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The "Untouchable" eBay Watch - really Silver?

  1. NT931 Nov 20, 2015

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    Came across this and couldn't help chuckling
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gen...438998?hash=item25b18a93d6:g:kqIAAOSwl9BWGUTfPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

    Case, dial, crown, even crystal are untouchable! How am I supposed to wear it?? Perhaps the seller means the watch is unmolested... :whistling:

    The seller says the case & caseback are solid silver, which got me thinking:
    1. how often were these watches of that era made of silver?
    2. how do you tell if the case / caseback is silver, based on a bunch of ebay photos? (the caseback says Acier Inoxydable ... hmm :cautious:) I don't see any marks indicating silver, although some googling told me that these marks weren't consistently done.

    Any experience with silver cases / caseback, guys? Thanks!
     
  2. khmt2 Nov 20, 2015

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    Looks like a twin of my chrome plated case EP. Probably chrome plated as well - silver being the colour rather than material. :confused:

    20151117_082322_HDR~01.jpg
     
    DirtyDozen12 likes this.
  3. DirtyDozen12 Thanks, mystery donor! Nov 20, 2015

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    Got a couple of watches that I believe to be composed of silver (Ag), among other things. The first has hallmarks that I deciphered with the invaluable help of David Boettcher and his website: http://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/casemarks.php

    IMG_4849 - Copy (591x640).jpg

    The second also has hallmarks (albeit less conventional ones) that I have yet to decode. However, an extract from Longines' archives seems to confirm my observations.

    kk.PNG
     
    khmt2 likes this.
  4. NT931 Nov 21, 2015

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    Cool, learned something new, thanks guys! Much more for me to understand about the arcana of vintage cases.
     
  5. PHPHD Nov 24, 2015

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    Also, the seller of the EP says '... Silver steel' about the case back... Not sure what to make about that.