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Watches to wear with your flight jackets...

B-Man2

Well-Known Member

Pilot

Well-Known Member
Hello , I'm in communication with the vendor of this Elgin watch , he made me an offer : US $260.00 . Is it worth it ?
Be kind , if it's cool for you , let me buy it !
Here is the link : https://www.ebay.com/itm/186750347119?_trkparms=ni_actn:nav|ni_nt:SellerInitiatedOffer|ni_apos:1|ni_sg:1|ni_pos:1|ni_st:READ|ni_wh:1|ni_nid:691938802584|ni_nsid:186750347119|ni_et:1732721695370|ni_bn:1&_trksid=p2380424.m570.l5997&ul_noapp=true
Its a „Frankensteiner „ watch. Wrong back, wrong markings , wrong crown and maybe also wrong second sweep hand.
If it would have been legit it would not have lasted 1 minute for this price.
 

LV426

Well-Known Member
Its a „Frankensteiner „ watch. Wrong back, wrong markings , wrong crown and maybe also wrong second sweep hand.
If it would have been legit it would not have lasted 1 minute for this price.
You're right , I did my homework and checked on serious sites , yes the back as wtong markings , and about the price I could not believe that was an original . Did not now the "Frankensteiner" term , It sounds appropriate for this type of scam .Thank you Pilot .
 

Pilot

Well-Known Member
You're right , I did my homework and checked on serious sites , yes the back as wtong markings , and about the price I could not believe that was an original . Did not now the "Frankensteiner" term , It sounds appropriate for this type of scam .Thank you Pilot .
For this kind of watch if legit 600/700 Euro is the selling tag and it moves for this figure..
The Sterling Bulova A-11‘s and the central sweep second, with white dial Elgin‘s go for 1200Euro or more in certain countries ( Asia/Gulf Region )…
Anything below and which sits there for longer than a glimpse, like a pimpel on the nose… is suspect.
 

LV426

Well-Known Member
For this kind of watch if legit 600/700 Euro is the selling tag and it moves for this figure..
The Sterling Bulova A-11‘s and the central sweep second, with white dial Elgin‘s go for 1200Euro or more in certain countries ( Asia/Gulf Region )…
Anything below and which sits there for longer than a glimpse, like a pimpel on the nose… is suspect.
Thank you Pilot for this wise advice. I'll stick with my Praesidius A11 for a while. And I'll study watches a little more before dreaming of these kinds of fake golden treasures.
 

Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
If you don't know what you are doing with the A-11 vintage watches, you will end up with expensive problems on your hands. The good watches are never cheap, and you really do have to know what you are looking at, and still, online sales are a minefield. I have two A-11's and neither one are running properly right now. These are eighty year old watches. Not made to last for eighty years. The romance of these things are alluring, but what I've spent on a couple of these, I could have bought a really nice modern watch that wouldn't give me problems.
 

Spitfireace

Well-Known Member
I'm sure Brice made his share of mistakes to get to the point where he is as knowledgeable as he is. So, if you can't afford to make the mistakes to gain the knowledge, it's best to stay out of the game. That's not to say that I won't get my two A-11's running properly someday. It's just that there are so many other expenses in life and so little spare money.
 

LV426

Well-Known Member
If you don't know what you are doing with the A-11 vintage watches, you will end up with expensive problems on your hands. The good watches are never cheap, and you really do have to know what you are looking at, and still, online sales are a minefield. I have two A-11's and neither one are running properly right now. These are eighty year old watches. Not made to last for eighty years. The romance of these things are alluring, but what I've spent on a couple of these, I could have bought a really nice modern watch that wouldn't give me problems.
Totally agree! It was a delusional idea, before I started using my brain. Which is sometimes the case like this kind of situation. Fortunately this kind of forum exists, there are good advisors here and I am learning to listen carefully.
 

blackrat2

Well-Known Member
Did all A-11’s have hack movement? I saw a watch on eBay admittedly army variant markings but the speel from the seller suggests later ones didn’t?
 

Pilot

Well-Known Member
Did all A-11’s have hack movement? I saw a watch on eBay admittedly army variant markings but the speel from the seller suggests later ones didn’t?
Depending on the models.. some had others not… here comes the „ knowledge „ and extensive documenting part… but again.. not free of charge and not cheap… like everything where skills and expertise makes the difference… same for every memorabilia/collectibles.
 
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Kermit3D

Well-Known Member
I've been interested in watchmaking for a long time and, in my humble opinion, A-11 watches are still pretty cheap.
Let me explain: in the watchmaking world, as soon as a watch has played a role in history, the price quickly soars. All the more so when they have a military background.

Just look at the explosion in prices for Type 20 military chronographs over the last 15-20 years. The same goes for Tutima/Hanharts chronographs, which didn't cost much in the 70s and 80s. Let's not talk about vintage Fifty Fanthoms or Submariners, whose prices have skyrocketed. The Speedmaster is another striking example.

USAAF A-11 watches also played an important role in history. I have no doubt that their prices will rise... and perhaps faster than we think. 700 - $1000 for such a iconic watch, personally I think it's a bargain.
I'd simply say : get it while you can.

PS : A similar case applies to German endowment watches : DH (Dienstuhr Heer), KM (Kriegsmarine), D (Dienst Luftwaffe).
 

bseal

Well-Known Member
IMG_6095.jpeg
 

bseal

Well-Known Member
Watch make watch is this ZU?
If I may:




 
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ZuZu

Well-Known Member
If I may:




As usual I have my horrible prejudices. The Japanese dive watches just totally beat out all the rest IMO. The quartz ones have a 7 year baterry (mine's on year 9 though) and they're pure functionality- not pretty faces like the Swiss ones. But that's probably because they're also all I can afford. For $2000 a quartz Darth Tuna will give +-1 sec a day (at least mine does) - I just looked at mine and it was still on the correct minute after 2 months. They look badass on even a skinny arm like mine- at least I think.
 
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