JLC Triple Date eBay Gamble

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I’ve been searching for a good JLC triple calendar for many years, which has included pestering @kyle L for the opportunity to buy his wonderful Turler signed example, and a failed telephone bid on a rare breguet numeral SS moon phase many years ago now (failed because the hammer came down before I said bid.....still not sure how that happened).

This popped up on eBay

B33BD12A-D2A5-4990-9DA0-8BC9632FDC07.png 90C785A9-4F5A-4A57-9059-D334E050C56B.png


After numerous emails and additional out of focus photos I received this


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Finally a decent dial...
But no crown and well no movement shot.
The watch is currently with a friend in the US and I will have to wait a while before I find out if the only issue is the missing crown.
And tbh at the moment I’m not certain how big a problem “just” a missing crown and stem will be.
I post more progress as and when

Cheers
 
Larry S
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Since it’s in NA ... there is a guy in DC who is the go to for vintage JLC... why not send it to him to sort? “ Zaf Basha of Finer Times in Washington, DC and the other is Craig Bergsma of Chronodeco in Oregon. You can Google them up, both are very well known on the various forums. “
 
Evitzee
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That watch doesn't look that great to me. The dial is good but no crown could mean other issues, and no movement shot on a vintage watch would make me say NO. Does your triple date have to be steel cased or is gold in the mix as well?
Edited:
 
watch72
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The dial seems to be in relatively good condition with the day date clear.
But as mentioned, without a look at the movement is an added uncertainty.
Still I think it is a worthy project. It will be a gem once you get it back to its former glory.
Looking at the date/day when it stopped and the condition of the case - a guess when it last worked?
 
Evitzee
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watch72 watch72
Looking at the date/day when it stopped and the condition of the case - a guess when it last worked?
I wouldn't make that assumption....easy enough to advance the month disc via the pusher in the case if it is working. And if it wasn't working it may have stopped in Jun 2019 or Jun 2009 or some other past date. I suspect it has been inoperable for quite awhile. A serious seller would open the back and take some good movement pics.
 
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Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated

@Evitzee Yes it’s a gamble from a seller that moves on a high volume of estate sales via eBay.
I’m not in the market for another one at this time in any metal.

Thanks
 
kyle L
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Should be a great piece when finished up! Now it's my turn to pester you to let go of yours...the salmon dial is great. 😁 Dibs!

259906-f4a1b774e211036f317998da987bf0ac.jpg
 
Albe100
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kyle L kyle L
Should be a great piece when finished up! Now it's my turn to pester you to let go of yours...the salmon dial is great. 😁 Dibs!

259906-f4a1b774e211036f317998da987bf0ac.jpg

sorry for the ignorance, but did you have any restoration work done or did you find it in this condition? beautiful!
 
jontrl
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Hi, i’m relatively new here - but would like to encourage this gamble. These vintage JLC triple dates with teardrop lugs are simply a joy to wear.

Another quirk is the date pointer that curves up ever so slightly to let it pass over the applied hour markers.

Here’s mine. I believe the dial is NOS and the day and month wheels have aged quite nicely.

Good luck with the project!

5C80A989-479C-4F8A-9243-898878C616AF.jpeg 619B51D4-4739-4F03-B207-0D9F5F4718B7.jpeg AC0D40A3-81BE-4E89-84CD-35B6CA440EAA.jpeg
 
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Little update and a lesson for all....

Good news I got the watch today from across the pond and was really pleased with it.

As you can see the spring bars were filthy and almost welded on.

Trying the forced them free....and well you can see what happened below.

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Feeling pretty stupid right now.

I guess it can be repaired, but it doesn’t seem to rest back into the case. I’m imagining the case would have to be re polished and lining up the lug won’t be easy.

Anyway. If you are ever faced with this situation don’t do what I did!
 
Evitzee
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Oooh ..... that's not good, these type of repairs are difficult and expensive. Hopefully someone will chime in with a suggestion as to who can do this work for you as this needs a specialist's attention.
 
Mods
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Yeah seem to remember a similar request for a lug repair for a nice RG chronometer
 
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