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LeCoultre Futurematic

Patrick Dixon
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On the spur of the moment I have just bought one of these that needs a service. Not sure yet quite what that means ...

Any recommendations for a service in the UK? Am I completely mad?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221259665415

[edit] Title should say 'Futurematic' - of course.
 
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Gavin
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It's one of the iconic watches by JLC. I am going to say it is a redial but wait for those who knows more to chime in. IIRC gatorcpa has one.
 
Patrick Dixon
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I assumed that this one was a redial based on the markers not lining up with the minute track, but assumed the amount of patina on the one I bought meant it was likely to be original.
 
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NT931
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It's reputed to be difficult and expensive to service, apparently. Gatorcpa has also mentioned on a WUS thread that parts are hard to come by.

Gavin, is there someone in SG who services them? I have one for which I follow gator's advice to wear sparingly, and which eventually will need servicing.
 
LouS
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citizenrich citizenrich
You might wind up with a couple of extra loose beard hairs with rotting tuna fish in your watch but otherwise good to go...

If that's not a glowing endorsement, I don't know what is! 👍 ( 🤮 )
 
gatorcpa
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Dial looks OK to me, except a bit worn. It is exactly the same as my example from 1952:



I know of two specialists in Futurematics. Both are in the US though.

One is Zaf Basha of Finer Times in Washington, DC and the other is Craig Bergsma of Chronodeco in Oregon. You can Google them up, both are very well known on the various forums.

I'm sure there are hundreds of other competent watchmakers who can handle a general overhaul of the watch. The problems come up when parts are needed. This is a unique movement and there is almost no commonality of parts with other JLC calibers.

These guys have 'em or know where to go to get 'em,
gatorcpa

PS - If you try someone else, make sure they have this:

http://www.awci.com/wp-content/uploads/watch-tech-guides/LeCoultre//497-repair-notes.pdf
 
U
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Dial looks okay to me too. Craig serviced my '71 Heuer Autavia and did a greate job.

Patrick Dixon Patrick Dixon
[edit] Title should say 'Futurematic' - of course.

Taken care of.
 
Gavin
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NT931 NT931
It's reputed to be difficult and expensive to service, apparently. Gatorcpa has also mentioned on a WUS thread that parts are hard to come by.

Gavin, is there someone in SG who services them? I have one for which I follow gator's advice to wear sparingly, and which eventually will need servicing.
My regular guy probably don't have the spare parts so he will not service them. I am going to check out a new watchmaker sometime this week. Will shoot you a pm once I check with him.
 
Patrick Dixon
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Thanks very much for all the replies - I feel reassured that this isn't quite as bad a buy as it might have been.

Having browsed around the threads here I realised that I had to have one, I love the styling and the slightly wacky over complicated mechanism just adds to the appeal (although I don't actually understand how it works). Even better that, because they are available in non-solid gold finishes, they are just about affordable (although if they were completely;y unaffordable perhaps that would make them even more appealing).

I think I'll just find someone UK based to service and clean it and then panic if it needs parts. Presumably it would be possible to re-fabricate parts that are completely unavailable - has anyone tried that?
 
gatorcpa
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Patrick Dixon Patrick Dixon
I love the styling and the slightly wacky over complicated mechanism just adds to the appeal (although I don't actually understand how it works).

Here's a website with more good information on the cal. 497/817 movements:

http://community.fortunecity.ws/marina/breakwater/13/future.html

Patrick Dixon Patrick Dixon
I think I'll just find someone UK based to service and clean it and then panic if it needs parts. Presumably it would be possible to re-fabricate parts that are completely unavailable - has anyone tried that?

This is why I would never buy one of these unless it was running condition. This watch can become an absolute money pit if you're not careful.

It would probably cost more than the watch to make parts due to the high cost of skilled labor. I'm not even sure if JLC would touch it. Might be worth a few bob to have a watchmaker evaluate. If it doesn't need any exotic parts (even mainsprings can be tough to find, CousinsUK would be your best bet), then go for it locally.

Otherwise, contact one of my suggestions above for a part check. I know that neither will sell Futurematic parts outside of doing the service work.
gatorcpa
 
NT931
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Gavin Gavin
My regular guy probably don't have the spare parts so he will not service them. I am going to check out a new watchmaker sometime this week. Will shoot you a pm once I check with him.

Thanks Gavin!
 
Patrick Dixon
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Here's a link to the blog post about the repair of this watch. It's been an interesting experience and has definitely whetted my appetite for more JLC.
 
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