This one looks to have had a hard life, but interested in analysis by the experts: http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=6430841&rid=0#msg_6430841
Agree, to hard a life for the price, at least for me. Not sure of the sunken dial on this case as I have not seen it before, but I'm open minded at present. Would like to read the full paperwork.
Here are my thoughts: 1. This was one of the first 2nd Generation, cal 551 Consellations, as the serial number in the low 17M range (1959) shows. 2. The inner box seems to be from a little bit later time period (maybe mid-1960's), and looks much better than the condition of the watch or the outer box. 3. The guarantee seems correct as the serial number matches. The other booklet, I'm not sure about. 4. The dial looks original, but at that price, I would want a watchmaker to check out the underside of the dial for an 18K hallmark. I've not seen any of these with a gold dial before. 5. Case is rare one, but has been beat to hell and back. Price seems rather high for the watch. Maybe a case of wishful thinking. If in better condition, it could be worth the asking price. gatorcpa
Typo on my part. It should be a cal. 561 calendar movement. Here is a similar watch, with a dial more typically found on this reference: http://www.ewatchshow.com/view/watch/74_062909132142 gatorcpa
My favorite in that listing is the box. Can't comment on the TZ listing yet as can't access the site from my work PC.
That is not the book that went with the watch. Ref. ST136.020 is a steel Seamaster Deville. A 20M serial number (see under "Metal") dates the book to about 1963. The whole package seem to be a bit of a "re-creation". Pass, gatorcpa
I was trying to help with the authenticity of the documents that you showed came with the watch. The pictures I posted were examples I have on my hard drive. I have many more. For example, 1962 Guarantees are slightly different. As are 1967. Again, this type is 1963-1966 type.
Oh, so this is not the exact one that comes with the TZ package. Still doesn't match the time frame, though. The watch is from 1959-60. It could have been sitting in dealer stock for a long time, so who knows? gatorcpa
Seller is a good guy but watch is too beat up. Worn and polished and not sure if that trench dial is correct for this case style. Certainly overpriced and because of the condition, I would be hard pressed to buy it even at a significantly lower price.
Pity the watch is in such condition because these 14398 calendar Grand Luxes with 18k trenched chapter ring dials are very, very uncommon. They were part of that late fifties experiment that included the dropping of 'Officially Certified' , I suspect, because the deluxe version 14394 also featured this dial. Most 14398s had either domed dials or pie pan dials, but I've seen a few, and only a few, of these GLs with this dial over the years.. It's had a hard life by the look of it, which is a pity. Cheers Desmond