvetia/...id25175720.htm
Alternatively is there anyone on the forum who has a "tank" style Helvetia who would like to sell it?
Thanks
Is the crown really supposed to stick out like that?
The price seems reasonable to me -- if it is supposed to be like that.
Try and get a picture of the movement.
"The whole purpose of mechanical watches is to be impertinent." ~ Lionel a Marca, CEO of Breguet
Unless the crown's been pulled out to set the hands and not pushed back it shouldn't look like that! An easy fix for folks like me if the stem needs shortening but it raises question marks over the rest of the watch (iceberg principle....what you see is only the tip of the iceberg).Originally Posted by markrlondon
Dial and hands look good, that's a major factor when buying an old watch. Buy it as cheap as possible and factor in the cost of having it serviced properly, I never trust dealers guarantees unless there's evidence that it has been recently serviced. It's easier to tell when a watch hasn`t been serviced (inspect the jewels with loupe and look for dried up oil) but a seller can always lubricate the visible jewels to create the illusion of recent work.....trust me this happens!
Yup, as an occasional buyer of vintage watches this is my thought too.
Indeed, one wonders: If a new stem was fitted then why didn't the watchmaker just cut it to the right length to begin with.
This is good advice. And the cost of servicing could easily exceed the buying price.
Thanks for the advice guys much appreciated.
I will try to get some info from the seller, though I can't help thinking if the crown does go in further why would you photograph it out and raise questions.
I’m going to go against the advice received from other members and say the watch is vastly overpriced. The dial is poorly refinished and I would expect on an eBay auction for it to fetch way under £100
I would direct any query directly by PM to a member called enfield who is something of a Helvetia specialist. Alfat33 would, I'm sure also help, but he's been a little quiet recently.
e.g. https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...es-Site-Update
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
I`ve had another look at the dial and apart from the fact it looks suspiciously clean for a watch that isn`t waterproof (suggesting it may be refinished) I'm struggling to see why you deem it to poorly refinished.
Let's keep this watch in context, for this type of watch the benefit of a clean, albeit refinished dial probably outweighs the originality aspect of a scruffy one.
In your opinion. The priority for a not insignificant proportion of collectors is precisely the opposite.
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
But the prospective owner isn’t a collector, is he? The right answer for one buyer isn’t necessarily the right answer for another, that’s a point I was trying to make but in your haste to have a snipe at me you’ve overlooked that. Re- read my post carefully.
I’ve probably fixed more watches over the last 10 years than you’ve had hot dinners. It pays to work out what the owner or prospective buyer is looking for, that’s something I always do. As for being a ‘collector’, I think I satisfy that criteria and I’m pleased to say I own a nice collection of vintage Omegas with original dials.......plus a few nice ones with refinished dials that are still desirable watches.
Interacting on this forum gets more like swimming through toxic waste, always someone ready to have a dig.
And there you go again.
Having a different opinion and stating it is not toxic. I also don't care how many watches you've fixed and quoting this to suggest that your opinion somehow carries more weight or suddenly transforms into fact also doesn't wash. Stop trying to play both the victim and the "expert"; it doesn't really work but, given the time of posting, probably isn't that much of a surprise.
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
Thank you for the advice I will drop Enfield a PM.
C’mon Carlton-Browne, admit it, you were having a dig because I defended refinished dials. We’ve had this ‘debate’ in the past, its not about opinions with you.
You invariably advocate finding a good second hand dial for a watch with dial issues, that’s sound advice but in reality they are usually v. difficult to find, you know that! Mediocre old dials are offered for sale at silly prices thesedays, I do keep an eye on the market when searching for NOS watch parts.
As I stated, refinished dials can sometimes be the best compromise, especially if the owner simply wants a scruffy watch to look smart and sharp again. Take that on board, I’m not undermining the desirability if originality!
Not sure I’d call myself an expert, that’s your term, but I have a lot more practical experience than many.
I know nothing about these watches and therefore their value but that dial looks awful. For me, a repainted dial, even a really good one (which that one isn't) taints the appeal of any watch to the extent that my interest in it would evaporate entirely.
Martin
In what way is the dial awful? I certainly can`t draw that conclusion from the photo and I`d willing to learn how someone else can?....what can you see that I have missed?
If I had the watch in front of me I might call it differently, but apart from the fact that it's suspiciously clean there's nothing jumping out. OK, I haven`t checked the font style for accuracy, is that where it falls down?
It's a £200 watch, it isn`t a £15K Rolex or even a £3K Omega Constellation pie-pan, it's a smart example of a vintage watch that will appeal to someone who sees it as exactly that.
Hello all,
Sorry, I've only just seen this.
This watch has some issues. The crown is incorrect. It is not pulled out but is of the wrong type, it's flat whereas it should be of the type with a recess for an O-ring to allow some water protection when pushed down over the tube.
The hands also seem mismatched.
The dial I am not 100% sure. The printing is not very crisp at all and not what I would expect but the crystal is facetted and scratched and I wouldn't want to say for sure one way or the other.
It would have to be under £100 for me.
Thanks.
Carl
Thanks for your advise Carl, much appreciated.
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