Corgi

This makes me want that Vacheron Constantin Overseas! It's gorgeous!

Not unlike your furniture, which I must say, is very class and opulent... did you shop at Sears HomeStore?? It looks like they're kind of patterns...

I'm not sure why you think this reflects on Joshua's practice.

You're right... I am wrong to blame him. Joshua is a good dealer, if not the best, I just wish the postal service was a little more reliable over here and over there...

I have a credit card with $500 limit as well for these types of transactions, and its also fully insured which is a nice bonus. The credit card is not what I'm worried about. I'm worried about the quality of the pieces he is shipping out.

Frankly, Joshua's practice hasn't had the same upstanding quality as it used to. I recently received a malfunctioning watch, and although he did say he would exchange it, the item has gotten lost in the mail so I'm out a lot of cash. There are others who have told me even worse horror stories about getting wrong watches, then getting broken ones in replacement, or vice versa.

Indeed, credit cards are the least of my worries when purchasing...

I;m curious a to where this picture was taken. Did someone drop it in the snow or what?

I am fairly new at exploring these watches, but I'm having a blast getting various models that I like. I admit that I won't ever be able to afford a genuine Rolex... even a cheap one. and even if I could afford it, I'm so cheap I would never actually buy one.

For now I have a collection that would cost me about a hundred thousand dollars if I were to buy them genuine for about $1,000

They walk like ducks, quack like ducks, and make me never want to buy a gen - ever!

Well, today I received the deluxe appraisal certificate from Omni's suggested website. May I just say that going for the 'deluxe' option did little to discourage the 'expert' appraiser from copying and pasting the Patek company history from their official website.

The good news: It's a genuine Patek.

The bad news: I shouldn't quit my job just yet.

If you're interested in reading the full report, here it is:

Appraised On: 20-02-2007

Title: 1930s-1940s Patek Philippe Wristwatch

Date/Era/Period: 1930-1948

Description: This certainly is a Patek Philippe wristwatch but it is dated to a later period based upon the decoration and the shape of watch face. Since the bands are not present it also suggests that it was intended to be worn for its own purpose. It is marked but its has been taken apart which will compromise its value.

Condition: Caseback has several scratches, glass has a scratch, dials were replaced because they were unsuitable for use. Face is genuine and in fair condition, movement keeps good time and as you will see by the pictures is very good condition. Has been rarely worn - when my mother wore it to a jeweler once, he was shocked and baffled at the piece.

Appraised By: Rachael Goldman

History Of The Item: The Patek Philippe watch company was started in Geneva, Switzerland in 1839. In 1868, the company produced the first Swiss wrist watch. They are still in business today. The Patek Phillipe watch is considered to be one of the world's finest timepieces. Pocket watches of this type are generally more expensive because of the mechanism and the designs involved.

Appraiser Tips: It is best to have a professional dealer in Patek Philippe & Co. watches and pocket watches handle this watch with regards to repairs in the future. It is important to note that the mechanism of this watch is supremely significant and the winding is necessary. First get a new band for the watch so that it can be worn well.

Research Sources: A number of resources have been used not limited to my own experience in the field: www.p4a.com www.sothebys.com There are a number of comparables for a pocket watch of this type: www.bogoff.com/pocket/pocket.html www.patek.com

Appraiser Comments: Hello, this is Rachael Goldman from New Jersey. Your request for an appraisal has been referred to me for reply. I have closely examined the information you submitted. This watch may have a future after some significant restorative care. It was made in the early 1900s based upon the construction of the numbers and the detailings throughout. It is best to note the significant changes in the numbers and the presentation of the watch itself. As you note the movements are all the same as Patek Philippe is a company that strives for precision but since it has been compared to later watches and timepieces, it has a modernist feel similar to that in the Art Deco period with smooth and clean lines. Keep in mind that the values listed below can vary depending upon how and where marketed, locale, and may vary across different collecting disciplines. If you are satisfied with the services I have rendered, I would be most grateful if you would take the time to leave some positive feedback. Kindest regards, Rachael Goldman, MA Ph.D. Candidate in Art History CUNY-GC Senior Certified Member Appraisers Association of America Assumptions and Limiting Conditions. This certificate of appraisal is given subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, all of which are a part hereof unless expressly set aside in writing either on the pages of this certificate or by writing attached to the certificate signed by all parties concerned. It is important to note that interesting and exciting discoveries can be found out about your piece after the appraisal. The field of antiques is like a treasure hunt and while I can do my best to research your piece, it may be possible that you will learn even more about your piece afterwards. The appraiser, Rachael Goldman, is not responsible for any discoveries or additional research made after this limited appraisal from other sources.

* Current Fair Market Value: $300.00

WhatsItWorthToYou.com

** Replacement Cost: $500.00

---

I'm dissapointed that it's not what I dreamed it was... but I'm also somewhat happy, because I won't let it go for that price - ever. It will stay in the family, and at least I can point to a watch among my collection of lovely replicas and say with pride this one is actually a genuine vintage Patek Philippe. I guess in the end, that's all I really wanted.

Thanks for your help everyone!

For those of us who are still using motorboats instead of yachts and piloting our own motorcoaches instead of hiring chauffeurs, reps are the way to go. Besides... for the price of one $3000 genuine omega I can create a very substantial and rewarding collection of replicas that will last me a very long time and bring me lots of pleasure.

I will never buy a genuine... unless I hit the big-lotto jackpot or have as much money as apparently every single member of these forums.

My favorite messages to read on any forum on the internet were the "what is your salary" thread I think it was on RWG1. Some posts made me laugh until I cry.

Oh, and to answer your question, the quality of these Grade A diamonds can be easily discovered if you just think:

Price of watch with Grade As: $2000

Price of watch with cz: $725

TF diamond upgrade is: *bust out your calculators* : $1272

There are 40 diamonds, so each 2mm piece costs 31.80

Now, what kind of diamond do you thinl you're getting for 30 bucks?

Well since we are talking about the perfect collection...

Daily Beater: Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer

Dress watch: Full gold Rolex president with champagne dials

Smart Casual: Wtf is this? Let's say... Turn-O-graph in two-tone with jubilee bracelet...

Sporty: Panerai... pick one, they all the same.

Vintage: 1885 Patek Philippe Wristwatch (See my post regarding mine if youre curious)

I thought Rolex was the first to do this with their Oysterquartz?

I love that Oysterquartz... it is the epidomy of 80s "futuristic" design. A complete rebellion against the roundness of architecture and design preceeding its time... with many straight lines and a razor sharp looking case, the watch is nothing but a definitive fashion symbol representative of that wonderful decade.

Dealers charge insane amounts of money for servicing and successfully manage to sell lots of these options because of the natural psychological impulses of human beings. You think, for $100, they will make my watch run for at least a decade! "In fact, I bet if I don't get the service, it will break in one year!" Read some of the posts in this thread - the scare tactics have started already.

My friend, these watch movements are indeed delicate and precise... but that does not qualify them as ticking time bombs (unless you are in daytona territory... then you're on your own). I own five watches and rotate one per week... how long do you think these 2836-2s and generic asia 21J will last? A whole lot longer than a year.

The people here who scream their watch broke after one year and (gasp) wasn't serviced are not giving you enough detail to judge properly if servicing would have prevented the death. What if they are aggressive with their pieces, wear them during sports, bump them, drop them...? You don't know! Take care of your timepiece, and spend the $150 on something new when yours gives out in 3 decades. I'm dead serious - it's a waste of money.

The only exception would be waterproofing... if you plan on swimming or showering with your watch, that would be the only time I would justify such a purchase... otherwise forget about it! I have brand new reps arrived broken and I own a cheap 10$ manual handwind Russian military style watch from the 60s that still ticks and tocks like new. If you want to waste your money like that you might as well use it as toilet paper...

Good luck :-)

Man, from some of the stories here, maybe 250 bucks isn't that bad.

Tag Link Chrono and Omega Seamaster Professional Chronos.

I have the latter, and I adore it.

Exactly how super is super super?

:-)

Okay, I was asked by Corgi in PM to pipe in here. A little history lesson to give you some insight.

Before WW1 pocket watches were the norm. Then they found during battle that pulling out a pocketwatch in the trenches wasn't too easy so they started straping them to their wrists and ankles. This led to the immediate popularity of wrist watches. Thereafter, the first thing they did was start attaching wire lugs for the straps onto the pocket watch cases (the forerunner of the true wrist watch). If corgi said his grandfather bought this around 1920 then it would fit into the timeline. If you didn't notice, a modern recasing would have modern lugs with removable pins, anything before 1950 had wire or solid lugs pins. You Pannie nuts are familar with the classic Panerai. You have to have special leather/bendable metal tang straps or sew them on for these antiques. You see on corgi's watch it has solid lugs to fit a strap on, keeping in tune with the times.

I suggest to corgi that for a big $9.95 fee, maybe up to $30 for a more extensive appraisal, he gets http://whatsitworthtoyou.com to do an appraisal of the watch. They have several good expert clock & watch appraisers on board who will give you an acceptable appraisal from photos and description for insurance purposes. It ain't much to pay if your watch or clock is worth thousands. Combing through Antiquorium inventory sometimes can give you clues but you're better off getting an appraisal from an expert. The movement appears authentic, so does the case.

Regards.

I got the deluxe appraisal - how long do you think it will take?

Thanks very much for your help anyway!

Please take some pictures of Poland! I would like to see what kind of watch dealers you have there. Poland is a neat country.

You need to take this to a watchmaker (not a watch technician) to determine preliminary authenticity. There are many Franken Pateks floating around. For example: every few months a "Patek" show up on eBay. These watches actually are just re-cased Patek pocket watch movements. While a quality movement they are not true Patek Phillipe watches and usually sell but not for a fortune. Good luck - I wish you the best.

... and they were able to do this re-casting in the 1800s? It sounds like something precise... I don't want to sound like I'm defending this watch to death, it may very well be a fake (no caseback engravings, no crown flower, no serial number anywhere) but the movement, as far as I can tell, looks authentic. But even an authorized dealer would have trouble identifying a Patek from 1885. The most the AD would be able to tell me (maybe) is how much a new one costs if she checked her store instruction manual.

Maybe I should just print these photos and mail them to the Patek Philippe factory, just for fun, and see if I get a reply?

Were they repping watches way back then? maybe he got it from EL's great-grandfather

I'm fairly sure watches were being repped, but from what my family has told me, the purchase of this watch seems legitimate.

How much do you think a Patek Philippe like this cost in 1890? I hear my great-grandpa paid 90 ZL (polish currency) which was huge money back then.

Maybe it was just a very very good rep for back then! :-D

I thought you meant with a gun.

Still... this makes me ponder getting a sub rep even more.

are you sure it is a patek?

i think it isn´t patek

movement isn´t patek

case isn´t patek

hands set isn´t patek

i think it not woth much money

The hands were replaced during servicing, the old ones completely fell apart as far as I heard.

The case, I'm not sure.. the fact it lacks any sorts of engravings is worrysome.

The movement looks to be circa 1885 after some investigating on google. It seems patek were NOT engraving their emplems directly onto their movements at this time.

Take a look at this photo of an authentic movement from 1885. It looks quite similar no? It's a stopwatch movement.

Hello friends,

I recently inherited this wristwatch. I cannot find any information about it on the internet, and was hoping if somebody here could point me in the direction of a place that could answer my questions. I am scheduling an appointment to verify its authenticity later this week... but was hoping that you guys could chime in with opinions. I know that...

-It belonged to my great-grandfather who bought it around 1910-1920.

-It could be much older

-Was brought in for professional servicing in the early 80s

I'd like to know:

-How much it would cost if it were real.

-Is it real?

-Are there any inconsistencies that you can find in its appearance?

Here are photos: (Movement at bottom)

Movement photos:

Thanks everyone. I will keep you posted as to the results of the authenticity check in the coming weeks. I hope that you can help me learn more about the model, so I don't come off sounding like a noob in front of the jeweler.

I was just curious as to where I could scout out a replica of this watch in two-tone if I were in China. I good replica, I mean.

(Actually this post is a dud I accidentally made it regarding something else... sorry... I dont know how to delete posts)

I strongly recommend the website institute a phrase blocker to change the term "Paypal" to "PenPal" or something similar every time it appears. The word has frequently come up here and is clearly scanned for by officials. Let's do what R*lex did to Rolex.

I am looking forward to purchasing from you Narikaa but penpal is my only method of payment. Please get your listings up quick before they shut you down .

I still think the tricompax look is cooler. I'm not sure about the extra gears, but I don't think they strain the movement too much... it's not a Daytona stress, anyway. I think it's just the hour hand that gets moved.

I can do you one better. One dealer sent me a real make-believe address. I returned my Navitimer to Ruby and after 4-8 weeks (I forget how long) I realised it was never getting there. I verified the address she gave me and she realised she'd made the address up. It was half one address and half another. That watch went off into the void.

Ouch

I would recommend going with the standard Swiss ETA XXXXX... I have seen a few threads reporting malfunctioning noobmariners, and read somewhere that there was a problem at one of the factories.