Hey Everyone, I am really interested in vintage Memovox. There seem to be so many and a huge margin for prices. Does anyone have any good reference material recommendations? I’d love to learn more about them. I see prices going from ~$2000-$5000 (and of course higher for rare ones). I like the tv dial models and cushion cases, especially dials with color. I see the cal 916 seems to be common, any manual wind options out there?

Here is a picture I like from eBay.

 

I would join WatchProSite and ask there. I would venture that one of the foremost experts on vintage JLC is the current moderator on the Girard Perregaux forum.

 

Search for Memovox GT or Memovox SpeedBeat or Polaris GT Memovox.

Try this: https://www.chrono24.com.gr/search/...earchTaskId=1048172&sortorder=5&dosearch=true

so you can see all the models

 

Vintage memovoxes on cal 489 or 814 will be small - up to 34mm. cal 815 or 825(with date) will be bumper automatics. Nice watches, ca 38mm diameter, the real gem is Polaris1 but egg shape E861 will be more affordable and great every day companion. From 1969 on - cal 916 enters the stage and you have full variety of models - hi beat automatics - TV shape (horizontal and vertical) E971 and E872, egg shape E873, E875 - classical round and E877 snowdrop if you really love funky stuff. cal 916 is a great movement, worth considering.

 

Great!!!

 

You can sometimes find the bumper Memovoxes in larger cases, like this 37mm steel cal 815.



The 37mm E855 is another classic to consider.



The ref 3161 Memovox parking (cal 814) is also a little bigger than most, at 35mm.

 

I was writing faster than I was thinking - mentioning cal 815 and 824 I meant THOSE are bigger - both E853 and 855 are ca 38mm and there are also LeCoultres cased in USA with strange reference numbers but also housing bumpers and quite big

 

Yes I wasn’t sure about your wording but I know you understand the subject

The jumbo Memovoxes are fun to hunt!

 

I paid $450 for this one at a NAWCC show, then a few days later found out it needs serviced.

 

Those Snowdrops are beautiful in their 70's kinda way. Thanks for the detail.

 

Always assume the last owner neglected it and it will be $500 to fix or more. JLC parts are expensive and nearly gone in the general market, partly because they bought back parts from watch material houses a couple times in the 90's and 2000's to replenish their own service stock of parts.
Great watches with delicate escape wheel pivots!