Revue Thommen - Thoughts About Their Models

[VadimMkin]

I recently acquired a Revue Thommen Carre Cambre Skeleton Model 12300.2862 and would like to share some thoughts about it as well as to see what fellow enthusiasts think about Revue watches. (I may do a full review in the future, but for now some brief thoughts to open up a discussion)

Carre Cambre Skeleton has an interesting GT54 in-house movement with 22 jewels, 19800 beats per hour (bph) and 42-hour power reserve. Based on my reading, the movement GT54 is a derivative of Revue hand-winding movement GT44 with addition of an automatic winding mechanism that explains an unusual bph rate. The dial indices, hands, the bezel, the crown and the buckle are all 18k gold while the rest of the watch case is steel or sapphire glass (front and back). The dial is skeletonized, and all exposed moving parts are just gorgeous. Lastly, the strap is genuine alligator of brown color with matched stitching that matches well with the dial and bezel. From various sources on the internet, I found that MSRP is over $3000 (figures ranged from 3300 to 4000), but I got this for less than a grand and I'm quite happy with it. I see a lot of dealers sell Revue Thommen pieces at heavy discounts, so I would appreciate any thoughts and info about the reason for that.

Before getting this watch, I was closely looking at Revue Thommen Airspeed Instrument 16700.3537 with Unitas 6498 movement but did not pull the trigger as I was unsure about hand-winding movement (So far I have none in my 15-watch collection). Now I am actually revisiting this watch as well as a few others from Airspeed collection. So, I wanted to ask Revue Thommen watch owners to share their experience with the brand and their thoughts about the Carre Cambre watch I got as well as the Airspeed Instrument watch I mentioned here.

Here are some pictures:

[Dave_Mc]

I'd be very careful- as you said yourself in your post, there might be a reason for the heavy discounts. My sister got one from Amazon (heavy discount, as you said), and it was supposed to have an in-house movement, but it actually had a Depa DP24. Luckily I spotted that before the return period was up when I was adjusting the bracelet for her. It was probably decentish value at such a discount even with the Depa, but it just left a bad taste in the mouth so was safer to return it...

[falcon4311]

They make a great watch. I've owned several and still have the Airspeed XL with a 2836 movement. There is nothing wrong with the brand.

[VadimMkin]

I'd be very careful- as you said yourself in your post, there might be a reason for the heavy discounts. My sister got one from Amazon (heavy discount, as you said), and it was supposed to have an in-house movement, but it actually had a Depa DP24. Luckily I spotted that before the return period was up when I was adjusting the bracelet for her. It was probably decentish value at such a discount even with the Depa, but it just left a bad taste in the mouth so was safer to return it...

Dave, thanks for the reply. Do you mind sharing what model you are referring to? Depa is a Chinese company, right?

[VadimMkin]

They make a great watch. I've owned several and still have the Airspeed XL with a 2836 movement. There is nothing wrong with the brand.

Great looking Airspeed, falcon4311! What other Revue watches did you have and your experience?

[georges zaslavsky]

an old one from 1966

[VadimMkin]

Excellent watch, Georges!

[drummer13]

Very nice watch.

[VadimMkin]

I am thinking to acquire a 17030.2537 model, so I wonder if anyone may share some thoughts or feedback about it.

[falcon4311]

Since the reply with a quote doesn't seem to be working, I'll go his way. ^^^^^^^That is the other model I used to own, I loved everything about it but the bezel, it turned too easily. It could have been a one off, it happens but I love the brand.