I was wrong....

Nov 16, 2015,20:35 PM
 

...just saw the 1967 catalog posted by Nicolas and the European version of the E860 was available in gold plated case too, not only solid 18k gold.
So it came in different case materials, probably in 14k version too...

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(help needed) My Vintage Memovox Alarm Only Lasts for 3 Seconds

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 8th, 2015-09:26
hi, I am writing here to seek the advice of the many memovox experts on the site. I recently bought a vintage JLC memovox e855 at an online auction. While the piece looks spectacular and seems to keep good time, its alarm only lasts for about 3 seconds. D...  

It should last a bit less than 20 seconds. It needs a service.

 
 By: amanico : November 8th, 2015-09:34
Hard to say what can be wrong on your watch. But if you bought it at a on line auction, it may well not have been serviced for a while... So, giving it to your watchmaker is the most prudent decision to avoid further bad surprises. Very nice " Ebony " spe... 

Thanks much

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 8th, 2015-15:52
Cool. I will try that. Thanks for the advice!!

Welcome here and congrats to your Memovox!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 9th, 2015-01:09
Would you mind posting shots of the case back and crowns? Thank you. Best Blomman

Picture of crowns

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 9th, 2015-05:30
Here is the picture of the crowns and the back of the case. Couldn't take the case back and movement as I do not have the tools to open it. Let me know what are your thoughts ...  

Well, I suspect this is not a E 855....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 9th, 2015-07:44
Goldfilled case? Not the normal locking ring on the case back. Crowns looks OK matching this type of case. These are more often seen with LeCoultre dials. Is it a manual movement or bumper automatic inside? Just to point out, I don't see anything wrong wi... 

Supposed to be a E855, 14k gold case with Calibre 825

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 9th, 2015-07:56
This was what i was told by the auction site. I got this from Auctionata. All watches on the site are supposed to have been verified by experts. I hope I have not been duped. Maybe I should get an independent watch shop to verify this.......

As mentioned, I don't see any problem with your watch....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 10th, 2015-00:23
Just that I doubt it is a reference E 855. If bumper inside, you surly will find the cal 825 when you open it. Why I asked is that this kind of case more often seen with LeCoultre dial. Very curious to know which reference this is! Best Blomman

Looking for help

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 10th, 2015-00:41
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am looking around for a watchmaker to help with the authentication in case it is really not E855 and I need to make a claim from the auction site. In any case, if the watch uses a case from another model and put it tog... 

No, no - I am under impression that your watch is an all original watch!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 10th, 2015-00:48
BUT, with another reference than E 855. Here are some of my E 855: Hard to see in these photos, but different crowns and the ring to lock the case back.... Best Blomman ...  

Phew!!! A sigh of relief

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 10th, 2015-01:01
If it is all original then I can take a bit more time to find the right watchmaker to do the job. Quality watchmakers cost a bomb here in Singapore. Thanks for showing me your impressive collection! Hope to get "Black Knight" myself one of these days

Thank you

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 11th, 2015-01:15
Yes, good watchmakers cost. It is the cheap one you have to be carful with...! Singapore? You should get in touch with Stefan Ma! Best Blomman

Thanks for the link up

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 11th, 2015-09:04
Got in touch with Stefan. He gave me the disappointing news that he was sure that no watchmaker in Singapore has the tool to open up the case. I am now stuck with a mystery that I cannot solve. Did managed to find a picture of someone's watch which closel...  

Indeed E 860!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 11th, 2015-09:41
Here is a shot posted by duck back in 2011: Best Blomman ...  

A very rare bird. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : November 11th, 2015-09:42

Yes, that is why I didn't connect the dots at first....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 11th, 2015-09:49
Stefan has a good eye! Best Blomman

Not totally convinced

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 11th, 2015-16:09
Based on what I find online, it appears that E860 has a different numeral display for its 6, 9 and 12. Additionally, the back of the case also does not indicate 14k gold. These are some pics I got. Hence, I think the only way to be sure is to open the wat...  

Different dials and case material...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : November 11th, 2015-18:12
But still the same reference. For example my photos of my E 855 - all have the same reference but different dials... But only way to know for sure is to open the case... Best Blomman

Thank you

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 11th, 2015-19:55
Would I be able to tell what model the watch is by simply looking at the movement and engraving on the case back or do I still need to take down the movement and case back numbers and send them to JLC for an Extract of Archives? Don't think I have ever be... 

Look at what is written inside the case back, give us the case and movement number. We'll check some points.

 
 By: amanico : November 11th, 2015-22:37
No need to ask JLC for an Extract of Archives it won't tell you more, and will certainly not attest that your watch is authentic. Best, Nicolas

WOw! You guys are even more professional than the watch experts hired by the auction houses.

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 11th, 2015-22:50
Thanks for all your help and guidance. Now all that is left, is for me to find that someone in Singapore who has the right tool to open up the case without damaging the watch.

With JLC it is not too hard. The case and movement numbers indicate the prod year.

 
 By: amanico : November 11th, 2015-23:02
Then we have to check the watch prod year is consistent with the ref prod years. But the problem is that we don't have many things on the Ref E 860. Best, Nicolas

....

 
 By: Zsolt : November 12th, 2015-00:47
Hello Lee, I believe the "P" on the back indicates that this one is an 18k solid gold case which was made for the European market so the "JLC" dial is correct. If the case is "Gold filled" or "14k solid gold" than the watch was probably made for the USA m... 

Case material

 
 By: Zsolt : November 12th, 2015-00:49
Hello Lee, I believe the "P" on the back indicates that this one is an 18k solid gold case which was made for the European market so the "JLC" dial is correct. If the case is "Gold filled" or "14k solid gold" than the watch was probably made for the USA m... 

My dial and case

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 12th, 2015-00:58
Hi Zsolt, Given the long chain, I thought I will just reattach the photos for my watch below. So based on what u shared above, am I right to say that my case should come with a Le Coultre dial rather than the Jaeger LeCoultre I see here? However, Blomman ...  

I was wrong....

 
 By: Zsolt : November 16th, 2015-20:35
...just saw the 1967 catalog posted by Nicolas and the European version of the E860 was available in gold plated case too, not only solid 18k gold. So it came in different case materials, probably in 14k version too...

Gone through the entire internet

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 17th, 2015-06:58
But I have not seen a single watch like mine. Many had the same dial but they are all 18k gold and their casing is not a single-piece like mine. I have also read that reference numbers are seldom engraved on gold casing. In essence, it seems like it would... 

Could you instruct on how to remove the locking ring to take off the case back?

 
 By: Jcnst1 : February 21st, 2016-18:04
Do you need a special tool for this?

my best guess...

 
 By: FanFrancisco : November 12th, 2015-05:20
hi guys, sorry for late joining the discussion. i just checked my collection, i find one memovox that has the same case back (10K gold plated top and SS caseback) in design, both crowns look exactly the same as the one Wee Siong has. But mine the dial is ... 

find another one in my memo collection...

 
 By: FanFrancisco : November 12th, 2015-06:05
i have one worldtime memovox with LeCoultre signed on the dial has the same caseback design, case reference is 2677. stefan

here you go...

 
 By: FanFrancisco : November 12th, 2015-08:01
(courtesy from Zaf) ...  

Yes! ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : November 12th, 2015-08:43

Wrote to the auction site

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 13th, 2015-09:14
To tell them why this watch cannot be an E855 (based on the points many of the pros have shared here). They indicated that they still need a written note from a watchmaker before considering to refund the purchase. Going to the watchmaker that Stefan intr... 

Is it true that such one piece cannot be open without risk of the glass breaking?

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 13th, 2015-22:14
Just went to the local watch shop. They say that there is a risk that the glass may break if they open the casing. They indicated that this has nothing to do with them not having the 1335 wrench. Even if there is one, the risk is the same. Can I confirm i... 

Please keep us posted. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : November 13th, 2015-23:38

Mystery solved!!!

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 21st, 2015-04:24
Finally found a pro watch maker who helped me open the watch. All thanks to Stefan. I have attached the pictures of the movement and case back. It is a genuine 825 movement. I am not sure about the model though. The movement number is 2016193 and the case...  

So you have a Lecoultre case, with a Jaeger Lecoultre movement and dial...

 
 By: amanico : November 21st, 2015-04:31
I am not comfortable with that... For me, I have the feeling your watch is re assembled with parts which don't go together. Sorry for the bad feeling. Best, Nicolas

Isn't that very common?

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 21st, 2015-04:53
Thanks for sharing. But I have seen many Memovox with JLC movement and dial but LeCoultre case at Auction sites and eBay. I thought this was a common trait for the watch.

Maybe, maybe not. That's just my " uncomfortable " feeling.

 
 By: amanico : November 21st, 2015-04:57
I can see a Lecoultre movement coming with a JLC dial. But a JLC movement ' fab suisse " hence issued for the french market, housed in a case issued for the american market, with a JLC signed dial which doesn't bear the " fab suisse " mention, that doen't... 

You are the expert here.

 
 By: Lee Wee Siong : November 21st, 2015-22:16
Given the number of watches you owned and seen, I trust your judgement more than I do mine. Will write a note to the auction site and see what they say. Thanks for sharing. I am still torn as to whether I should keep it even if it is a mix and match. Cuz ...