Is this watch any rare?
Hello everyone, I just took apart this very old watch that I have had since I was very little. Recent I have started to really like watches again and especially their movements. So here I am taking this one apart not very precise and making some scratches since I expected this to be a very basic “boring” movent. I have looked on google before for the brand but never found it. And to my surprise there is a gorgeous 21 jewel su1986 automatic swiss movement in here. It doesn’t run (less then 1 sec and the rotor isn’t very smooth either. Do any of you guys have any idea how special this watch is and or recommendations for what I could do with this? I kind of want to try to get some dimensions and put another dial and case on it and try to make it run agains since I love the movement but the style of dial etc. Not so much. The last photo is a size comparison for the movement on top of my ga2100-ff. Thank you!
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Jaquet Droz makes some very high end watches and some excellent movements. I will let the vintage experts weigh in, but I would get that in the hands of a talented watch maker to repair and get running again.
Jaquet Droz makes some very high end watches and some excellent movements. I will let the vintage experts weigh in, but I would get that in the hands of a talented watch maker to repair and get running again.
I feel really bad for the big scratches I just made on it now. Luckaly its the caseback but this watch in general has been sitting in boxes in my room for 10+ years maybe
Jaquet Droz makes some very high end watches and some excellent movements. I will let the vintage experts weigh in, but I would get that in the hands of a talented watch maker to repair and get running again.
Do you think it still hase any value? I could use the money to buy some tools to start with repairing some simple movements. I would love to do that either as a side job or maybe groe it into something way bigger.
Do you think it still hase any value? I could use the money to buy some tools to start with repairing some simple movements. I would love to do that either as a side job or maybe groe it into something way bigger.
I am not sure, I know the brand, I know what they are capable of, but not and expert on their older pieces to know. Looks like the watch has a history to it and I love seeing things like that brought back to life.
That doesn't look like anything Jaquet Droz would put their name on. The movement especially.
I am not sure, I know the brand, I know what they are capable of, but not and expert on their older pieces to know. Looks like the watch has a history to it and I love seeing things like that brought back to life.
The only thing I’m able to find about this piece on google is my own post😂. Do you think it would be a reasonable goal to try to service this watch myself (gaining a lot of experience) and then putting it in a new strap, case and getting a new dial and hands?
Jaquet Droz makes some very high end watches and some excellent movements. I will let the vintage experts weigh in, but I would get that in the hands of a talented watch maker to repair and get running again.
Thank you for responding by the way. This really is an awesome community!
That doesn't look like anything Jaquet Droz would put their name on. The movement especially.
Does this mean someone put the brand on to make some money?
Does this mean someone put the brand on to make some money?
It means, more than likely that it's a bad attempt at a fake. In addition it's been beat to hell. Sorry-but it's pretty much worthless except to be something to experiment with.
It means, more than likely that it's a bad attempt at a fake. In addition it's been beat to hell. Sorry-but it's pretty much worthless except to be something to experiment with.
Alright, that’s exactly what I was planning on doing with it. Also I noticed that the crystal is made out of plastic. Do you have any recommendations for how I could turn this into a nice casual/ dress kind of watch? I really like a simple only date kind of watch (datejust?).
Is the watch rare? Yes, very few were made and very few have survived.
Is the watch valuable? In perfectly working order it would be worth about as much as a lunch (without appetizers) at a chain restaurant.
Jaquet Droz has three periods: the founding, the modern company, and in-between. The founding is basically pre-French Revolution masterful machines for the French elites. The modern company is not connected in anyway to the original company and only began in 1993 before being bought by Swatch.
In the middle are two different companies, one that ended in the 1960's and one that ended in the early eighties. These companies leased the name to budget watch manufacturers in many countries. Perhaps as many as 150 companies made Jaquet Droz watches, and none very well. Your watch was inexpensive when new.
Is the watch rare? Yes, very few were made and very few have survived.
Is the watch valuable? In perfectly working order it would be worth about as much as a lunch (without appetizers) at a chain restaurant.
Jaquet Droz has three periods: the founding, the modern company, and in-between. The founding is basically pre-French Revolution masterful machines for the French elites. The modern company is not connected in anyway to the original company and only began in 1993 before being bought by Swatch.
In the middle are two different companies, one that ended in the 1960's and one that ended in the early eighties. These companies leased the name to budget watch manufacturers in many countries. Perhaps as many as 150 companies made Jaquet Droz watches, and none very well. Your watch was inexpensive when new.
Love this, thanks Greg. I haven’t dove into the history of the brand, which your response makes me want to.
Is the watch rare? Yes, very few were made and very few have survived.
Is the watch valuable? In perfectly working order it would be worth about as much as a lunch (without appetizers) at a chain restaurant.
Jaquet Droz has three periods: the founding, the modern company, and in-between. The founding is basically pre-French Revolution masterful machines for the French elites. The modern company is not connected in anyway to the original company and only began in 1993 before being bought by Swatch.
In the middle are two different companies, one that ended in the 1960's and one that ended in the early eighties. These companies leased the name to budget watch manufacturers in many countries. Perhaps as many as 150 companies made Jaquet Droz watches, and none very well. Your watch was inexpensive when new.
Thank you very much for the response, nice to see so much history in a watch that I happen to own