Early Mark III Sherpa Graph with White with Gray Bezel

[Joe_A]

I'm considering making an offer on this one myself, but if you beat me to it, I won't cry.

So what do we think of this one:







The 835 serial number makes sense, but the "8" looks a little dodgy.

There aren't any movement shots, but who would want anyone to scratch that fine case back.

It looks like the crown is a Mark II style crown, but the watch may be an honest all-original watch, just the same.

Nico has a photo of one of these references under his Mark III entries.

So what do we think?

~ Joe

 

[Gopher]

Great questions. I looked at it myself but it felt off for some reason. The caseback looks too good to be true, especially with the funky 8.

I also question the Enicar Sherpa Graph printing on the dial, but it may be fine as I know Enicar printing quality varied.

I am more accustomed to black dials, so it may just be my relative lack of familiarity with the white dial.

Do the lume dots look all right to you? The squares on the indices looks maybe too square/perfect?

I cannot make a definite call on it myself but it certainly is in nice condition.

I am not in the market right now, so it's all yours!

 

[SteveHarris]

All looks good to me but that 8 is a bit odd ‍

Here's my one:-

 

[JimJupiter]

Here is the sister, 835.953 with also a strange 8 I think to say:




All looks correct to me with the watch...maybe a bit pricey

 

[Joe_A]

Sometimes I think about making a purchase long enough so that someone buys the thing ahead of me.

And often I feel a sense of relief.

This is likely going to be one of those times.

It's a beautiful watch, but it's not a gray and white Mark I b or c.

 

[Gopher]

Ha, I can relate completely! It seems that one is worthy but at the right price.

 

[mgernhar]

I'm considering making an offer on this one myself, but if you beat me to it, I won't cry.

So what do we think of this one:

View attachment 4593

View attachment 4595

View attachment 4596

The 835 serial number makes sense, but the "8" looks a little dodgy.

There aren't any movement shots, but who would want anyone to scratch that fine case back.

It looks like the crown is a Mark II style crown, but the watch may be an honest all-original watch, just the same.

Nico has a photo of one of these references under his Mark III entries.

So what do we think?

~ Joe

where is this watch for sale? How much are they asking?

 

[SteveHarris]

It's on C24 - https://chrono24.co.uk/enicar/sherpa-mark-iii--id22452340.htm

 

[mgernhar]

for what its worth the case back of my mk1a jet graph, is as good or better than this one, and it has an 8 in the serial number, which looks as you would expect. Not sure whats going on with that funky 8, but one would think if they were going to go to all the trouble to fake a case back, they would get the 8 correct? At the factory where the serial numbers engraved by hand or was that step automated?

 

[Joe_A]

for what its worth the case back of my mk1a jet graph, is as good or better than this one, and it has an 8 in the serial number, which looks as you would expect. Not sure whats going on with that funky 8, but one would think if they were going to go to all the trouble to fake a case back, they would get the 8 correct? At the factory where the serial numbers engraved by hand or was that step automated?

When it comes to such anomalies, these sorts of things show up often and once other examples are discovered, any concerns one may have should fade into the background. Nico's watch has a slightly twisted 8 as well.

To me, many watch serial numbers look like stampings rather than engravings. When a stamp slips slightly out of place, there can be distortion. Some seem to be done using hand stamping.

The Gallet signature looks like an engraving whereas the "Acier Inoxable" and the number appear to be stamped.



and now notice the case is not signed Gallet and the #4 is quite different:



It's obvious the stamp set is not the same though one and three are similar.



The S.G. Mark III looks good. We will probably never know otherwise.

 

[mgernhar]

When it comes to such anomalies, these sorts of things show up often and once other examples are discovered, any concerns one may have should fade into the background. Nico's watch has a slightly twisted 8 as well.

To me, many watch serial numbers look like stampings rather than engravings. When a stamp slips slightly out of place, there can be distortion. Some seem to be done using hand stamping.

The Gallet signature looks like an engraving whereas the "Acier Inoxable" and the number appear to be stamped.

View attachment 4615

and now notice the case is not signed Gallet and the #4 is quite different:

View attachment 4616

It's obvious the stamp set is not the same though one and three are similar.

View attachment 4618

The S.G. Mark III looks good. We will probably never know otherwise.

Does anyone know how many Mk3 white dials where made? are they very rare? That price seems high, but it does seem to be an exceptional example. thanks

 

[Marco]

Looks like a beautiful sample - I would definitely be tempted if I didn’t have one already. Mine is below and it doesn’t have the weird 8. But clearly as Nico points out, there are others out there which do. I didn’t realise the MK3 white dials were ‘rare’ - is that really the case?

 

[JimJupiter]

White MK IIIs we just find in the 835.xxx to 836.xxx range. These are also the earliest MK IIIs. In this range I have 13 watches yet and 5 of them are white. So in this specific batch, I would say they are not that rare. Looking at all MK IIIs (52 watches in the list), they are.

Nico

 

[SteveHarris]

So only 5 white dial Mark III's are known? I'm sure there are more still alive, I'm just surprised it's so low.

 

[Joe_A]

The watch is now on reserve, so sold awaiting payment no doubt.

I've been checking on it daily and . . .

. . . My right hand moves toward the mouse to make an offer and my left hand has been slapping my right hand away!

I am much relieved!

Congratulations to the new owner of a fine watch!

 

[SteveHarris]

I assume that price was negotiable. I wonder what price they were actually after. I did pay a lot less for mine but there really aren't many of them I suppose. Similar to your 1a Joe, we'll probably be saying what a good investment this was in a few years time!

 

[Gopher]

Price must be negotiable because I recall it having a "Suggest a Price" option.

It may not be sold quite yet. When a buyer suggest a price (submits or request an offer) on C24,, it will show Reserved until the offer is either accepted, rejected, or expires, so it could be available again within a day or two...or it may be sold and is just waiting for payment to clear. We will need to wait and see. (I have transacted on C24 numerous times.)

I have seen plenty of watches come back after being Reserved.

 

[Gopher]

Not sure when you bought yours, Steve, but everyone paid a lot less for everything even just a couple years ago! Prices for good, original examples show little sign of coming down. And it's a double-edged sword, right? We'd like to see prices come down so we can acquire more at a bargain but we want prices to rise so our current inventory gains in value.

 

[mgernhar]

interesting. its probably not just a matter of rarity i dont think. for example a jet graph mk1a is probably rarer than a mk3 with a white dial, but it would seem aesthetically, there is more demand for the mk3 white dial, hence higher pricing? I would guess a jet graph mk1a would go for maybe 10-11k vs the 13ish thousand for the mk3 with a white dial. Also in the day the jet graph sold for more as it had the same V72 movement with a gmt complication and a moveable bezel. Having said that i remember an auction last year where there were 2 mk3 white dials, in not as good a condition, one sold for ~ 4k, and i think the other ~ 10k.

 

[JimJupiter]

I know of twice as much Jet Graph MK 1a vs. white dial MK III Sherpa Graph (10 vs. 5)