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The rarest Lemania

glnds
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I see you thinking: here comes a story about the Lemania Diver Supervisor 😀

Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s another Single Crown Super Compressor that IMHO is even rarer. That’s this one:

Lemania.jpeg


Thanks, @Northernman, for sharing this catalog info.

I’ve seen this particular Lemania turning up only twice, funny enough, both times in Belgium. So for me, Belgium is now famous for Chocolate, Beer, Manneke pis, and this rare Lemania.

Now, when I bought this lovely SC, the least you could say was the dial was heavily worn out.

old.jpeg


Again @Northernman was able to show one of his tricks: he acquired two NOS Lemania dials for this particular SC. On top, He was so kind to share one of those with me!

Behold the same Lemania SC with his new jacket on (and the hands being relumed):

APC_2152.jpg APC_2119.jpg


Although I am thrilled about this piece, I must way I am still jealous when seeing other Lemania collections. I’ll now start hunting down that other rare Lemania: the diver supervisor. 😀

Enjoy wearing your watches!

Grtz,
Gert

PS: Also, no worries: I keep the original patinated worn-out dial aside in a safe place.
 
hejsam
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Very cool Lemania model, but I prefer the original ”worn” dial that dont look to worn to me 😀
Good that you kept it anyway!
 
Sharp
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In the first image you provide the original lume/ageing on the hands and the dial looked perfectly matched with the radium a very desirable colour, I am a bit shocked 😲.

Do you have any more before pictures?
 
size11s
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Agree with the above, the original dial and hands were really nice, and preferable. Great watch.
 
eugeneandresson
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I will echo the sentiments of those above. As long as you are happy OP, that is all that matters. That said : 99% of the charm of vintage watches is the patina and discolorations they acquire that are a testiment to their age and longivity, and that can not be reproduced any other way, especially considering the modern materials...
 
glnds
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Ok, this is a matter of taste but let it be clear:
1. It's at NOS dial so that's vintage as well, just not aged the same ;-) It's not "Modern material"
2. One could still re-fit the original dial, that's just safely kept aside.
I appreciate the honest feedback. but no shock or panic is needed the original dial is saved 😀
 
glnds
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I'll most likely never sell this one, but if it ever leaves my collection one could pick the dial he likes most.
 
Pascal S
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It's a stunning watch, either way you slice it.

I personally might have kept the original dial, but sourcing a NOS one like you did might have swayed me because it looks almost as news. There is no right or wrong course of action here. It's just a matter of personal choice.
 
glnds
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eugeneandresson eugeneandresson
Are those NOS hands as well? Or were they relumed to match... 😉
No, you're right. That's new material... guilty 😉
 
glnds
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Since we're up to speed anyway. Another Lemania beast that I've only seen once in the wild. My linen Dial SC.
To be more precise, I've already seen 2 other Lemania Linnen dials but they were slightly different.

376655-6d19ae7074327dd54e18d49e2f556ff6.jpeg
 
Dan S
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Love that original dial. The aging looks fantastic,
 
DirtyDozen12
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Firstly, thank you for sharing this neat example.

Secondly, may I ask what year is the catalog from? I wonder if the original dial has radium lume. The "NOS" dial has Ts by "Swiss Made" that seem to indicate tritium lume. I am intrigued by this difference. Also, it looks like the hands have been polished or at least cleaned? Like others, I prefer the watch in its original state.
 
cchen
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glnds glnds
Since we're up to speed anyway. Another Lemania beast that I've only seen once in the wild. My linen Dial SC.
To be more precise, I've already seen 2 other Lemania Linnen dials but they were slightly different.

376655-6d19ae7074327dd54e18d49e2f556ff6.jpeg

😎😎😎
 
SmithSJ
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Have to admit I’m another who prefers the original dial! Lovely watch
 
marturx
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IMO you are, by replacing the original radium dial with a later tritium dial, cutting the value of the watch, and the interest in it, in half.
 
glnds
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marturx marturx
IMO you are, by replacing the original radium dial with a later tritium dial, cutting the value of the watch, and the interest in it, in half.

Thanks for the honest feedback @marturx . It's nice to see everybody loves that "old" dial so much.
I feel a bit like cursing in church although:
- I kept the old dial, no way I would ever destroy it (ruining old dials is something completely else IMHO)
- I had the opportunity to try it out with a NOS dial which (personal taste of course) is also very nice and for now I definitely will wear it this way. If you can't stand it, I'm afraid you'll have to look the other way ;-)

About the value, I bought this one for 150 euro, the other one was for sale for quite some time for 200 euro and nobody took the leap to buy it (pictures were bad but the watch was ok). If everybody is loving this watch so much, then why is the value so low? (it's an open question)
The linen, immediately different price range. I paid 500 euro.
(The linen you could not find on the internet, the one discussed here was easily found on the net. But I guess Lemania Cal 3xxx's interest stays low)

BTW: you don't have to convince me for buying Lemania Cal 3xxx's, they're the heart of my collection. They're not COSC, but I can assure you: they keep time very well. Besides, their size (35mm) is perfect as a daily beater.
 
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