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  1. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Dec 26, 2014

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    Hi guys,

    My first post about a watch that is not omega. I got this watch as a gift some 25 years ago. I never knew much about it. I wore it rarely, usually for a dress up occasion.

    I'd guess it's around 32mm, maybe 34mm. Inside, it's got a KF 360 which I think is a bumper.

    Anyone able to tell me anything about this watch? Folks on WUS said it was likely from 1947..

    IMG_20141106_212328.jpg
    IMG_20141106_212343.jpg
    IMG_20141226_094554.jpg
    IMG_20141226_094440.jpg

    Thank you!

    J
     
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  2. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector Dec 26, 2014

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    Must confess to having a liking for the older Certina and the lugs on that one in particular.
    You seem to have it covered, a bumper from 1947. I take it you are in the middle of a strip down as I don't see the return springs ?
     
  3. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Dec 26, 2014

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    Oh, I'm not that brave or skilled! The rotor springs back into position on its own though. You can see in one of the pics how I'm holding it with a spring bar tool. When I let it go, it springs back to the other position.

    Do these carry any sort of value?
     
  4. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Dec 26, 2014

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    A few more lug shots for ya...

    IMG_20141226_120202.jpg IMG_20141226_120133.jpg IMG_20141226_120120.jpg IMG_20141226_120110.jpg IMG_20141226_120055.jpg
     
  5. noelekal Home For Wayward Watches Dec 26, 2014

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    I like the style of your watch.

    I have lots of neato watches with hour markers of all styles and enjoy them but my very favorite dial style is one with a full slate of Arabic numerals around the face. Extra points if it features Breguet numerals.

    Learned something in this thread. Wasn't aware that "water resistant" came into use as a descriptive term as far back as the 1940s.
     
  6. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector Dec 26, 2014

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    Thankfully, depending on which side of the fence you sit on prices are still reasonably low but starting to creep northwards as people start to appreciate then more.
    Surprised at the rotor springing back !
    Here is an image of the 360 courtesy of http://www.vintagecertinas.ch/en/indexeng.html and you can see the reason I asked about the return springs ?
    Screen Shot 2014-12-26 at 17.28.50.png
     
  7. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Dec 26, 2014

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    Ah, thanks! Wonder how/if it works. If I give it a few gentle shakes, it starts ticking away, but having been a long time since it was serviced, I don't want to power it up fully.

    I can find much info about sales of these. Any rough guide on how much they would go for?
     
  8. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector Dec 26, 2014

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    I would expect a maximum price itro £100 sterling, i'm assuming that the case is suffering some rub through?.
    As always if two people want it ?
     
  9. oddboy Zero to Grail+2998 In Six Months Dec 26, 2014

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    Cool, thank you sir!

    The case is mostly just grubby and could use a gentle cleaning.
     
  10. Northernman Lemaniac Dec 26, 2014

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    Certina Kurth Freres (hence KF caliber designation) was one of the proper quality Swiss manufactures that unfortunately lost most of it's heart and soul during the harsh 1970s.
    As far as I can make out they were mostly marketed in Europe (and perhaps Asia).
    They made very high quality (Omega level) movements and some very daring and creative designs including some badass chronographs. Certina was their brand name used from the 1930s. They also made watches under the Kurth Freres and Grana brand to name a few.
    The site linked to in the previous post by @Alpha is a good place to start. It is by no means a complete listing but gives some ideas.
    Exceptionally undervalued and overlooked. I Warmly recommend any collector to have a closer look.
    One will find both great in-house movements and outsourced complications (much like Omega in the same period). Happy Hunting ;)


    A couple of mine says hello:
    Excelsior Park EP40 based late 40s chrono:
    image.jpg

    Late 1960s Valjoux 72 Chronolympic DS2:
    image.jpg

    1970 DS2 Automatic. 25-651 in house movement is a gem even if it may not look like it.
    image.jpg

    With the famous turtle back.
    image.jpg

    Revalation 1968 automatic. Note Omega Dynamic resemblance:
    image.jpg

    And also the obscure AS5007 based Automatic Alarm:
    image.jpg
     
  11. rhetoric Dec 26, 2014

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    My Certina 'Kurth Freres' says Hi as well. cal 28-10.

    DSC03854sm.jpg
     
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  12. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector Dec 27, 2014

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    I can see Certina values climbing already :(
     
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  13. Alpha Kilt Owner, Beagle Parent, Omega Collector Dec 27, 2014

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    A first, replying to your own post ?
    Prices climbing and why not ?

    IMG_2451.jpg IMG_4967.jpg