A minefield for a newbie

M

Posts

29

Likes

5

misterhyde

·Jan 31, 2022

Dear members, I hate to start my first thread with a question, but I don’t have a choice. The vintage market is too difficult to understand and so I’ll be buying into the seller, rather than the watch, if that makes sense. But I would like to try and understand where at all possible. I’m buying for someone else - it’s a sentimental purchase and we both have little knowledge. Anyway, I know the watch he’s wanting to replace and I’ve seen a couple of them. They look identical but have different movements. My question is, one has a 552 and the other a 550. As long as they’re both functioning OK, does it make a massive difference. It’s a De Ville, btw.

 

Posts

12,904

Likes

51,608

Larry S

·Jan 31, 2022·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

Look here in the sales sections. Without pictures we are not going to be able to help,.

 

Posts

12,526

Likes

16,878

gatorcpa

·Jan 31, 2022·ΩF InvestiGator

The cal. 550 is a U.S. only version of the cal. 552. There were only 17 jewels in the cal. 550, to save money on customs duties.

If the condition is the same, it shouldn’t make a lot of difference either way.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

 

Posts

20,121

Likes

46,777

Dan S

·Jan 31, 2022

I think the cal 550 is just the lower-jewel variant for US import. It's not a massive difference, but the 17 jewel version sometimes needs more maintenance in the autowinding mechanism. If it's in good shape, it might not be an issue. In general, I would worry more about overall condition than the difference between those two movements.

 

Posts

7,847

Likes

56,937

TexOmega

·Jan 31, 2022

Run them by and we can help vet them.

 

Posts

7,257

Likes

57,746

Spruce

·Feb 1, 2022·Sunburst dial fan

The 552 has 24 jewels

 

M

Posts

29

Likes

5

misterhyde

·Feb 1, 2022

gatorcpa

The cal. 550 is a U.S. only version of the cal. 552. There were only 17 jewels in the cal. 550, to save money on customs duties.

If the condition is the same, it shouldn’t make a lot of difference either way.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

Thank you, it does

 

M

Posts

29

Likes

5

misterhyde

·Feb 1, 2022

TexOmega

Run them by and we can help vet them.

I would if I had them to hand. No decision has been made as yet. I’m just doing a bit of ground work, well as much I can

 

Posts

4,787

Likes

14,336

DaveK

·Feb 1, 2022·Yoda of Yodelers

gatorcpa

The cal. 550 is a U.S. only version of the cal. 552. There were only 17 jewels in the cal. 550, to save money on customs duties.

If the condition is the same, it shouldn’t make a lot of difference either way.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

I did not know that. Thx

 

Posts

7,847

Likes

56,937

TexOmega

·Feb 1, 2022

M misterhyde

I would if I had them to hand. No decision has been made as yet. I’m just doing a bit of ground work, well as much I can

We just need good, hi-rez pictures of the ones you start to consider. Ask for them from any seller.

 

Posts

173

Likes

683

collector1946

·Feb 1, 2022

Minefield ? it depends on your expectations, read, read, read, and then buy a watch ....it has no need to be the "best" or "collector quality" and go from there, once you own a watch and its in your hand, you can become an expert on "that" watch and you then have a benchmark on which you build your collection... then try buy a better one, you can then sell the first one and be able to describe it correctly and with confidence.. buyers don't mind "issues" as long as they are described and priced correctly as not everyone can afford mint of faultless watches.