Landeron 48 movement.

novina · Jul 21, 2016

So I was spending some down time on eBay. Ran across a Delbana 2 register chrono. Pictures are not great and description is ok. But wondering about the Landeron 48 movement. Are they robust? Comparable to any Omega movement? Can it still be serviced? Just opinions, as I am currently researching its background.

novina · Jul 21, 2016

OK, found an older thread and it describes this movement as a workman movement. SO that answers my question. Here is the thread I found:https://omegaforums.net/threads/cheap-chronograph-movements.5861/. If there is anything else that can be mentioned, that would be great.

So would a Delbana case Landeron 48 be a good buy under $400USD? Here is the watch:

Described as Gold plated, not solid. So case should be ok. Have asked about chronograph function as he said it was serviced. I know, receipt or it didn't happen.

Thanks,

Rob

Vitezi · Jul 21, 2016

Is that a vintage Delbana? I'm used to seeing a logo that looks like this:

(thanks)
or this:

(thanks)

Your example looks like a more modern logo, like this...

seen here...http://www.delbana.ch/index.html

novina · Jul 21, 2016

Castle above Delbana. Supposedly 1940 ish. Did say the pictures are not that good. Hands obscure the castle logo a bit.

Vitezi · Jul 21, 2016

Hm. I think I'd want to find other examples of that castle logo on a vintage chron before purchasing that example...

novina · Jul 21, 2016

Was just thinking the same.......

Just image searched. Found at least 5 Delbanas that appear vintage with that logo. including 2 pictures of similar watches as I posted.

dx009 · Jul 21, 2016

You can find plenty of parts for Landeron 48s. As you said they were pretty popular back in the days but not on the Rolex/Omega level that's for sure.

I have to admit that the logo is a little dubious, given the age of the watch. I don't think I've seen any of these watches with a logo...

The one you posted is in the style of Chronographe Suisse watches. Many other brands also produced more or less identical watches with only the logo and brand name being different. Sometimes they'd have a different movement (Valjoux/Venus) or different hand style, dial style/color, etc.

The case, pushers, crown and dial would usually be very similar one to another.

novina · Jul 21, 2016

I don't see anything that would say this is a knock off. After all, $400 is not a mint and just tooling up would cost more. And yes, as the first thread I linked said, there were many users of the Landeron movement. Guess it was easier to copy and slap a different text on the dial. It is still interesting to me. Just not sure how much I am willing to pay for it.

dx009 · Jul 21, 2016

400$ for a gold plated version of this is a little too much in my opinion. Usually it's the "original" Chronographe Suisse that cost more while the rest are seen as "knock-offs". The movement also matters, Landerons are the basic ones for these so they should be cheaper. Valjoux and the likes will cost more.

I remember seeing some Chronographe Suisse with 14-18k gold cases (that's solid gold) go for 500$ish. Maybe you can do some more research, check past sales and see whether it's worth it.

Also, you should know that these watches have hollow lugs. That's why there are so many solid gold watches and that's why they were so popular among the not so rich.

Stewart H · Jul 22, 2016

dx009
I remember seeing some Chronographe Suisse with 14-18k gold cases (that's solid gold) go for 500$ish. Maybe you can do some more research, check past sales and see whether it's worth it.

Also, you should know that these watches have hollow lugs. That's why there are so many solid gold watches and that's why they were so popular among the not so rich.

They are anything but solid gold. The whole thing is hollow and relies on base metal rings and dust cover to provide any structural integrity whatsoever. Without these, you could easily crush the case with your bare hand.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/opinion-suisse-chronograf-antimagnetic-18k.33364/#post-374570

dx009 · Jul 22, 2016

Yeah you're right, I forgot about the base metal ring thing. Then again, I don't think people would check their weight and automatically assume that "all" of it is solid gold. There's the movement, the crystal, the dial, inner caseback/dust protector, etc.

novina · Jul 22, 2016

Thanks all for the information. I have confirmed with the seller that the chorno functions are properly working and the watch is keeping good time. He did say it was serviced after all. As of yesterday, it still had 4 days to go. After exchanging emails with the seller, I decided to place a bid. It is $265 max plus $15 shipping. I will let the auction take it course. If I lose, I have no regrets. I like the style of the watch, but am sure I can find much better examples with better movements if I wait. The bid on it as of this morning was a whopping $26.00. Sure I will get am email after the auction closes to see what my offer would be.

adam78 · Jul 22, 2016

Here is mine!

These are mostly cheap to buy, but servicing can cost almost as much as the watch...

SpeedTar · Jul 22, 2016

Very common mouvement but easily repairable due to the fact is easy to find pieces. There are very robust if well serviced and adjusted. I had a lot of them and never met a big problem. As possible try to find an stainless steel case and not gold plated or alloy chromed wich are IMO more fragile to shocks.
Enjoy it anyway, there are cheap and some of them are georgous, here is mine :

novina · Jul 22, 2016

As I said, I am letting the auction run its course. Would be a nice addition, especially in the condition this one appears to be. But as this is a common variety movement, and relatively cheap, I will stand by my bid. There will always be others if I do not win it.

SpeedTar · Jul 22, 2016

novina
As I said, I am letting the auction run its course. Would be a nice addition, especially in the condition this one appears to be. But as this is a common variety movement, and relatively cheap, I will stand by my bid. There will always be others if I do not win it.

yes it definitively should! 😀

Amadeus · Dec 2, 2016

Hi, I hope you won the bid, I have worked with Landeron movements before, they're excellent movements even though they're cheap, not to mention it's quite easy to find repair parts for it.

padders · Dec 3, 2016

I love these. Yes there is a reduced gold weight in these vs other solid gold watches but I think the fears are over done. Some are built more solidly than others and some seem to have more robust lugs too, possibly solid. There are maxi sized ones at around 38mm which seem stronger so perhaps size is the key to quality. Here is mine which is solid 18k gold and cost me less than $550 if memory serves. Where else can you get a vintage 1940s gold chronograph for that money? I wouldn't bother with a plated one when the solid version is only a few dollars more. Buy the right one, treat them as a vintage dress watch, not a tool watch and you will have no problems.

Edit: just realised how similar mine is to that posted above by @dx009 only the hands and writing noticeably differ.

primabaleron · Dec 3, 2016

Edox Geoscope from seventies 😀

ahsposo · Dec 3, 2016

I just picked up this one with a Landeron 48: 37.5mm and 18k.

Granted the back cap is pretty thin the rest of the watch is solid. It loses about 10 seconds a day. The chrono function is really smooth. Took me a second to figure out the lower pusher stops and resets the hands.

Landeron 48 movement.

novina

novina

Vitezi

novina

Vitezi

novina

dx009

novina

dx009

Stewart H

dx009

novina

adam78

SpeedTar

novina

SpeedTar

Amadeus

padders

primabaleron

ahsposo

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