Idiot Move: How NOT to Buy A Vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox

Idiot move here: Tim bought a Jaeger-LecCoultre Memovox, was very happy about price and condition, but realised then: There is something badly wrong with the dial.

[@kingboyous]

You've a great channel, Tim; honest, informative, different.

[@davidmoynahan8473]

Tim, thanks for being honest and giving us some great info. Your mistake is now benefitting a bunch of us!

[@rodsalvador3608]

I almost instinctively hit "buy it now" on an attractively priced Polerouter. Thank goodness for the Polerouter database; saw that it had the wrong dial and wrong applied logo.

[@joeyb7576]

Thanks for this video. I was able to find some issues with a similar watch currently on ebay. Particularly the very slightly crooked "Jaeger LeCoultre" signature. You saved me an expensive mistake.

[@michaelzuccardo5414]

Thanks for your honesty and info. I got taken on an Oris big crown pointer date. All looked good until I checked on the serial number which turned out to be fake. The seller was unaware it was a fake, and I got a full refund. Always pays to buy from someone reputable. One ones perfect.

[@stefanienewman44]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@mrg1911]

I’ve hear the pontiph is unloading a few watches..... Maybe you can get his Reverso. However, the only patina it has is fried chicken from his hands. Say no to wintage....buy new....so many great offerings awailable today. I love your channel, and give us more guitar when you have time.... Thanks Tim!

[@timschubardt]

There also was a commercial for the Tag Heuer Monaco with Luis Hamilton:)

[@geoffsullivan4063]

That would piss me right off ! I nearly went for a 1960s steel omega seamaster 34m black dial man wind last year but when I went to look at it I noticed that the lume on the hour markers and hands where as bright as a brand new watch ! It was all original apart from that.. Turns out the whole dial was restored.. Saved myself a small fortune.

[@LesterLovesWatches]

Reprinting dials is more widespread, as an industry, than some people would believe. The problem with ebay is that you can sometimes get an auction that fewer people are looking at, and grab a bargain. How do you differentiate between that, and an auction which people are deliberately *avoiding* because they know it’s dodgy? Magnify every image and never bid on company or on impulse. Glad you got your money back Tim.

[@MF-hq9mq]

Very informative.... thanks for sharing 👍👍👍

[@lebojay]

Thanks for sharing the story. No shame. We have all done stupid things.

[@jackpurcell274]

Sorry you got caught. It happens to all eBay buyers, I bought a "mint" Seamaster it looked great. Got it and I think some sand was in the movement, at least something quite coarse. I immediately notified the seller and got my money back in about a month. EBay does protect buyers, if you report problems right away, you are in for a fight though if you wait. I've had 3 problems total and all disputes were settled in my favor. In all cases I reported the problem within the first 1 of receiving the item.

[@edenfairbanks9065]

Love the channel. I'm fortunate to have two lovely vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre watches left to me by my father, a Reverso (1953), his favourite day watch & a beautifuly simple but elegant evening one in a lovely rose gold case (1960). they have both been serviced regularly & are so accurate. Over the years-I'm 70: i have treated myself to two others; new at the time: a polaris & a master grand tourbillon, not , I'm sorry to say the (2019) version-lol what doese it cost ? a million. Jaeger-LeCoultre are in my opinion, works of micro-mechanical perfection & works of art ,worn on the wrist. Sorry about the dissapointment you had with your Memovox. Kindest regards.

[@ToTheMaxGaming1]

JLC stopped making the Reverso after WW2 in about 1948 and didn’t start making them again till 1983

[@rbf100]

The only glaring problem is the omission of automatic on the dial. These are old watches and although reprints reduce the value of the watch, they are not disastrous. If done properly they might reduce the value by 25% to 30%. In my opinion the best Memovox is manual wind.

[@eusupporter8438]

Erfrischend ehrlich, danke 👍

[@philipsdefreville6138]

The JLC Jumbo Memovox from the 60's is a classy watch. I had a beautiful example with the original Gay Freres bracelet. When I decided to sell, I was surprised by the lack of interest.

[@CasebackWatches]

I've learnt that the bracelet is totally out of fashion. Nobody wants it. I gave one away nearly for free. But the watch itself has it's fans i guess. But prices are highly volatile.

[@herrbela84]

Before the 11 o'clock mark the gap is bigger than everywhere else on the dial.

[@st1tch87]

Maybe you guys could help me out, I was cleaning out my attic that had a lot of really old junk in it from the previous owner and I found some old Timex watches, a Lord Elgin and a "Jaeger-Le Coultre" i'm fairly certain its a fake though because not all of the letters in the logo are upper case and as far as I know JLC has always been all caps. Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated. thanks! Edit: it also doesn't say Swiss anywhere on the dial:(

[@DocBBR]

Inverting the watch so you can't read logo allows brain to focus on imperfections. The JLC logo problems jump out when upside down. Luckily this was not $5k or $10k & seller is cooperative 👍

[@JosephDietz]

I would have asked for a price reduction and kept the watch. I think there is something charming about the imperfections and the strength of the dial is still present.

[@CasebackWatches]

Joseph, i know what you mean. But i've owned once a Memovox in original condition and that ruined the feeling for the piece in the video.

[@JosephDietz]

@@CasebackWatches I totally agree. I watched your channel for a couple hours yesterday, great work... I sell some Japanese watches on my website raspberryminute.com

[@bronco1199]

Contrary to popular belief, life is meant to humble us.

[@Romio666]

What would be the price of 100% original ones ?

[@BMW_Supremacy]

Hi mate I was planning on buying a jlc deep sea master mariner E558( aka barracuda). But I hit up on some roughed up pieces. I thought why not buy one and then give it to jlc restoration program. Is this idea bad. Should I just keep it as it is? Ps. I don't really care about patina. I like to create a story with my own watch. And I liked the 60's sports design on E558.

[@CasebackWatches]

Unfortunately the JLC restoration program seems to be sort of a racket. Viewers sent me bills I couldn't believe. The record was about A$7,000. So if you don't mind patina I would look for an independent watchmaker who can service the movement. Then you have at least a functional piece.

[@bg147]

I am looking at one on eBay right now out of Missouri and with just 3 hours, the bidding is at $261. It seems odd that "wrist alarm" is printed on the inner dial with the text and arrow in a lighter blue. The marks are the same color.

[@CasebackWatches]

If somethings odd that means fake/refurbished etc. You should always do a google image search with the exact reference number of the watch. Happy hunting ;-)

[@56364]

It happens to all of us .... dont feel bad

[@RealityNonSequitur]

I just bought a vintage LeCoultre galaxy and its already off to switzerland to be authenticated and hopefully registered to me assuming in its 70 year life it hasnt been completely replaced. Im hoping like hell in its life some repair person hasnt replaced parts that they have to build to make it authentic.

[@CasebackWatches]

Fingers crossed! ;-)

[@RealityNonSequitur]

@@CasebackWatches yeah, vintage isnt cheap. Just to service it i think will be $1500. and if theres anything not authentic theyll make and restore it back to original....assuming it hasnt been tampered so much they wont even touch it let alone authenticate and register it. She'll be gone for about for a 10 months. I am glad I took her into the LeCoultre boutique and doing this properly. I don't think you should give up hope on yours, bring into LeCoultre and they'll ship it off and have it properly inspected and even restored if you're willing to pay. Sadly again, a vintage is expensive......

[@CasebackWatches]

@@RealityNonSequitur 1,5 is a pretty realistic number. I had a JLC from the 60s too and it was serviced for 1.560 Euros. Looked like new after that.

[@RealityNonSequitur]

@@CasebackWatches yeah I’m really excited. I’m worried they may have to make parts and have been warned it could get more expensive rapidly and to assume since it’s so old some things may not be lecoultre. But here’s to those fingers crossed! Did yours need any parts replaced?

[@CasebackWatches]

@@RealityNonSequitur I don't remember that. But I don't think so. And there is a real danger. A viewer once sent me a service bill over AU$ 8.000 if I recall correctly. Must be somewhere on the channel. Absolutely crazy.

[@RafaelCosta-oi3be]

I just found one of these JLC memovoxes in a brazilian version of ebay for under 900USD; considering that a lot of people got ruined in the recent crisis, and the seller seems very eager, I wouldn't say there's necessarily something wrong with it. Surely nothing I can notice in the pictures. Would you be willing to look at it and give me some help?

[@CasebackWatches]

Sure. Send me an image to casebackwatches (at) icloud.com

[@justinboudreau3130]

There’s a LeCoultre Futurmatic model 497 on Craig’s list for 1500$ Canadian....should I pull the trigger. It’s almost mint (considering the its from the 1950s) I keep looking at the damn thing.

[@CasebackWatches]

Certainly a good price. Black or white dial?

[@marcelmarcel3223]

Got my 50s memovox for 1500 usd

[@CasebackWatches]

That's possible. But rather not with an automatic. Although the prices for the automatics are volatile too. I saw them between 1800 and 3700 Euro.

[@justinboudreau3130]

Caseback Watches black dial, has the right amount of wear, looks legit. I might have to get myself an early holiday gift.

[@CaptCanuck4444]

Life lessons.

[@softmetals3702]

i almost got an omega from ebay as they seller said it was a dealer leftover and all legit,he said it was not a fake until i asked why does the word Mission on the caseback only have 1 "S' he then took down the listing some people huh be careful peeps

[@kingboyous]

I mean, these are issues only you - as the owner - can see & determine. I mean, you didn't notice anything wrong w it prima facie. As far as the indices and so on, they look fine. You are examining them under the highest degree of scrutiny, under a loop. This will only affect its resale value, I guess, and I'm sure you're the type who likes to trade, buy, sell - keeping your rotation fresh.

[@CasebackWatches]

The crooked logo i've noticed with bear eyes. Then i used the magnifier and saw the rest of the mess. And you're right, i keep the resale value always in mind, because of the rotation. I may have 3 keepers.

[@bg147]

With these vintage watches, it is more about the experience of wearing something you know is steeped in history and is original. It is a visceral experience. Honestly, I would rather have a cheap $50 vintage Helbros, Bulova, Benrus, Waltham, etc. that I know is original.

[@woonfaseng8737]

to me , dial isnt so important , so long the movement is legit.....but probably not for serious collectors .l once purchased a redialled 1950s omega constellation without even knowing it is totally refurbished dial. there is no tell tale clues (very well done) except it has no pie pan dial and it is a flat dial -- i eventually sold it for about 1thousand singapore dollars.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

You have to be crazy to leave the JLC logo crowns get replaced with generic ones, I'd have put a tantrum, authorised service centre or manufacturer whatever I wouldn't stand that. If my watchmaker did that without my consent I'd sue him, it already happened but he handed me the original crown in a baggy with the serviced watch ...

[@jackpurcell274]

Should say first hour

[@johnpinner1]

Shit happens

[@skipstalforce]

E GAd, thats hideous

[@oscargustavoarcosruiz8793]

Shame of you :)

[@pauleedeehimself8489]

Stop looking at yourself while filming. Look at your audience! (aka in the camera)

[@edenfairbanks3769]

He can't even pronounce Jaeger Le coultre . It's jah ja le coult. The jah is somewhere between je as in I but with the throat opened at the end of the pronunciation. The second is jah, with the sound shortened by closing the throat . The Le is almost quiet and not lingered on. He makes the unforgivable mistake by saying: le coult--re the re is silent ; just, coult. The accepted pronunciation in English is: jay-ger le coult. This may seem obsessive but, if people set them selves up as experts, they should know the name of the watch

[@CasebackWatches]

Ooops, iv've already missed this nice comment. Eden! "Obsessive" is exactly the word I was looking for. But thanks for watching. I never would present myself as an expert for the correct pronunciation of Swiss watches. But I've made my experiences with the JLC Memovox and that's the topic here, right?

[@wjvlodek8769]

Shut up...leave him alone. Or stop watching..

[@MyLifeInDebt]

Eden Fairbanks Language is an intersection of history, geography, and culture-i.e. it changes over time. The pronunciation of this watch brand has not been consistent, as their own employees can attest to. In fact, current upper management pronounces this exactly as you have claimed not to. The reality is this: there are, historically, multiple ways to pronounce the brand depending upon the era and where you reside. But really, who cares? For some reason this is a contentious subject, probably owing to the fact that watch collectors tend to be a pretentious group of people more concerned with keeping up appearances than appreciating the beauty of the movement. Let it go.

[@bg147]

Oh boy.

[@RobHalliganProjects]

@@CasebackWatches Since the comments already went to being obsessive and since your English pronunciation is so good, I hope I can make a suggestion without coming off as too OCD: "Crooked" is pronounced "crook ed". Not a big deal. ...I heard you mention a viewer corrected your pronunciation of a word that began with "v" (maybe "vintage") and you seemed to be ok with that. Love the videos. Thanks.