LIP Pocket Watch

[gtopaul]

I just picked up this LIP pocket watch with missing hands. It has French military markings on the back side 'Ministere De Le Guerre 2859'. I purchased it mainly because of the 19 ligne Valjoux 24 movement inside. I have two Breitling pocket chronographs with the Valjoux 5 inside and they have many parts in common. I need the balance and regulator out of the working LIP to fix one of the Breitlings. Now I'm wondering whether I should restore the LIP or fix the Breitling. Both are military versions although I think the LIP is a little earlier than the Breitling and probably rarer. Which really has more collectability?

Paul

[Ray MacDonald]

We don't do valuations in this forum, sorry. Please read our sticky notes for reasons why. As to collectibility, I would lean to Breitling because of the brand name, but our experts on chronographs can verify this (or not.)

[gtopaul]

We don't do valuations in this forum, sorry. Please read our sticky notes for reasons why. As to collectibility, I would lean to Breitling because of the brand name, but our experts on chronographs can verify this (or not.)

Sorry, I didn't mean value as in what can I get for it but value as in what's it's value as a collectable. To me there's a difference. I changed the post.

Paul

[Hartmut Richter]

Sorry, I didn't mean value as in what can I get for it but value as in what's it's value as a collectable. To me there's a difference. I changed the post.

Paul

"Which really has more collectability?" The answer is: neither - not when you are speaking about a "mariage"!!

The Breitling would probably score higher - partly because Breitling is still in existence. If you take parts off another watch, a serious collector would expect you to declare it (and if not, he would most likely detect it anyway) and devalue accordingly. I would expect there to be little difference between a Lip and a Breitling when parts are married together.

Hartmut Richter

[radger]

I would repair the Breitling as the dial is in far better condition.

Replacement of the whole balance assembly was common at one
time when only a staff repair was required and provided it is the correct
specified part I doubt the watch would be termed a marriage.
The balance you are replacing isn't necessarily original anyways
and providing it is the correct part you would never be able to tell if
it was original or not.

[gtopaul]

I would repair the Breitling as the dial is in far better condition.

Replacement of the whole balance assembly was common at one
time when only a staff repair was required and provided it is the correct
specified part I doubt the watch would be termed a marriage.
The balance you are replacing isn't necessarily original anyways
and providing it is the correct part you would never be able to tell if
it was original or not.

That's the way I see it too. Thanks!

Paul

[Janne]

Personally, I would look for another pocketwatch with the same movement, and restore the Breitling. If you are lucky, you might even use the hands to fix the LIP.

[gtopaul]

Can you believe that this Breitling pocket watch actually cost more than a Navitimer 806 in the catalog in 1965?



Here's a pic of my other Breitling pocketwatch. A little later version from 1970.



Paul