What's Selling Where - March 31, 2023
By Charlie Dunne with assistance from Eric Wind and Daniel Benyamin
This week’s ‘What's Selling Where’ is a fun one with plenty of listings! As usual, do your own homework and happy hunting!
1940s Angelus Chronograph
This Angelus is a rare model from the 1940s and appears to be in excellent condition. The price may be a bit steep, but for those who are passionate about these chronographs with great proportions, it may be the one for you. The seller mentions that “[it] needs a new battery” which I had a good chuckle at during the writing of this article.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125853183510
Jaeger-LeCoultre Travalarm
This Jaeger-LeCoultre travel clock is a very cool timepiece. It is nicknamed the Travalarm Memovox and is extremely charming. The watch is powered by the calibre 814 and is made of chrome. You can learn more about a similar example Eric Wind gave me last year in the article below!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266195959099
Benrus Coin Watch
I’ve written about my enthusiasm for coin watches in depth within my 2021 article ‘An Introduction to Coin Watches’ on Rescapement. This Benrus is a super cool example that appears to be in better condition than I would have expected from the brand. Although it is not as high-quality as the Patek Philippe and Audemars coins from the same period, it is at a much more attractive price range for the genre.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385467753201
Mathey-Tissot Watch with Elvis Presley Provenance
This Mathey-Tissot watch is very interesting with Elvis Presley provenance. The seller is a collector of Elvis memorabilia and ephemera and has written about the provenance in the product description below:
“Before the TCB necklace, Elvis gifted these personalized Mathey=Tissot watches to his entourage. On the bezel of the watch, it reads "Elvis Presley". It is not clear how many were made, but probably less than 50, with slight variations in the color scheme. These were ordered by Elvis from his jeweler Harry Levitch in Memphis in 1969-1971. Elvis also gave these away during the Jaycee award ceremony in 1971, including one to George Bush.
This particular example was a gift from Elvis Presley to his friend and private investigator John O'Grady (pls google). O'Grady already passed away over 20 years ago, and his wife passed away more recently, a few years ago. This watch comes from her estate sale and was acquired by an antique store in Long Beach. I was able to contact John O'Grady's son who confirmed the details of the estate sale. I asked him to write a COA for me, but although he is very friendly, he didn't want to do that as he had actually forgotten about the watch and the antique store found it in the house and bought it during the estate sale without him knowing it was being offered at the estate sale. He also told me that Elvis gave his father many gifts and his father gave most of these away.
When I bought it, it had a leather band (not original) and I replaced it with a gold plated high quality band. So the band is not original. The watch is in working order and keeps the time very well, although it has some minor wear, see pics. It is good to know that this is one of the Elvis Owned items for sale on Ebay where you can be confident it really came from Elvis, as the bezel of the watch was personalized specially for Elvis in this particular style. I have never come across or heard of any fakes or imitations for these watches (see Google). Also this type of Mathey Tissot watch was only made in the late sixties/early seventies.
This watch is unique as it is a wind up and all other examples are automatic. It also features only the date and not the day, as with the other watches that Elvis gave away (pls google). Maybe John O'Grady preferred a wind up or Harry Levitch was out of stock for the automatic ones, but that's just a guess. These watches are rare and occasionally show up at auctions where they sell for prices up to 20.000 USD. There is a similar watch for sale on Ebay now for 25.000 USD. This one is unique and possibly a one of a kind. I did check with Graceland regarding the status of this particular watch but they could offer no details other than that they have a receipt on file of these watches but no info on the different styles or this particular model. As you can see I did my research. This is an impressive piece with history and a great investment. I am selling because I want to buy other items for my Elvis collection.”
I don’t know the market for Elvis Presley memorabilia, and this watch is certainly priced at the top of the market at $15,000. However, it is super cool. If you happen to be obsessed with the iconic performer and want to make an offer, do let us know if you bring it home!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/193626454857
Jaeger-LeCoultre Pendant Watch
I love vintage JLC watches and the company’s pendant watches are quite uncommon to find in good condition. This example is super cool with a great engraving of the owner’s initials in cursive. Although it is very nice, the price is slightly steep at +$800. It may be worth making some offers to the seller in order to get a decent deal on it!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234950095485
1940s Gübelin Wristwatch
This Gübelin wristwatch is a pretty sick example with a black dial and case back engraving. It appears to be 32mm-34mm in diameter. The photo is horrible, but it could be a sweetie. Ask the seller for more photos and let us know if it is compelling enough to buy!
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/jwl/d/garden-grove-mint-gubelin-military/7602266870.html
Zodiac Box & Papers
This is a fun and inexpensive Zodiac watch listed at $235. It comes with box and papers (which is always a fun question to answer on inquiries from Chrono24). The box and papers are so cool in this case and may be even better than the watch itself. Best of all, “It comes from smoke free and pet free and children free home”!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/721939589574022/
Heuer Chronograph Reference 73373
This Heuer reference 73373 is a very sharp example that deserves a bit of attention. These were essentially the cheapest Heuers of the period, but the watch is paired on a very cool Heuer-signed bracelet. Also, the overall condition looks very nice!
This Minerva is super fun. It is an opisometer, an instrument used for measuring curved lines on maps. The instrument appears to be in great condition and comes with a very neat box! The seller indicates “My wife’s grandfather was the original owner”. Do you think he is a watch collector based on that anecdote????
For those that are watch box fanatics, this TUDOR by Rolex box is very cool and very rare! I really enjoy the design of it and the price is not too bad. I believe this one may have been made for the Canadian or American markets specifically.
This Seiko Subaru watch is a very fun example with a blue and grey dial. Corporate logo watches are super fun and this one has a nice case. It’s definitely not something you see at a watch get together and is pretty cool for $637.
I never have paid much attention to Zodiac clocks, but this one quite a cool example. With its original box, it is priced at $799 which is somewhat decent if you want a cool clock for your desk or office. Do note, it is a battery operated clock and the seller mentions it may need a new one. I love the M.M - A.M engraving for June 19 / 1907-1957. Maybe an a gift for an anniversary?
I absolutely love vintage catalogs, advertisements, and all primary source material associated with timepieces. This Rolex catalog from Bohm-Allen, a jeweler of Bailey Banks & Biddle is extremely cool featuring several rare diamond-set Rolex models. Whether you have one of these timepieces, or just love them, it is certainly worth going for.
This Patek Philippe brochure is super interesting and gives a glimpse into the 1990s catalog. Several watches are featured from the Ellipse line, Gondolos, as well as some complicated 3970s and the 3940! If you happen to love Patek Philippe and need to add a bit of papers to your collection it is certainly a fun purchase.
Corporate logo Rolex watches are incredibly cool and highlight a special chapter in the brands’ history. This Balfour Company pamphlet highlights the customization/personalization options offered on Rolex timepieces with several companies depicted in the brochure. For $39.99 it is a sweet find for Rolex enthusiasts. The pamphlet includes notable corporations and individuals including Coca-Cola, Conrad Hilton, and Senator Malcom Forbes presenting his brother Bruce with a Rolex.
This Rolex catalog is unbelievably cool and showcases a variety of ladies’ dress models with integrated bracelets from the 1970s. While these timepieces are not as highly collected, they are incredible and ornate creations that should be more appreciated. Hopefully, examples of these watches are not melted for their gold weight!