Anyone know anything about Vialux?

Posts

60

Likes

115

jzerore

·Apr 25, 2019

Can't find much about this brand online, just came across this super-hot skin diver on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...ch-in-excellent-condition-38-5mm/192873350119

Those numerals are fire, right?

 

This website may earn commission from Ebay sales.

Posts

15,232

Likes

44,726

Canuck

·Apr 25, 2019

Go to MIKROLISK at:

wwwmikrolisk.de

For some information. In the wordmark box, type in VIALUX. Information given shows several firms in Switzeraldusing that name.

 

Posts

60

Likes

115

jzerore

·Apr 25, 2019

Wow, that's a very useful index. Thanks, @Canuck! Not a whole lot to go off of there, hopefully I will find more somehow. Wish I knew who made the movement in this particular piece, because I love the way it looks. I'd hate to buy something that could never be serviced—or would cost an ungodly amount to service.

 

Posts

15,232

Likes

44,726

Canuck

·Apr 25, 2019

jzerore

Wow, that's a very useful index. Thanks, @Canuck! Not a whole lot to go off of there, hopefully I will find more somehow. Wish I knew who made the movement in this particular piece, because I love the way it looks. I'd hate to buy something that could never be serviced—or would cost an ungodly amount to service.

The movement was made by someone you likely haven’t heard of. The movement is by ETA, and the caliber (model #) of the movement could be an Eta 1258. Eta is now part of the SWATCH group. Visually compare the movement in the link with the picture of the movement in the eBay ad, and you might see the similarity. This was a good movement in its day, and in the hands of the right tech guy (or girl), I could well continue to run reliably. Any parts that might be required may still be available. Image from the Ranfft archive.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&ETA_1258

 

Posts

23,376

Likes

52,002

Dan S

·Apr 25, 2019

The listing is very deceptive. The seller says that the dial, crystal, and hands are original with lume intact, but based on other examples I have seen, I believe that all of the hands are replacements. At the very least the minute and hour hands are re-lumed and the sweep seconds hand is definitely a replacement (it's very short). Unbelievably, the seller says that the case is unpolished, when in fact it's badly overpolished, including the bezel and case-back.

 

Posts

2,327

Likes

2,541

Professor

·Apr 25, 2019

Dan S

Unbelievably, the seller says that the case is unpolished, when in fact it's badly overpolished, including the bezel and case-back.

Certainly is over polished, the notches in the case back are deeply dished out by aggressive use of a dremil or similar power tool. One of the lugs also shows signs of the tool pausing too long in one place.
Looks like this mis treatment happened long enough in the past that the surface has dulled a bit since then.

 

Posts

60

Likes

115

jzerore

·Apr 25, 2019

Yeah I love those numerals, but agree the watch itself is not awesome. I wonder if the seller over-photoshopped a bit, too.

The numerals look a lot like the numbers on the Enicar Seapearl 600, but the 38.5mm skin diver case is much more appealing.

 

Posts

23,376

Likes

52,002

Dan S

·Apr 25, 2019

jzerore

Yeah I love those numerals, but agree the watch itself is not awesome. I wonder if the seller over-photoshopped a bit, too.

The numerals look a lot like the numbers on the Enicar Seapearl 600, but the 38.5mm skin diver case is much more appealing.

The dial is very cool, no doubt. Personally, I'm skeptical regarding the supposed 38.5mm case size. This looks like a standard 36mm Aquastar case to me.

Edited: Apr 25, 2019

 

Posts

60

Likes

115

jzerore

·Apr 27, 2019

Many thanks to all the eagle-eyes out there for spotting all the red flags on this piece. I wasn't interested in buying it, but the more I looked, the more I was tempted to make an offer, and am glad I didn't. I found a couple-months-old Chronocentric listing for this piece that got similarly few offers. That all said, if anyone knows where to get a non-over-polished version with appropriate hands etc, hit me up!

 

Posts

15,232

Likes

44,726

Canuck

·Apr 27, 2019

I would suggest that you’ll find lots of watches with myriad other generic names such as Vialux, that have that movement in them. But you’ll broaden you choice if you aren’t particular about having a watch with that particular name and with that particular movement in it. As to where to find? You won’t find it difficult to find similar watches for sale. A source for “unpolished” ones with original hands and in good condition? You’re pretty much on your own on that one.