PRICES REALIZED
DESCRIPTION:
WW - Patek Philippe, Genève, Beta 21, ref 3597, circa 1970, quartz, 43mm x 42mm to lug tips, original 18K yellow gold screw back case, leather strap, original champagne sunburst dial with applied baton indices, 13J cal B21, sweep-seconds similar to that of an Accutron, s#2741722, triple signed. Includes extra NOS Patek strap. The Centre Electronique Horologer (or CEH for short) was formed in 1962 by a consortium of 20 big brand watch manufacturers including Patek Philippe, Omega, Piaget as well as numerous others. With the pooled resources of the major Swiss brand the boffins over at CEH developed the Beta 1 in 1966, the first quartz-controlled movement made in Switzerland. Shortly after, in 1967, they improved on the design with the Beta 2, which at the "Concours Chronométrique International de l'Observatoire de Neuchâtel" won first prize for setting a new record for accuracy in a wristwatch movement. In 1969, the final production model was introduced, the Beta 21. The consortium agreed that 6,000 movements would be manufactured and distributed to the brands that participated. That year at the Basel World Fair, several companies introduced their newly designed quartz watches to market to great praise. However, the excitement at Basel soon faded upon Seiko's launch of the much thinner more reliable Astron that utilized a stepper motor system instead of the much bulkier Beta 21 that utilized a vibration motor, which resulted in poorer battery life and a perfect sweep-second like that of the Accutron. By the mid-1970s, the Beta 21 was nothing but a novelty from the past, historically significant but a dinosaur in contrast. Few working models have survived over the years mostly due to the fact that a great number of the watches were made in large chunky gold cases which have since been scrapped.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; nearly flawless dial with light spotting on gold indices; mint hands; unpolished case shows very little wear, several light dings on back from improper use of a case wrench; signed crown shows hardly any wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$15000
-
$25000
PRICE SOLD:
$12500
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - Pulsar Time Computer, 901, Calculator, digital, 40mm x 47mm to lug tips, 11mm lug width with integrated bracelet, original 18K yellow gold case with 6 gold screws, integrated 18K yellow gold oval link bracelet made by J.B. Champion with fold over safety to prevent accidental opening, original red mineralite crystal display screen, no jewels, capable of adjusting for long and short months as well as leap year, s#17 of the first run of 100, triple signed. Includes a period box, with manuals and pen with stylus for using calculator functions. Gross weight of assembled watch 103.2 dwt (160.5 g). The Pulsar Calculator 901 was released to the general public in December of 1975, making it the first calculator watch in history. Its distinctive red display and chunky case make it an unmistakable product of its time. With a price tag of $3,950 brand new, it was beyond the reach of most people in that era. To put that in perspective, a brand new Rolex Daytona at the time was under $1000 retail and a Patek Nautilus was just over $3000. Due to the high melting rate of these watches over the years, this is one of the earliest known surviving Pulsar Calculators.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, second digit in digital display is weak, will flicker from deep red to light red but always displays the digits, mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide, unpolished case shows very little wear, very light stretch on the heavy 18K link bracelet, light dings on the face from what appear to be instrument slips using the calculator function; red mineralite glass display has chattering along the outside edge most notably at the top; boxes in excellent overall condtion, outer box shows light wear along the creased corners, inner box shows hardly any wear.
ESTIMATE:
$8000
-
$12000
PRICE SOLD:
$4000
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - LIP Cosmic, electronic R27, 35mm x 46mm to lug tips, 18mm lug width, original 18K rose gold case with angular lugs and two screw back battery compartments, original crocodile strap with rose gold buckle, original silvered floral engine turned dial with applied rose gold indices, 15J cal R27, s#17116, triple signed. The R27 was the second electric movement to market, losing to Hamilton by less than a year. When released, although the second electric movement, it was the first electronic movement as it had a diode to reduce sparking on the contacts. This particular watch was the top of the line in the R27 line up, with a retail cost of more than double that of the much more common Jupiter series stainless steel models. This model was also worn by famous French general and politician Charles de Gaulle.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, near pristine cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; near flawless dial, light spotting on the perimeter at 10; near mint hands; unpolished case shows hardly any wear, several light dings on battery compartment doors from a tool slipping; back set crown shows hardly any wear; good plastic crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$3000
-
$5000
PRICE SOLD:
$1300
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - ESA, electric, 34mm x 43mm to lug tips, 18mm lug width, original 18K yellow gold snap back case, original leather strap with 18K yellow gold buckle, original champagne dial with applied gold indices at 12, 3, 6 and 9, 13J cal 4751, this particular caliber also features a hack set unique to the Landeron range of ESA electrics, case s#82, movement s#6684, triple signed. The Landeron 4750 was the first electric watch produced by the Swiss, released in 1961 by Landeron under the guidance of its parent company ESA. The watch runs on a contained fixed coil system. This particular watch has complete box, paperwork, hang tags and even its original chronometer certificate from Controle Officiel De La Marche Des Chronometers, dated February 25th 1964, however the watch is marked unadjusted.
CONDITION:
Mvt: NR, fresh battery installed, the watch will run for 10 seconds then stop, contacts and balance look to be intact, may just require fresh oil, near mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; near flawless dial has only light surface spotting; near mint hands show only light tarnish; lightly polished case shows very little wear, several notable dings on the side where a case knife slipped opening back; crown shows very little wear; good plastic crystal; box and associated paperwork show hardly any wear.
ESTIMATE:
$1000
-
$2000
PRICE SOLD:
$425
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - Lord Elgin, electronic, 29mm x 36mm to lug tips, 16mm lug width, original gold-filled unibody case with setting crown on the rear, original leather strap with signed buckle, original silvered dial with applied gold indices, 15J cal 725, s#S061183, triple signed. This particular watch includes its original inner and outer box as well as instruction booklet, which according to several sources is the only known complete example in the marketplace. The story begins with a press release in 1952 where to much fanfair, it was heralded at the time by the press to be the most important horological development in 450 years. However Elgin's electric would be plagued by high development costs. As a struggling company trying to compete with other Swiss and American brands, the electric division suffered. Ten years later, in 1962, the Elgin electric finally saw its day in the sun with a small test release in Chicago. Having been beaten to the market by Hamilton, Bulova, Landeron and the French company LIP, the watch was a commercial flop. Many of the watches ended up being returned to Elgin as defective in exchange for certificates toward Elgin's selfwinding models. This caused the early back-set Elgins to be incredibly scarce and rare in the collector space, and also led to the eventual demise in 1968 of a once great American producer of watches.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, near mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; near flawless dial; near mint hands with only very light spotting; unpolished case shows hardly any wear, no dents or dings; crown shows hardly any wear; good plastic crystal. Battery removed 3/3. Near mint inner box; outer box shows moderate wear and two split corners on the bottom half are held together with tape.
ESTIMATE:
$1000
-
$2000
PRICE SOLD:
$600
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - Pulsar Time Computer, digital, 33mm x 37mm to lug tips, 13mm lug width, original 14K yellow gold screw back case, suede strap and gold buckle signed Pulsar, original red mineralite display, s# 180434, triple signed. Gross weight of assembled watch 17.1 dwt (26.6 g). Includes a period box and unfilled warranty card from Pulsar.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, pristine cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; unpolished case shows hardly any wear, several fine scratches on back where a wrench has slipped; flawless red mineralite display; boxes show very light wear with the gold plating to the Pulsar logo fading.
ESTIMATE:
$800
-
$1200
PRICE SOLD:
$325
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - Timex Dorado, back set, new old stock, electric, 35mm x 40mm to lug tips, 19mm lug width, original 14K yellow gold unibody case, unworn leather strap, original silvered dial with applied gold baton indices, 7J cal 84, s#H3176001, triple signed. Includes the original inner and outer box as well as the paperwork and hang tags. The rarest of the Timex Electric models as well as one of the rarest of all Timex models second only to the Southampton.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, near mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; flawless dial; near mint hands show light tarnishing and spotting; unpolished case shows no wear, no dents or dings; crown shows no wear; good plastic crystal; boxes shows very little wear, most notably on the outer corners.
ESTIMATE:
$800
-
$1200
PRICE SOLD:
$750
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - Epperlein 100, electric, 35mm x 43mm to lug tips, 18mm lug width, original gold-plated base metal screw back exhibition case, original leather strap, original cream dial with applied gold indices, 14J cal 100, no serial number present. The brainchild of Helmut Epperlein, initial research for this watch started in 1952. With the intent of creating an electric watch by 1956, they went into partnership with the Hamilton Watch Co, which explains the relative similarity between the Hamilton electrics and the Epperlein. Hamilton supplied them with contacts and magnets. Of the few thousand that were produced, a large percentage were deemed unreliable and returned to the Epperlein factory for destruction. Today an Epperlein 100 is a rare sight, especially one in running condition such as the present example.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, light oxide on the plates and retaining ring; excellent dial with light surface spotting; excellent hands; unpolished case shows hardly any wear, no dents or dings; crown shows hardly any wear; good plastic crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$600
-
$800
PRICE SOLD:
$225
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - Certina Biostar, Biorhythm calculator, electronic, 39mm x 43mm to lug tips, 19mm lug width, original stainless steel screw back case with hidden lugs, stainless steel NSA bracelet, original grayish blue dial with applied silver indices, apertures at 12 for displaying the wearer's individual biorhythms, day of the week aperture at 3, 13J cal 9156, s#8643793, triple signed.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, biorhythm display functions properly, near mint cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide, battery clip is broken but still functions and locks properly; near flawless dial; near mint hands; unpolished case shows hardly any wear, no dents or dings; crown shows hardly any wear; good plastic crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$400
-
$600
PRICE SOLD:
$350
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DESCRIPTION:
WW - LIP Frigo, electronic, 27mm x 40mm to lug tips, original matte stainless steel screw back case, one piece leather strap, original silvered step dial with black painted dot indices and a date aperture at 3, 15J, s#000510, triple signed. Includes a plastic LIP signed box. Designed by renowned French designer Roger Tallon for LIP, Roger also designed the Mach 2000 series of watches for which LIP is most known.
CONDITION:
Mvt: GRO, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, no oxide; near flawless dial; near mint hands; unpolished case shows hardly any wear, no dents or dings; crown shows hardly any wear; good glass crystal; box shows very little wear.
ESTIMATE:
$300
-
$600
PRICE SOLD:
$325
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