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Looks faked to me.... opinions?

X350 XJR
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Their description is pretty clear, it's a converted pocket watch, not claiming to be anything more.

Screen Shot 2020-08-21 at 12.19.42 PM.png
 
Professor
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Their description is pretty clear, it's a converted pocket watch, not claiming to be anything more.

Screen Shot 2020-08-21 at 12.19.42 PM.png
They are claiming these are "WW2 era". Possibly the movements, or at least some parts of the movements, are but everything else looks to be of recent manufacture.
The bridges of the movements look like they were bead blasted and show no patina of age.
The Russians bought up a lot of converted pocket watches before WW2 for military issue. I've no doubt a few survived, but not in such fine condition.
 
Marsimaxam
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It's the language barrier, what the seller meant to say was,"4095 JUNGHANS ASTRA Vintage Style WWII Era Replica Large Driver's Wristwatch"

Big difference, it's all in the wording.
 
slwoodster
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It's at a throw-away price. Sometimes I walk into antique shops with hundreds of these pocket watches. It does say "replica"
 
arturo7
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Ukraine must be the used watch capital of the world.
 
asrnj77
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arturo7 arturo7
Ukraine must be the used watch capital of the world.

I think the money that Western Europe and the US spends on vintage watches makes it very appealing for Ukrainian sellers to push their watches to a greater audience. A watch that might get $300 in rural Ukraine might fetch $2500 to somebody in New York.
 
Dan S
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My interpretation of the listing is that it is a modern conversion of a pre-war PW. The OP seems to be reading it differently, as if the seller is claiming that the conversion itself is old, but I can't find that implication in the listing. I do think that the seller should be more transparent about the fact that the dial is repainted. He just sort of sidesteps that issue.
 
JimInOz
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Professor Professor
They are claiming these are "WW2 era". Possibly the movements, or at least some parts of the movements, are but everything else looks to be of recent manufacture.

The caliber 38/2 dates from about 1949, so could loosely be described as "WW2 era".

The case is obviously an original period correct pocket watch case seen on many other Astra examples. It's just had lugs added, some time ago I would guess by the wear on them.

The bridges of the movements look like they were bead blasted and show no patina of age.

The finish is fairly normal for this style of movement and looks so fresh as it was probably recently cleaned.

The Russians bought up a lot of converted pocket watches before WW2 for military issue. I've no doubt a few survived, but not in such fine condition.
 
JimInOz
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Dan S Dan S
................... the fact that the dial is repainted. He just sort of sidesteps that issue.

Why do you think it's re-painted Dan?
 
Dan S
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JimInOz JimInOz
Why do you think it's re-painted Dan?

Well, to be honest, I didn't study it carefully and maybe I spoke out of turn. When I saw that it was so clean and unfaded, I extrapolated since I've seen so many of these Ukrainian conversions before.
 
wsfarrell
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I view the "WWII" in the listing title as keyword spam. "Vietnam" is another over-worked word in eBay watch listings. Most of the time it just means the watch was made in the 70s. While searching for a vintage Triumph Bonneville part a while back, I came across this title: "Vintage Honda CB750 BSA Triumph Harley Norton Ducati BMW Kawasaki." I report these listings, but I don't think eBay does anything about it. And clever sellers can often get around it by saying stuff like "Invicta Watch Similar to Rolex, Omega."
 
JimInOz
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Dan S Dan S
Well, to be honest, I didn't study it carefully and maybe I spoke out of turn. When I saw that it was so clean and unfaded, I extrapolated since I've seen so many of these Ukrainian conversions before.

No probs. I thought it looked original, and compared to many other Ukranian marriage watches that made it unusual.
My impression is that this is a genuine pocket watch conversion done some years ago.
Maybe it was the one that started the marriage watch industry in Kiev?
😉
 
JimInOz
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BTW, here's a slightly older Junghans caliber showing similar surface on the bridges, this time in a silvered finish.
I suspect that the stains on the right side would come off with a gentle clean.

Junghans47.JPG
 
Professor
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Well It would appear that this watch is not of WW2 era manufacture and not sure if the case is actually of WW2 era style. The hinged case back is proper for such a watch, and this example shows some wear, so it could actually be "vintage".
The movement looks legit.
I suspect the company had many such movements in storage, or parts to assemble movements.

An interesting watch, but I would consider it over priced for what it is. Others may not think so. Its definitely a fashion statement.
 
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