Two days before Christmas and i got a call from my dealer who mentioned about an Eberhard Contograf that might be available for sale. I told him lets not wait until after Christmas and try to work on getting it asap. I have always wanted one to partner with my Scafograf 200 but very few Contografs gets offered for sale and i don't want to lose this opportunity.

My dealer was able to convince the seller to lend him the watch for today and he brought it to my house a few hours ago. Its not a minty watch but an honest example that has been well used but not abused. The dial is clean with aging around the hour markers but not visible to the naked eye. The case is fantastic with still sharp bevelled edges on the lugs. The bezel has some dings but still presentable. The watch still has its original flimsy flat link bracelet which for me is a great bonus.

Now its time for the serious business of negotiation. The owner wanted a price similar to the one auctioned by Phillips recently. I countered that there is a percentage on top of the winning bid that represents the commission of the auction house. I also pointed out that the bezel has some aesthetic flaws that can be distracting and finding one specially in good condition is almost impossible. After serious thoughts and more egging on my part, the owner agreed to my offer but i will have to take care of my dealer’s commission. Deal closed and now the watch is mine.

A great Christmas gift to myself including the GMT 1675 with silver dial and the Eric Clapton Universal Geneve Tri-compax.

 

Oh man I got to get back to the Philippines where the best vintage stuff is found!

 

That's a beauty alright!

This and an early Scafograf have long been on my list, but finding them, and also these days paying for them, means they're likely to stay there.

 

Merry xmas Fred. I thought you were still in Cebu?

 

I notice that the hour and minute hands appear to be almost entirely coated in lume. I am not an expert on Eberhard but the other Contografs I have seen are not like this. Regardless, great catch!

 

I have seen a few with the pencil hands but not sure if they are the earlier models compared to those with the dauphine hands.

 

Contratulations, thats a fantastic piece. also the flat link bracelet is super cool. Merry Christmas

 

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.

 

Amazing find, wear I good health.
Good catch about the hands. I have seen both stick and dauphinois hands versions but none like these. To be fair this could be a functional mod since the stick hands seem to get lost in the dial.
It would be good to see if the owner still has the originals though....

 

I am not an expert when it comes to the Contograf so i am not sure about the hands. The seller has owned it for many many years and he said this is how he got it from the original owner. It could be that the original owner had his watchmaker apply full lume on the hand? Are these the same hands as mine? Should i remove the luminous material on the hands?

 

I am far from an expert on Eberhard, let alone the Contograf, but I have seen a number of examples with stick hands (as opposed to dauphine). However, the entirely luminous hands on your example appear odd. If the lume could be removed without damaging the hands, I would be inclined to do so. Here is another one with stick hands: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEpA5HAHt3N/

 

Another photo of the same watch that shows the hands better: https://www.instagram.com/p/BqAyXyzHT0V/

 

This one llooks full lume hands too?

 

Not an expert on these, but even if you could be absolutely certain they are later additions, I’d be inclined to leave it ‘as found’ bc you risk damaging the underlying hands, and because, I feel it’s somehow part of how this watch made its way into your lucky hands. Great catch btw!

 

Congratulation, great watch. I would also leave the hands as they are, they might be later service replacements but who knows, they look great and add legibility and are part of the watch now.

I'm far from an expert of Eberhard but we do at least know they used fully lumed hands, my early 90's Scafomaster has fully lumed hands for instance.

Looks a lovely one.

 

I'd certainly leave the hands as is. The lume is smooth and even, so more than likely from the factory.
Also visibility, even if the lume is dead, is greatly enhanced compared to bare hands.

 

I don't think so. You can see the metallic reflection of the curved tip, as in the example you posted above.

 

Posting another example below for posterity.


Source: https://www.phillips.com/detail/eberhard/CH080218/70

 

While I'm still inclined towards leaving the hands as is, under maxium magnification I can just barely make out a sunken look at the narrow slits where minimum lume may have been before being covered by a full coating.
You might look around for NOS or excellent condition replacements, which could take awhile, and leave as is till you find them.
I'd feel better with the hands as is because my eyesight is not that great and the light color lume coating makes it easier to read the time under any conditions.