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Massive Heavy Gubelin Masterpiece

T
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I’ve had this very nice Gubelin for twenty five years !
It’s 18k White gold automatic. Is it okay to ask what Omega Forum members a current evaluation ?
One sold in November in 2021 for 3.2k bps plus 25% buyer’s premium. I have an interested party but not sure a fair price for current day inflation?
I couldn’t get the dust cover off ! I’ve collected watches for 45 years. It’s an automatic watch %100 and the case weighs over an ounce 18k white gold. I prefer this watch over my 2540 Automatic in some ways. Dial is original and much more impressive in person. Glass crystal. It kind of dwarfs the Patek Philippe which retailed by Gubelin. I knew pretty much everything stated I really wanted what current market valuation. Really that was all for it’s probably going to a new home to a collector who considers it his grail watch ! I’ve enjoyed it for 25 years. Thanks for everyone who chimed in ! Unless you see this watch in person you would never quite understand its beauty. I guess the my Gubelin collection was a waste of time and money ! Well at least my Patek Philippe has some collectors value. I only have 50 more watches to sell. Wish me luck on my sales for retirement !
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gatorcpa
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Gübelin is a Swiss jewelry store. They had watches with their name made for them by many of finest manufacturers and some made by lesser companies.

Of course, we cannot tell you what you have inside the watch without seeing it, so please take it to a watchmaker to confirm that it is 18K white gold (I see hallmarks on the lugs, but they are too small to see any details) and the manufacturer of the movement.

To me, the major value here is in the gold (if 18K) and the stones. The rest of the watch has little value unless the movement was made by a top company like Jaeger-LeCoultre or Audemars Piguet, both of whom made watches for Gübelin.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
 
Evitzee
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Most likely it has a Felsa Bydinator automatic movement, these were sturdy, well made movements and Gubelin did a very good job finishing them up, about as good as JLC. But you need to open it up to confirm gold status and to confirm the movement and its condition. Is it running? This was not a schlocky, overpriced jewelry store item when it was sold 70 years ago.
 
Dan S
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T Timetosell
I have an interested party but not sure a fair price for current day inflation?
In general, vintage watch prices have not really risen in the last couple of years. In fact, there has been a general decline. On the other hand, the price of gold is very high at the moment. You don't mention what currency you are using, but 4k of any major currency (Euro, GBP, CHF, USD) sounds quite high to me for this watch, just off the cuff, and I certainly wouldn't pay that much. Obviously, from the photos you've posted, we can't say that it's 18k or automatic.

It's a perfectly nice watch and probably good quality, but there's not a particularly strong collector's market for Gubelin. I doubt that anyone can give you a firm valuation for an obscure piece like this, so I think it's best for you and the buyer to negotiate a price that is agreeable.
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T
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Evitzee Evitzee
Most likely it has a Felsa Bydinator automatic movement, these were sturdy, well made movements and Gubelin did a very good job finishing them up, about as good as JLC. But you need to open it up to confirm gold status and to confirm the movement and its condition. Is it running? This was not a schlocky, overpriced jewelry store item when it was sold 70 years ago.
You definitely have a better understanding of this watch than most Evitzee ! I’m my opinion it a masterpiece, but you know they say about opinions ! It runs as about as good as the overpriced Patek Philippe.
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Dan S
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Since you have the watch open, it would be interesting to see the movement.
 
T
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Dan S Dan S
Since you have the watch open, it would be interesting to see the movement.
Dust cover doesn’t come off easily,
It’s almost certainly a Felsa automatic ! The massive case dwarfs the Patek Philippe ! After 45 years collecting this is one of my favorites out of my 50-60 piece collection ! I’ll try to get the dust cover off, but don’t really want to risk damaging anything on this watch.
 
SWmania
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Beautiful timepiece for sure, but obviously value would be much greater for the Patek.
But I'm sure there will be a lot of interest in the gubelin as well, just if at the right price.

First try the Private sales section.. and if it doesn't work out, maybe try ebay??
 
J
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Nice vintage piece . But not worth the asking price . You can there moonphase for cheaper.
 
L
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The asking price seems steep in the current market and Gubelin is really a niche brand to collect, but you might find collectors willing to pay this price. These white gold watches are very rare and retailed for considerably more than most Patek time only watches back in the 1950s. For the price of two of these you would get a Patek 1518 back in the days.
 
J
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A one timer . The watch itself is a normal white gold piece ! As others have said if it would have retailed for Patek , then yes . Way over priced
 
L
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Considering its rarity, this piece might rather be undervalued in the current market. In the 1950s this was watch was more expensive than Gubelin's gold moonphase or chronograph watches. Movement is likely very well finished.
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J
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Ok . If that’s what you think. Show sales to validate your asking
 
L
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I probably also wouldn't pay that much for this watch as it's not my area of collecting. What I'm trying to say is that if you look at the historical retail prices of these Gubelin watches one could argue they are undervalued.

The only sale for a comparable piece I can find is this Bonhams sale. This might be the sale Timetosell is referring to in his first post:
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/266...et-automatic-wristwatch-ipsomatic-circa-1960/
 
Evitzee
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J Jobless
Nice vintage piece . But not worth the asking price . You can there moonphase for cheaper.
No way will you get an 18k Gubelin triple date moonphase for ~$3k in today's market.

BTW, a square Gubelin triple date moonphase is often compared with the Omega Ref 3944 Cosmic in square case, both around the same time period of the early 50's, but the Gubelin is in a much more robust case and has a more advanced automatic movement winding in both directons, and better movement finishing. They run under the radar from a collectors standpoint.
 
T
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The people on here really don’t understand the quality of Gubelin !
I’ve collected fit 45 years and there moonphase are automatic and much nicer that Omega ! I sold my Omegas off long ago !
Evitzee Evitzee
No way will you get an 18k Gubelin triple date moonphase for ~$3k in today's market.

BTW, a square Gubelin triple date moonphase is often compared with the Omega Ref 3944 Cosmic in square case, both around the same time period of the early 50's, but the Gubelin is in a much more robust case and has a more advanced automatic movement winding in both directons, and better movement finishing. They run under the radar from a collectors standpoint.
 
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T
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My Gubelin next to Patek 2540 automatic !
I like the Gubelin better ! Some of you collectors are clueless about Gubelin ? They are highly finished movements with gooseneck regulators like Patek !
So please stop thinking you know anything about quality movements if you put down Gubelin movements !
Get over names, I sold my Omega moonphase over selling my Gubelin moonphase to be honest ! Evitzee really is the only one on this forum who really understands quality and not just the name Patek ! Here is my father’s STEEL Patek 990!
I’ve had it for 50 years !
 
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gatorcpa
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T Timetosell
Some of you collectors are clueless about Gubelin ? They are highly finished movements with gooseneck regulators like Patek !

To my knowledge, Gübelin was not a watch manufacturer, they are a jeweler who had watches made for them by some of top Swiss watch companies. A lot of companies did this. Sears Roebuck started this way and continued to put its name (and other “in-house” names like Tradition) on watches from Heuer and other manufacturers through the 1970’s.

Movements made for Gübelin are not any more or less finished than watches made by the various manufacturers for themselves. The quality is dependent on which company made the watch for them. Like any large jeweler, they had watches at all price points. Their current offerings could be different, I just don’t know.

I’m not meaning to nit-pick you. I own a Ipso-Vox, which is a Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox sold by Gübelin. It is exactly the same as the JLC E856 case, with the same cal. 814 movement. You can see it here.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
 
Tony C.
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T Timetosell
My Gubelin next to Patek 2540 automatic !
I like the Gubelin better ! Some of you collectors are clueless about Gubelin ? They are highly finished movements with gooseneck regulators like Patek !
So please stop thinking you know anything about quality movements if you put down Gubelin movements !
Get over names, I sold my Omega moonphase over selling my Gubelin moonphase to be honest ! Evitzee really is the only one on this forum who really understands quality and not just the name Patek !

You are starting to sound ridiculous.

There are plenty of collectors who recognize the quality of the better vintage Gubelin watches, but many of their watches were not "highly finished".

As Gator mentions above, they typically used movements from various manufacturers, and, while finished in-house, they weren't necessarily finished better than the manufacturers of the movements.
 
pdxleaf
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T Timetosell
My Gubelin next to Patek 2540 automatic !
I like the Gubelin better ! Some of you collectors are clueless about Gubelin ? They are highly finished movements with gooseneck regulators like Patek !
So please stop thinking you know anything about quality movements if you put down Gubelin movements !
Get over names, I sold my Omega moonphase over selling my Gubelin moonphase to be honest ! Evitzee really is the only one on this forum who really understands quality and not just the name Patek

I hope you're not this rude when you're invited to a party or GTG.

Gubelin used different movements, which will influence the price. Of course current condition and numbers of similar watches impact the price.

This watch with a felsa 698 is currently for sale for under 5k.

1000011596.jpg



This 18k watch with 321 movement sold a couple years ago for about 9k. I much prefer this second watch.

1000011594.jpg 1000011595.jpg


Your square watch with diamonds is not a desirable watch for many collectors, in spite of the initial extra cost for the jewels. Well under 4k in my opinion.

If you disagree, auction it off and see what you are offered. Or ask your price and see what is countered. Everyone wants you to get what is a fair price. For some of these pieces it's difficult to determine value, as you obviously know.
 
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