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View Full Version : Vintage Chronographe suisse value (56k warning)

Nono01
August 8th, 2008, 21:02
Hi all

I have a gold chronographe suisse, from my dad. I was just wondering, how much is that watch worth?

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/dpleja/DSC03852.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/dpleja/DSC03854.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/dpleja/DSC03856.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/dpleja/DSC03849.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/dpleja/DSC03857.jpg

sorry for the big pics
Eeeb
August 8th, 2008, 21:09
Big pics are GOOD!

We are not able to give valuations but you can find comparables on eBay.

If you can describe it's operation (does everything work) and get us a picture of the insides (the movement!) we can tell you more.
Ray MacDonald
August 8th, 2008, 21:09
We don't give valuations in this forum. Please read our sticky notes for reasons why.
jedanzoom
August 8th, 2008, 22:31
Got the same,but black dial.

It's probably Landeron 48. inside.
Nono01
August 9th, 2008, 13:47
Big pics are GOOD!


If you can describe it's operation (does everything work) and get us a picture of the insides (the movement!) we can tell you more.


well, the watch works fine, until awhile ago i thought that the movement is hand wound, but it seem its an automatic ;-)

I dont wore it very often, and when i do, i hand wound it. Sorry, i dont have the pics of the movement, i dont have the tools to open a backcase
Bujumon
August 9th, 2008, 15:22
Really, an automatic? That would surprise me, but then I am very
easily surprised. Really though, I would think that would def be a manual winder.

Peace,
Scott
jrw85705
August 9th, 2008, 20:22
I have a very similar one with a black dial and flat pushers and it has a Landeron 48. It think it dates to the 1940s.

And another from the 50's with round pushers and it has a Landeron 51 so I would doubt if yours has an automatic movement. It just might need to be serviced to get it running smoothly.

Ralph
Nono01
August 10th, 2008, 01:09
I have a very similar one with a black dial and flat pushers and it has a Landeron 48. It think it dates to the 1940s.

And another from the 50's with round pushers and it has a Landeron 51 so I would doubt if yours has an automatic movement. It just might need to be serviced to get it running smoothly.

Ralph

i would agree with you, but how come that when i dont wore my watch for about 3 weeks, i shake it, and its starts to run? :think:
Eeeb
August 10th, 2008, 01:44
i would agree with you, but how come that when i dont wore my watch for about 3 weeks, i shake it, and its starts to run? :think:

When wound down the spring has a little bit of power left in it. When you vibrate it you shake off some of the friction holding back the balance wheel and it will run -- for a little while.

Note this is probably a sign the movement is in need of a cleaning and lubrication... running a dirty watch will, over time, damage it. You should get the watch serviced if you intend to keep using it.
vardjuin
August 10th, 2008, 09:11
When wound down the spring has a little bit of power left in it. When you vibrate it you shake off some of the friction holding back the balance wheel and it will run -- for a little while.

Note this is probably a sign the movement is in need of a cleaning and lubrication... running a dirty watch will, over time, damage it. You should get the watch serviced if you intend to keep using it.

what is a sign of the dirty movement? how should a clean unwound watch behave when compared to a dirty unwound?
JohnF
August 10th, 2008, 12:42
Hi -

Sings of a dirty movement are erratic timekeeping and, as the power curve of the mainspring wears down, erratic stopping.

What keeps a watch ticking is the balance wheel, which controls how the energy of the mainsprings is discharged via the escapement. The balance wheel pivots on two tiny pieces of metal that are enclosed in artificial rubies as a bearing, which in and of itself offers very low friction between the stainless steel and the ruby; these are also lubricated to reduce the coefficient of friction even further.

If this gets dirty, then the balance will not be able to swing back and forth efficiently, and the watch will ultimately stop once the coefficient of friction is larger than the force vector. If you shake the watch, you add to the force vector - briefy - and the watch starts ticking again.

A clean unwound watch will have used up all the power of the mainspring before it stops. One that is dirty will not have, and when shaken will start ticking again briefly before stopping again.

JohnF
Neil(UK)
August 11th, 2008, 14:31
Just another bit on Chrongraphe Suisse.

Despite the name they were made in Italy with incredibly thin 18k gold cases that needed an inner cover to stop them from collapsing.

The "Suisse" bit comes from the Swiss movements they used, often Landeron but sometimes Venus.

Some of them are really nice looking watches but the cases let them down IMO.