Some thoughts on the elusive Contax

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Nice article on OF: https://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=80471837#entry674613437

Some of my thoughts:
I have recorded 15 Contaxes with (partial) serial number. To come to an estimate of production I use a couple of methods
1) Known Survivor Rate: based on other batches this number generally lies between 1% and 10% (of course 0% is an option but that is a bit a filosofical thing)
2) Tank formula (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_tank_problem).
3) Some gold UG's have a number below the serial (always on the inside of the case btw). This is the number within a batch. Given that I got some of these numbers in confidence I can't share the exact numbers. But see attached for an example. For instance if the serial is 665.041 is #30 and 665.011 is #19. This means that 665.011 -/- 18 is 664.993 will be #1 in the series. In this case, by sheer coincedence, for 2 batches I could calculate the exact number because I could use the adjacent batch.

My estimate for the total production number of Contaxes is between 400 and 800 pieces. One remark: due to the fact that the specific Contax movements are hard to identify I would not be suprised if there are more Contaxes around than we think. I know of at least one which was on C24 advertised as Compur.



617.xxx from Sala 1

 
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That OF article was wonderfully detailed, especially in how it described using the choro hour function as a second time zone.
 
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Nice article on OF: https://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=80471837#entry674613437

Some of my thoughts:
I have recorded 15 Contaxes with (partial) serial number. To come to an estimate of production I use a couple of methods
1) Known Survivor Rate: based on other batches this number generally lies between 1% and 10% (of course 0% is an option but that is a bit a filosofical thing)
2) Tank formula (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_tank_problem).
3) Some gold UG's have a number below the serial (always on the inside of the case btw). This is the number within a batch. Given that I got some of these numbers in confidence I can't share the exact numbers. But see attached for an example. For instance if the serial is 665.041 is #30 and 665.011 is #19. This means that 665.011 -/- 18 is 664.993 will be #1 in the series. In this case, by sheer coincedence, for 2 batches I could calculate the exact number because I could use the adjacent batch.

My estimate for the total production number of Contaxes is between 400 and 800 pieces. One remark: due to the fact that the specific Contax movements are hard to identify I would not be suprised if there are more Contaxes around than we think. I know of at least one which was on C24 advertised as Compur.



617.xxx from Sala 1

Interesting post and exquisite watches! I went into a rabbit hole on the “German tank problem”, I had never heard of that before. Amazing ingenuity and the accuracy is impressive!
 
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There's another batch of Girard Perregaux and Jaeger Contax watches in the 626.xxx serial range.
Lowest I know is 626.015, highest 626.123

Watches in this batch come in Staybrite cases, whereas for UG branded watches from this period we usually always see
Enversteel branded cases.

Here's an example of a nice GP that sold last year:
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/girard-perregaux-mans-chronograph-watch-258-c-3f74364840


Here's a Jaeger with 623.066 serial I acquired recently:
 
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Very nice Jaeger

There's another batch of Girard Perregaux and Jaeger Contax watches in the 626.xxx serial range.
Lowest I know is 626.015, highest 626.123
Do you think these have a contax movement?

I know these:
 
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Very nice Jaeger


Do you think these have a contax movement?

I know these:
Yes, I believe any watches with three registers in this list should have a Contax movement.
 
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Interesting. Have you seen a non UG with Contax movement?
 
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Can confirm that my Jaeger has a Contax movement 😉
I assume the same should be the case for the GPs.
 
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I was just looking at early Compax watches. The earliest one I'm aware of is this one with a serial 629748 and a Cal. 281 movement.
https://www.todocoleccion.net/reloj...tro-3-3-cm-finales-anos-30-funciona~x37216193
View attachment 3123259 View attachment 3123258
Interestingly this serial well overlaps with the batches of Contax watches produced. Unfortunately, the dial is not clearly visible, but since I am not aware of a Cal. 281 Contax, I assume it's likely that this is actually a Compax watch. Has anyone come across other examples from this batch and can confirm wether this would be a Compax or Contax movement?
 
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I’ll get back to that later 😅