Have been a fan of alarm wrist watches since the acquisition of a JLC Memovox - came across this Memomatic recently and did not stop to pause and think before I quickly purchased it. Circa 1970 NOS - Any one with experience with NOS and how can you tell if it is truly NOS?

 

does it look like it was never worn? impossible to tell from photos

 

there are slight scratches on the buckle and a very small dent by the side of the case - otherwise in immaculate condition.

 

NOS is used too liberally IMO. Does it really matter though if its NOS or just mint?
Honestly I buy watches to wear them, so NOS has no added value to me as Im going to wear it and break the seal so to speak.

 

@stefan our NOS member!

Judging from that single photo, your watch could be NOS. But if it has one single mark from wear or (mis)handling, I should say it moves from the NOS state to the mint category.

There are models that more often can be found in NOS or mint condition. The memomatic is one of them. Why I don't know, but according to my experience, it seems that they were not worn much. Maybe they were just less popular. Which is strange because they are pretty cool IMO

Yours is great, and great looking too. Nice pickup

 

I have a similar piece in an Enicar

 

The condition of the watch is amazing.

 

Hard to say when NOS is really as claimed. I do like alarm watches though. I picked up this bulova a few months back and really like the look. It's on a tan strap now.

 

I got this Oris Wrist Alarm a couple of days ago. Much louder than my Memomatic, and uses a separate spring to power the alarm.

Warranty says 1993, but the story goes is that Oris bought the remainder of the old A Shild alarm movements produced in the 70s (the same movement inside the JLCs)

As for NOS, even never-worn watches may have handling marks. I personally would not expect a NOS watch to have no imperfections whatsoever. That said, it should look like it's never been worn.

 

My 1947 Vulcain Cricket says Hi!

 

Is anyone familiar with the Friedli make?

I picked this one up from a German watchmaker, this too has the AS1475 alarm movement which I think was first around in the 50's and was produced up to around the mid 70's.............I was told that this one dates from the mid 60's......

I would say it's in really nice condition, and runs really well.........


She gets me up in the morning

 

I have a Seiko bell-matic

 

Rodania & sicura Cal AS 1475

 

Awesome response Evan!

 

Looks lovely, as we have seen recently poor quality watches can be turned in to head turners quite easily. This doesn't from the images you have uploaded show the signs of that. Lapping these cases often produced a loss of meat on the flat surface area of the bezel around the crystal, this still appears to be completely intact.

I really like the memo, a great watch as it was a two watch only movement (the cushion and the pilot line case) and they look grey and wear incredibly well.

 

1957 Tissot Sonorous. The blued alarm hand, normally seen against a white dial, just about disappears on the black dial version...

 

the universal is on an austrian produced hirsch lizard for the american market (oh my god when did i become a Strap nerd?!) ... and who cares ..

 

honestly i think i have a new ebay background theme your a genious im totally stealing that my new competitive "edge" matching watches to the kinds of women that the kinds of men may like if they are buying those kinds of watches...

like omega globemaster = scarlett johansson
Seiko GS = Lucy Liu
black dial cross hair omega = mila kunis
rolex daytona = cameron diaz

tho my wife may get a bit hacked off to find my google search "hollywood actresses in underwear"