To buy or not to buy ?

[stuffler,mike]

OTIS hw chrono. Seller is asking 199 Euro. Movement is unknown / not mentioned.

[Hartmut Richter]

To buy or not to buy?! Depends on a whole variety of factors. Let's suppose it's a Landeron lever chronograph, 199 Euros would be the maximum I would be willing to pay if I knew that it was in perfect, workable condition. Otis is not exactly one of the top names so the same movement in a Titus may be worth it, in an Otis, it would be pushing it. Even if it's a more collectable Venus or Valjoux, the condition may be shot to pieces (in which case, I'd rather have a working Landeron!). Case may be gold, may be gold-plated. The bottom line is: I would rather let this one go unless you can get all those points cleared up.....

Hartmut Richter

[JohnF]

Hi -

Heavily agree with Hartmut here. The cosmetics are good, which would under normal circumstances make it an easy deal: but without an idea of the innards, you are buying at worst a cosmetic wonder with a movement that needs work, which will cost you at least what you would be paying: I will be taking a chronograph course this year at the watchmaker that I have already done two courses with (basic course and automatic), and the chrono course costs twice as much as the others, because it is by far the most difficult. These handwound movements are lovely and in many ways very durable, but when they need work, it's a major job. Special springs, odd ways of moving pieces that mean complex assembly with the need for between 3 and 5 hands (human hands, that is...which is why jigs were made), and beware of unsprung springs shooting off parts to places where they will never, ever be seen again...

Pass unless the seller comes up with the inside info. Otis doesn't show up in Shugart, nor can it be found in even a detailed google search....

JohnF

[stuffler,mike]

Thanks guys, I didn´t bid on that, switched to a vintage Stowa now and I know what I´ll get.

[pacifichrono]

For what it's worth, the case is plated, not solid gold, and I notice a few dings on it. The left side view you can see the S/S back, which always indicates a plated bezel on this type of vintage chrono.