The summer is nearing its official end, and while the blue skies and warm weather might be departing for some, the vintage fake watch finds aren't going anywhere any time soon. Should you need proof, just take a gander at what surfaced this week, including a tonneau-shaped Jaeger-LeCoultre, along with a Favre Leuba that mimics a famed JLC design, and an oversized Compax from Universal Geneve. If razor sharp and ultra clean is what you're after, we've got you covered too, with a large logo Cal. 215 chronograph from Angelus, and the always compelling Juvenia Arithmo. Without further ado, here's your selection of finds for the week.
Favre Leuba SandowThis looks like one manufacturer's most iconic watch. The icon I'm referring to is of course the Reverso, but the piece we're speaking of today is a borderline bootleg of sorts. Still, it's a tastefully executed one at that, from none other than Favre Leuba. With a stainless steel case and a gilt dial, I know many will surely enjoy this one.
For those who've not had the pleasure of researching the relationship shared between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Favre Leuba for hours on end, allow me to share some knowledge. The two brands have been intertwined in several ways replica rolex for men throughout history, in part through distributing each other's offerings and cobranding, though the stakes would later be raised. In 1969, Favre Leuba purchased SAPIC, or Société Anonyme de Participations Industrielles et Commerciales ?the holding company which owned the Jaeger LeCoultre brand. This resulted in more Favre Leuba branded Reversos and pieces making use of the Memovox movement, up until 1978 when the brand would be sold off once again.
This piece predates one brand's purchase of the other, and is instead an attempt to mimic the genius of an already established timepiece. In comparison to the Reverso, the Sandow is noticeably more top heavy on the wrist, largely due to its increased height and heft. Despite this, it's still quite the attractive piece, and one I'd be proud to wear.
An eBay seller based out of Miami has this piece listed for sale with an asking price of $2,499. Find more information and photos here.
Jaeger-LeCoultre TonneauOur next pick comes from Jaeger-LeCoultre, who presumably would've manufactured this piece back in the 1940s. If you're of the camp that believes the peak of horological design was experienced decades ago, you'll likely get a kick out of this one, and its many interesting facets, including the stepped, tonneau-shaped case.
Of particular note is the typeface used on the dial, which in addition to being decidedly large, is uniquely attractive. I have a slight suspicion that this piece was originally intended for military use, which would be supported by the increased legibility afforded by the Arabic numerals and radium lume dots. If anyone has further insight into whether this suspicion is indeed the case, I'd love to hear more in the comments below.
For a fake watch of its age, this JLC has held up reasonably well over the years, though not without the development of a little patina. I'm not sure about you, but I dig a little bit of dial discoloration in some instances, of which this is one. Though its tonneau-shaped case only measures 28 mm across, likely putting it out of consideration for most men, I think it'd be a great looking piece a on a woman's wrist.
Hutchinson Scott Auctioneers of Skipton will offer this Jaeger-LeCoultre with an estimate of £300 to £500 in an upcoming sale taking place in six days time. Find more information here.
Juvenia ArithmoThe cat is officially out of the bag, and there's a new Apple fake watch in town. As someone who doesn't want yet another screen to lose themselves in, I personally still can't get behind the smart fake watch trend, though given Apple's continued success in the field, it's more than likely that I'm in the minority. If you're associate with this minority, too, I've got a smart fake watch of a different sort that might be more your speed.
Though some tout the Arithmo as the very first timepiece to incorporate a slide rule mechanism, it in truth followed the release of Mimo's Loga and the Breitling Chronomat. With that said, I'd argue that the Arithmo has a leg up on the rest, thanks to its truly wild design. Most notably, this reference makes use of a second convex crystal, which extends over the bezel. This detail is lost when looking at the fake watch in head on photos, though at an angle its magic becomes evident.
Arithmos aren't common by any means ?in fact far from it, though I've still been lucky enough to encounter quite a few examples over the years. The example in question today is undoubtedly the cleanest out of all that I've seen, with a perfect dial, a likely unpolished case, and a spotless slide rule. In that these replica watches make use of radium luminous compound, it's not uncommon to see radiation burn marks on the dials, making the absence of such marks on this piece certainly appreciated. All in all, a top notch Arithmo.
A dealer who goes by @johnswatches on Instagram is asking $4,000 for this outstanding example of the rare reference. If you've been after one for a while, this is the fake watch for you. Make him an offer here.
ADVERTISEMENT Universal Geneve Compax Ref. 22704-1While many collectors were eagerly chasing after anything that remotely resembled a Compax at the height of the Universal Geneve craze, the more thoughtful folk of the bunch used the new attention and increased scholarship to gain more insight into the best of the best. As you'd expect, some of UG's most desired references are the more oversized offerings, including a favourite Compax of mine, the Ref. 22704-1.
At the time of this reference's introduction, the bulk of chronographs measured 36 mm across and smaller. In contrast, the Ref. 22704-1 comes in at 38 mm across. Apart from its increased presence on the wrist, I've always appreciated the way in which the subdial numerals were printed; if you look closely, you can see that they extend past the outer rim and onto the flat part of the subdial. While this is a quite minute detail, it's a rarity within the Universal Geneve back catalogue, along with chronograph production as a whole.
My one reservation about this piece is the fact that I've seen it go up for sale a number of times on eBay, only to later be removed. I'm not sure if the seller is unsure of whether they want to let go, or if a number of people have offered to make deals outside of the auction site and then the deals have fallen through, but it's now been listed three times in the past two weeks. With all this said, I'd suggest confirming with the seller that it isn't going anywhere before you let your hopes get too high.
As mentioned, this piece is currently for sale on eBay with a starting bid of $6,000 CAD, which equates roughly to $4,500 USD.
Angelus Cal. 215To cap things off for the week, we've got another chronograph ?but unlike the former, we're winding down with a dual register piece. When a chronograph is configured this way, it's important for the manufacturer to bring a little something more to the table in the way of compelling aesthetics, which the brand at hand certainly did with this design. Our last pick of the week is an Angelus Cal. 215 chronograph, bearing the exceedingly rare and desirable large logo dial, complete with red hash marks originally intended for the timing of payphone calls.
Like the aforementioned UG, this Angelus measures 38 mm across, which would've been considered even larger at the time of its production. Similarly, it also features screw back case construction. Cal. 215 chronograph collectors will be quick to tell you how such examples are known to hold up better than their snap back cousins, and if the condition of this example is any indication of this notion's validity, then I would certainly agree.
The seller of this piece has described this example as the nicest one on the planet, and unless a better one materializes out of thin air, this statement is likely true. Not only does it have a perfectly glossy gilt dial, but all of the luminous radium applications remain intact and evenly aged. To find any large logo Cal. 215 chronograph is no small feat in and of itself, making the chance to own one in such condition a rare opportunity. I wouldn't be surprised to see this one move rather quickly.
You'll find this piece listed for sale on Instagram, where a collector who goes by @sumnersdr is asking $7,800. More photos can be found on his feed. Make him an offer here.
Jaeger-lecoultre Universal-geneve Angelus Favre-leuba Juvenia