Hi OF Vintage Collectors! I recently jumped into vintage watches and have the opportunity to purchase a Heuer Big Eyes, which I think is a 418, in 18k gold with the Valjoux 23 movement. I trust this seller, since he sold me a few nice watches before, but he disclosed some issues with this Heuer. Mainly, the dial has been refinished and the hands replaced. I always wanted a watch with the Valjoux 23, so the price he was offering mainly take this into account.

Here are some pics of the dial and movement, which is signed "Ed. Heuer & Co." which dates this to the 1950s. The dial looks extremely clean, too clean, and it does not match other original examples of this watch. However, tapping into the vast knowledge of OF members, does anyone know where this type of dial would have come from? It does not look handpainted, so the dial is a better qaulity dial and the printing looks pristine. It actually looks similar to an Omega chronograph dial from the same era, including the hands. The caseback has also been modified to be screwed in, since it's a snapback, but the extra gold can be easily removed to original. The lugs has another layer of gold for the screw and the original lugs have not been damaged.

Would this watch still be worth purchasing? The size 35mm is a tad small, but the thin bezel and "Big Eyes" makes this very much wearable. What do you all think?

Thanks for the advice!

The second to last pic is an example of an Omega chrono with similar dial, including the printed numbers being almost exact, especially the "1" with the cap instead of a straight line. I wonder if these dials where made for jewelers as replacement dials for big eye chronographs like these.

The last pic is how the original Heuer dial and hands should look like.

FYI, he would be willing to sell me this watch sub $2k.

 

Worth the price of scrap gold + movement as parts. The repainted dial and repaired case kills most of the value.

Dials can be repainted to order using templates by specialists. Most of the time the result is not worth it IMHO, it rarely looks like the original. It is not done by hand.

 

Thanks for the info! The case is not technically repaired, just "added" on. Additional gold was soldered to the caseback as small lugs, and more gold was soldered on top of the lugs for the screws to go into.

However, how does the refinished dial of the Heuer in the first picture look to you in your opinion? Wearable?

 

For me, not wearable, a redial is a deal-breaker. But I 'm not you: if you really want it and are sure you won't regret it, why not. I've seen far worse redials.

The thing that would bug me the most here are the subdials, too small. They are supposed to be oversized on those, it gives the watch a special look. The redialer used a standard template thus losing this look, and IMHO the appeal of the watch.

 

A redial would be a no go for me, but anything is worth something...
if the price is right, why not...
bit as others jave said, i would put the value @ scrap gold + mvmt.

 

Thanks for your honest opinion and redial information. I agree with the subdials and how they are printed too small and even off center. I will take into consideration scrap 18k gold and a working Ed. Heuer signed Valjoux 23 movement into trying to negotiate a good price. What would you OF members consider a good price for this watch?

 

I think that most OF members would strongly advise you to avoid this watch due to the refinished dial and modified case. You might be able to make a small profit by scrapping the gold case and selling the movement, but this depends on your ability to accurately estimate the amount of gold in the case. On the other hand, if you are after a watch with a Valjoux 23, being patient and watching eBay will likely prove fruitful.

 

It sounds like your strong desire for this type of watch may be clouding your judgment a little (BTDT). To me that sounds like a lot of money for a very compromised example. I would keep looking.