Anyone have any experience with the Fortis Cosmonaut w/ 5100?

JBF1957 · Jul 9, 2022

I popped into a antique store today and there was a mint Cosmonaut chronograph with the Lemania 5100 movement in the case. Everything runs and sets as intended. However, the crown won’t stay screwed in. It screws down but pops back out if turned too far. The crown also appears to be slightly bent. Does anyone have a rough idea how much it would cost to set it right again? They’re asking a very firm $2880 plus sales tax. Is that a good price given the issue?

Thanks!

pdxleaf · Jul 9, 2022

Ignoring the stem issue, a quick search on chrono24, ebay, etc shows that 2880 is the high side. There appear to be many opportunities to find a similar watch in better condition for less money.

JayBe · Jul 9, 2022

It depends. If the thread on the case is gone, there's little that can be done. If it's inside the crown, which I'd tend to find less likely, a new crown would be manageable. Then I don't understand what you mean with the bent crown. Is the axle bent or the crown deformed?
The price is OK for a dealer, but it shouldn't have major issues at that price point.

Dan S · Jul 9, 2022

JayBe
It depends. If the thread on the case is gone, there's little that can be done. If it's inside the crown, which I'd tend to find less likely, a new crown would be manageable. Then I don't understand what you mean with the bent crown. Is the axle bent or the crown deformed?
The price is OK for a dealer, but it shouldn't have major issues at that price point.

Interesting, why do you think it's less likely that the threads are damaged inside the crown as opposed to the tube? In any case, one would typically replace both tube and crown assuming they are available. Given the way things work these days, it would most likely need to be done by an authorized service center, to have access to parts.

JBF1957 · Jul 9, 2022

JayBe
It depends. If the thread on the case is gone, there's little that can be done. If it's inside the crown, which I'd tend to find less likely, a new crown would be manageable. Then I don't understand what you mean with the bent crown. Is the axle bent or the crown deformed?
The price is OK for a dealer, but it shouldn't have major issues at that price point.

It appears that the crown stem is slightly bent. I assume that this is what you mean by axel?

JayBe · Jul 9, 2022

Dan S
Why do you think it's less likely that the threads are damaged inside the crown as opposed to the tube? Do you know what materials they are made of, respectively? In any case, one would typically replace both tube and crown.

I've seen this only on old Vostoks Amphibia, where the crowns rip the case thread, but then it's not SS. What a great idea BTW to make a screw down manual wind watch. 😀
I didn't know that the case thread is on the tube and can be replaced, that is indeed good news. But still maybe not at that price.

JayBe · Jul 9, 2022

JBF1957
It appears that the crown stem is slightly bent. I assume that this is what you mean by axel?

Yes indeed. That should not be hard to replace.

Pascal S · Jul 9, 2022

I owned one of these in the past, and it's a fine watch (mine was with the pilot's bezel option, as shown below), but for the price mentioned I would insist on a truly mint example with no outstanding issue. That crown issue raises too many questions, IMHO. So if it were me, I would pass.

josiahg52 · Jul 9, 2022

Unfortunately, Fortis had a problem with their crown tubes. I have two 24hr Pilots that have stripped tubes and have been that way for over ten years. The problem is resolved in service by elimination of the screw-down crown. I'd have mine "repaired" by now but the horrid service stories have scared me away from sending them off. Like others have said, that price seems high and especially so given the already apparent issue. The Lemania 5100 is a cool movement and I'd like to have another in my collection.

Ron_W · Jul 15, 2022

As said above, for that price it should be tip-top A okay so pass on this one.

Anyone have any experience with the Fortis Cosmonaut w/ 5100?

JBF1957

pdxleaf

JayBe

Dan S

JBF1957

JayBe

JayBe

Pascal S

josiahg52

Ron_W

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