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A minefield for a newbie

M
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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.
 
Larry S
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Look here in the sales sections. Without pictures we are not going to be able to help,.
 
gatorcpa
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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
 
Dan S
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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.
 
M
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gatorcpa 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
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TexOmega 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
 
DaveK
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gatorcpa 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
 
TexOmega
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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.
 
collector1946
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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.
 
M
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collector1946 collector1946
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.
I’ve just seen your reply to my post, so apologies for not acknowledging you earlier. Rightly of wrongly my idea is different. I would like to go for the best condition I can afford every time. I understand nothing about movements and I don’t have, nor could afford, a watchmaker to hand. I need to get it right first time
 
Fallout Boy
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M misterhyde
I would like to go for the best condition I can afford every time. I understand nothing about movements and I don’t have, nor could afford, a watchmaker to hand. I need to get it right first time
You need to be possible to afford a good watchmaker too. my$0,02
 
Dan S
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M misterhyde
I’ve just seen your reply to my post, so apologies for not acknowledging you earlier. Rightly of wrongly my idea is different. I would like to go for the best condition I can afford every time. I understand nothing about movements and I don’t have, nor could afford, a watchmaker to hand. I need to get it right first time
Cheers! See you in 2029. 👍
 
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