Enicar The Flying Dutchman 60'
- Thread starter Zoltan Katay
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Zoltan Katay
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Thanks for feedback. Good point 
I am in Budapest, Hungary.
My partner will visit Genova later this month, so that might be an option as well.
I am in Budapest, Hungary.My partner will visit Genova later this month, so that might be an option as well.
I know a thing or two about Enicar
Feel free to send it my way, I'm based in The Netherlands.
Feel free to send it my way, I'm based in The Netherlands.
Send it to Horology Biology above for a professional service and loving care from a man who can.
I have also inherited an Enicar watch, a Star Alarm. It does run, but not properly. I'm in Texas. Does anyone have knowledge of a service outfit that can go through it and perform needed repairs? Thanks so much. (Along with it came a Vulcain Cricket that also needs repair/maintenance service.)
I think @Joe_A has made some recommendations on here before about US based watchmakers. Try doing a search or Joe might chime in.
Greetings from Lierna on Lake Como . . .
It's challenging to find a good local watchmaker with a reasonable turnaround time it seems for a variety reasons.
I have used RGM of Mt. Joy, Pa a number of times and a couple of years ago the work was excellent and the turnaround time was 2 to 4 months.
The last two watches I sent to them were properly and professionally serviced, but it took over a year for each to be serviced and as far as turnaround times go, one has to either "suck it up" or find someone else.
Though they would not say so, I believe that they must give priority to the contract warranty work they do and low-volume vintage watch repairs take a back seat.
If you've just bought a new watch and there is a problem with it and you send it in for warranty service, the contractor who does the work has to put these kinds of repairs ahead of queue. I have been after them to service a watch for over a year now and they keep asking me not to send it in, now, until at least this August . . . and I am a "regular" patron. I have no idea what they will say to me come August.
The above should not be seen as a complaint. Rather, it's simply a status report indicating unacceptable (to me) turnaround times for quality service. I know they lost one watchmaker months ago though they've not said so even though I suggested as much
Last fall I sent a watch to a well-respected Canadian watchmaker who stated he was running under three months. Here it is about 7 months later and I have not got the watch back yet. "I'll have it for you when you get back from Europe," he has indicated. I left New York in early June and I am due back this week. ;-)
With respect to our friends here, I am not sending a vintage watch to Europe unless I become more desperate than I now am, lol.
It's the shipping and insurance issue that will prevent me from sending a watch to the UK or to the Netherlands.
Maybe if I bring it with me and pick it up a few months later?
Cheers,
Joe
It's challenging to find a good local watchmaker with a reasonable turnaround time it seems for a variety reasons.
I have used RGM of Mt. Joy, Pa a number of times and a couple of years ago the work was excellent and the turnaround time was 2 to 4 months.
The last two watches I sent to them were properly and professionally serviced, but it took over a year for each to be serviced and as far as turnaround times go, one has to either "suck it up" or find someone else.
Though they would not say so, I believe that they must give priority to the contract warranty work they do and low-volume vintage watch repairs take a back seat.
If you've just bought a new watch and there is a problem with it and you send it in for warranty service, the contractor who does the work has to put these kinds of repairs ahead of queue. I have been after them to service a watch for over a year now and they keep asking me not to send it in, now, until at least this August . . . and I am a "regular" patron. I have no idea what they will say to me come August.
The above should not be seen as a complaint. Rather, it's simply a status report indicating unacceptable (to me) turnaround times for quality service. I know they lost one watchmaker months ago though they've not said so even though I suggested as much
Last fall I sent a watch to a well-respected Canadian watchmaker who stated he was running under three months. Here it is about 7 months later and I have not got the watch back yet. "I'll have it for you when you get back from Europe," he has indicated. I left New York in early June and I am due back this week. ;-)
With respect to our friends here, I am not sending a vintage watch to Europe unless I become more desperate than I now am, lol.
It's the shipping and insurance issue that will prevent me from sending a watch to the UK or to the Netherlands.
Maybe if I bring it with me and pick it up a few months later?
Cheers,
Joe
I have struggled with getting vintage watches serviced in a timely manner. My last watchmaker still has 5 or 6 of my watches and the clock is now counting in years. I'm pretty sure I tried the same famous Canadian watchmaker mentioned above and had the same prevaricating about the bush. I also often hear, "I can't do that".
I have found a new place that is working out very well. I have had two lots of five or so timepieces go through them so far. I find them direct and honest, giving a straight up appraisal of what they can do and what the outcomes will be. They are also always willing to give things a go which I appreciate. I state that because I bring in some decidedly odd ball stuff: jumping hour movements, very early electric movements, etc. I plan on rescuing my watches from the other watchmaker and sending them there soon.
They are located in downtown Victoria BC. I have worked closely with Jonathan there. Be warned, I tip well. If you don't, please don't say I sent you -- you cheap so-and-so! ;-)
I have found a new place that is working out very well. I have had two lots of five or so timepieces go through them so far. I find them direct and honest, giving a straight up appraisal of what they can do and what the outcomes will be. They are also always willing to give things a go which I appreciate. I state that because I bring in some decidedly odd ball stuff: jumping hour movements, very early electric movements, etc. I plan on rescuing my watches from the other watchmaker and sending them there soon.
Meticulous Modern & Vintage Watches Repair & Sales
Vintage Watches For Sale Meticulous Modern & Vintage Watches & Repair, Vintage Watch Sales & Watch Repair, Online Vintage Watch Sales, Sell Your Watch, We Buy Watches, Collections or Watchmakers Estate. Formerly Style In Time Vintage Watches founded in 2009. Storefront Location at 638 Johnson...
meticulouswatches.com
They are located in downtown Victoria BC. I have worked closely with Jonathan there. Be warned, I tip well. If you don't, please don't say I sent you -- you cheap so-and-so! ;-)
Watchmakers with a half-decent reputation all got swamped during the Covid years as the entire planet emptied out their drawers for a spring clean and found themselves with renewed interest in having 'dad's old watch' brought back to life. Wait times of 6~18 months were pretty common between mid 2020 and mid 2022.
The two I use regularly are now back to 6~8 weeks (which is about normal) but it was madness by 2nd half of 2020 and remained so for two years.
The two I use regularly are now back to 6~8 weeks (which is about normal) but it was madness by 2nd half of 2020 and remained so for two years.
I understand very well what Joe means with watchmakers who only return watches 12 to 18 months after repair. I sent 2 watches, which I had just bought, to the same watchmaker as Joe, the one who lost 1 or 2 technicians, well the first came back after 2 years and 2 months and the second after 3 years and 3 months . Who says better ???. I had sent the watches for a simple check, they were working very well... This is unacceptable, even with the health crisis... But they did a good job.
Hello Stephane,
I am wondering which watchmaker had your watches for 2 years and 2 months and also 3 years and 3 months. That's beyond any concept of reasonableness in my view.
So far, RGM has fallen behind to the extent of something over a year to 15 months though quality still appears to be fine. I am inclined to send another watch to them when or if invited, should I have some assurance of a reasonable turnaround. They are near local or within a reasonable driving range for me.
Meanwhile, if Precision Horology in Canada works out well in the end, I will be inclined to give Ashton Tracy another go. He did run into some unusual issues with my Mark Ib gray and white and we are now at about 8 months and it'll be another month or two before I get it back if all goes well with the crown swap. He has been very good in providing explanations accompanied by illustrative photos, so his communication is as expected for a reputable person and I have reason to feel confident of a good end result. I've been assured that this time-to-completion is unusually long for him.
I did use what was once called "Gallet Service" one time for a Gallet watch and the experience was absolutely unacceptable. They had the one watch three times over a year and a half and each time it came back relatively unchanged and with an unbelievable half-assed explanation. They charged $850 in advance at the time. I then sent the watch out to RGM and it came back running like new in a couple three months +/-. When I asked Roland Murphy (RGM) what they found, I was told that the movement was dirty and looked as though it had not been disassembled. Gallet USA (David Laurence and his wife Amanda Slaz) have since ceased to operate, but one person who I have come to deem to be a charlatan, Larry Slaz, has reopened under the name of "Multichron Service" of Florida. Caveat emptor with them . . . or with him.
Cheers,
Joe
I am wondering which watchmaker had your watches for 2 years and 2 months and also 3 years and 3 months. That's beyond any concept of reasonableness in my view.
So far, RGM has fallen behind to the extent of something over a year to 15 months though quality still appears to be fine. I am inclined to send another watch to them when or if invited, should I have some assurance of a reasonable turnaround. They are near local or within a reasonable driving range for me.
Meanwhile, if Precision Horology in Canada works out well in the end, I will be inclined to give Ashton Tracy another go. He did run into some unusual issues with my Mark Ib gray and white and we are now at about 8 months and it'll be another month or two before I get it back if all goes well with the crown swap. He has been very good in providing explanations accompanied by illustrative photos, so his communication is as expected for a reputable person and I have reason to feel confident of a good end result. I've been assured that this time-to-completion is unusually long for him.
I did use what was once called "Gallet Service" one time for a Gallet watch and the experience was absolutely unacceptable. They had the one watch three times over a year and a half and each time it came back relatively unchanged and with an unbelievable half-assed explanation. They charged $850 in advance at the time. I then sent the watch out to RGM and it came back running like new in a couple three months +/-. When I asked Roland Murphy (RGM) what they found, I was told that the movement was dirty and looked as though it had not been disassembled. Gallet USA (David Laurence and his wife Amanda Slaz) have since ceased to operate, but one person who I have come to deem to be a charlatan, Larry Slaz, has reopened under the name of "Multichron Service" of Florida. Caveat emptor with them . . . or with him.
Cheers,
Joe
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Dear Joe, it is exactly the people you mentioned who are responsible for all my worries with Gallet. Since then I no longer want to collect Their watches. They are for sale. I have 2 on chrono24 and a third that I need to have serviced. But you told me that David and his girlfriend had stopped, and I agree with you that the Multichron Service in Florida is just bull shit. I hope that your wonderful Mk 1b, gray and white, is coming soon. I have one but it's a Mk1c.
Best Regards
Stephane Runge
Best Regards
Stephane Runge
Thanks, Stephane,
I was not sure whether you were referring to Gallet.
The vintage Gallet watches that some enjoy today were from a different era and manufactured under a traditional family management, similar to the way Enicar watches that are being made today are so very different at the source from those which were made before Enicar went belly-up in the 1970s.
I suppose one may say that the original Gallet, Excelsior Park, Electa, Jeanneret-Brehm, and Jules Racine heritage has been somewhat damaged in recent years, but not the watches themselves, and not the brand intentionally, at least not by Bernard Gallet (no longer among the living) and not by the people who purchased the trademark seemingly in good faith before Gallet's passing, the Neresheimer family.
From what I understand, the Gallet trademark was purchased from Bernard Gallet by Walter Hediger (Swiss) who, until recently, worked with the Laurence/Slaz clan in the US. It has been alleged that Amanda Slaz worked as a secretary for Bernard Gallet and perhaps that is how the connection was made.
Walter hediger and theLaurence/Slaz clan have since had a falling out, and as far as I have been informed, Hediger either fired David Laurence or otherwise disolved his relationship with Laurence and his wife Amanda Slaz. Previously, David Laurence and Amanda have been listed as officers of a US corporation bearing the Gallet name, but I have not found any references to Larry Slaz mentioned or listed in any legal U.S. Gallet entity. Larry is allegedly, Amanda's brother and therefore, a brother-in-law of David Laurence.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but these Laurence/Slaz folks are dodgy at best . . . and perhaps worse.
Have the pre-1975 Gallet, Excelsior Park and Electa watches been themselves damaged? I don't think so, unless they were poorly serviced and not properly serviced thereafter.
Cheers,
Joe
The story posted here seems to be about 90% accurate (except for a suggested formal tie-in between Jules Racine and Enicar, as one example.) Notice, no mention of the U.S. company:
AN ANCIENT WATCH BRAND: THE HISTORY OF GALLET - Coronet - Rolex Stories
On April 18th, 1466, Humbertus Gallet became a citizen of the Republic of Geneva, with his profession being listed as a clockmaker…Gallet Clamshell, Flying Officer
montrespubliques.com
Yes, it seems that there is something fishy in their methods, and especially not to give the slightest explanation in 3 years ???!!! Are you still a member of the FB Gallet World site? I hesitate to stay there. Now I found in Enicar exactly what I was looking for.
Besides, if someone wants to get Gallet, Decimal, multichron 12, and Flying Officer, they are for sale. Ask me all the questions you have in mind.
You are very well informed on all subjects concerning watchmaking and I thank you for sharing it with everyone
Best regards
Stephane Runge
Besides, if someone wants to get Gallet, Decimal, multichron 12, and Flying Officer, they are for sale. Ask me all the questions you have in mind.
You are very well informed on all subjects concerning watchmaking and I thank you for sharing it with everyone
Best regards
Stephane Runge
Once upon a time, I was a moderator on the Gallet World pages @ FB. At one point I thought I may be able to do more good being somewhat on the inside. I made a few "let's keep them honest," posts from time to time and approved posts that were slightly critical. The way the page is organized, no posts appear unless approved. They had moderators in every timezone so that acceptable posts appeared very quickly, but anything obviously critical never made it onto the page.
I resigned as a moderator some months ago and with Dan Horton, who was once an administrator of the Gallet World page, started Vintage Gallet and Excelsior Park Watches.
There are troubling things about the Laurence/Slaz clan that I have been told or read about that I suspect are true, but as they are unverified, I would not discuss publicly. What I have shared thus far here, is in the public sphere or else I have learned are factual or have been experienced first hand. I have back-up documentation for anything I have discussed publicly.
As a nearly life-long owner of a small business, I do not believe in throwing stones at other businesses, especially struggling businesses, unless the actions of such a small business are injuring others. In the case of Gallet US service, it seems that, they did not have a room full of watchmakers at any time. What they did was receive watches at a Federal Express office in Peachtree Corners Georgia and then send them on or drop them off at a subcontracted watchmaker location. They had little or no direct control over watches sent in for service.
Their primary watchmaker was this fellow:
As you may observe in his obituary, Lu was self-employed. One of the stories I was told about my poorly serviced watch (likely not disassembled nor cleaned watch) is that it was serviced by Lu during a time when he was ill and in failing health. At the time, I consciously chose to accept the explanation. Lu died in November of 2020. My watch was first received for service by Gallet on 1/19/2019. It was supposedly completed on 11/10/2019 a year before Lu passed away. (I was later told that Lu died suddenly of a heart attack unrelated to Covid. Was he ill before he died?)
The watch was found to be running poorly on the timegrapher upon initial receipt by me. The movement would sometimes stop and the watch had to be tapped on the side to get it running again. No serviced watch should behave in such a way, but everyone deserves a second chance, right?
As I was in touch with Larry at this time, I sent the watch a second time on 11/26/19 and was returned to me on 1/27/20. This time the watch ran OK in dial up and dial down position, but the amplitude cratered below 160 degrees when the watch was running crown up and crown down and the beat error rose sharply.
I sent the watch to them for the third time on 2/2/2020. I received it about a month later and this time, the hours counter was not running at all and the overall performance was still unacceptable on the timegrapher.
All the while, I was engaged in a detailed and friendly dialogue with David and Larry.
The watch was sent to RGM for service on 5/21/2020 and returned to me fully serviced and running well on 7/7/2020. Note that the turnaround time for RGM back then was less than two months.
This is how it looked on the timegrapher after three opportunities to service expressed by Gallet in a message to Larry on 1/27/20
On the third try, as mentioned, the 12-hour counter would not run.
Each time the watch was "serviced" it ran worse than the time before.
This is how it was running after return from RGM:
Dial Up = +15 seconds; amplitude 332. BE = 0.1 msecs
Crown Down = + 6 seconds; amplitude 303; BE = 0.2 msecs
Dial Down = +20 seconds; amplitude 329; BE = 0.0 msecs
Crown Up = -3 seconds; amplitude 284; BE = 0.0 msecs
Crown Right Vertical = -10 seconds; amplitude 285; BE = 0.1 msecs
Crown Left Inverted = 1 second; amplitude 281; BE = 0.2 msecs
Good luck with the sale of your watches, Stephane.
Joe
I resigned as a moderator some months ago and with Dan Horton, who was once an administrator of the Gallet World page, started Vintage Gallet and Excelsior Park Watches.
There are troubling things about the Laurence/Slaz clan that I have been told or read about that I suspect are true, but as they are unverified, I would not discuss publicly. What I have shared thus far here, is in the public sphere or else I have learned are factual or have been experienced first hand. I have back-up documentation for anything I have discussed publicly.
As a nearly life-long owner of a small business, I do not believe in throwing stones at other businesses, especially struggling businesses, unless the actions of such a small business are injuring others. In the case of Gallet US service, it seems that, they did not have a room full of watchmakers at any time. What they did was receive watches at a Federal Express office in Peachtree Corners Georgia and then send them on or drop them off at a subcontracted watchmaker location. They had little or no direct control over watches sent in for service.
Their primary watchmaker was this fellow:
As you may observe in his obituary, Lu was self-employed. One of the stories I was told about my poorly serviced watch (likely not disassembled nor cleaned watch) is that it was serviced by Lu during a time when he was ill and in failing health. At the time, I consciously chose to accept the explanation. Lu died in November of 2020. My watch was first received for service by Gallet on 1/19/2019. It was supposedly completed on 11/10/2019 a year before Lu passed away. (I was later told that Lu died suddenly of a heart attack unrelated to Covid. Was he ill before he died?)
The watch was found to be running poorly on the timegrapher upon initial receipt by me. The movement would sometimes stop and the watch had to be tapped on the side to get it running again. No serviced watch should behave in such a way, but everyone deserves a second chance, right?
As I was in touch with Larry at this time, I sent the watch a second time on 11/26/19 and was returned to me on 1/27/20. This time the watch ran OK in dial up and dial down position, but the amplitude cratered below 160 degrees when the watch was running crown up and crown down and the beat error rose sharply.
I sent the watch to them for the third time on 2/2/2020. I received it about a month later and this time, the hours counter was not running at all and the overall performance was still unacceptable on the timegrapher.
All the while, I was engaged in a detailed and friendly dialogue with David and Larry.
The watch was sent to RGM for service on 5/21/2020 and returned to me fully serviced and running well on 7/7/2020. Note that the turnaround time for RGM back then was less than two months.
This is how it looked on the timegrapher after three opportunities to service expressed by Gallet in a message to Larry on 1/27/20
On the third try, as mentioned, the 12-hour counter would not run.
Each time the watch was "serviced" it ran worse than the time before.
This is how it was running after return from RGM:
Dial Up = +15 seconds; amplitude 332. BE = 0.1 msecs
Crown Down = + 6 seconds; amplitude 303; BE = 0.2 msecs
Dial Down = +20 seconds; amplitude 329; BE = 0.0 msecs
Crown Up = -3 seconds; amplitude 284; BE = 0.0 msecs
Crown Right Vertical = -10 seconds; amplitude 285; BE = 0.1 msecs
Crown Left Inverted = 1 second; amplitude 281; BE = 0.2 msecs
Good luck with the sale of your watches, Stephane.
Joe
I now understand why Larry didn't respond to my complaints, he didn't have my watches. And they came in the mail from Florida.
So you created another group with Dan, Vintage Gallet, which sounds interesting. I'll sign up and we'll see.
Have you seen the 2 Mk1b on FB? Are they not overestimated at the price level? Although they look very nice
So you created another group with Dan, Vintage Gallet, which sounds interesting. I'll sign up and we'll see.
Have you seen the 2 Mk1b on FB? Are they not overestimated at the price level? Although they look very nice
Stephane,
As far as I know, Larry Slaz is a one-man "watchmaker" taking in watches under the name of Multichron Service. In fairness, he may be qualified to work on watches, but I'd want proof if I were ever to use him again, which likely won't happen in this lifetime. David Laurence and Amanda Slaz own property in Florida and it appears as though the three of them are there now.
I have seen one Mark Ib gray & white listed on Ebay and the same Mark Ic in gray and white listed twice.
There is something funny going on with one or more Japanese sellers of watches. One can see the same watch with the same photos sometimes listed by up to three sellers at three different prices.
Here is one listing for $12,013.18:
ENICAR Sherpa Graph MK1C JIM CLARK REF.1308 BANCH Manual 40mm Gray Vintage Watch | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ENICAR Sherpa Graph MK1C JIM CLARK REF.1308 BANCH Manual 40mm Gray Vintage Watch at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
And here is the same watch listed at $14,300.00
ENICAR SHERPA GRAPH Mk1c Jim Clark model Valjoux72 REF.1308 BANCH watch | eBay
This product is Mk1c. CASESIZE / 40mm REF / 1308 BANCH. YEAR / 1960~1961. MATERIAL / SS.
www.ebay.com
I would not pay $12,000.00 for the Ic from the Japanese seller.
Here is the California, US listing for a Mark Ib that you probably referred to at $17.900.00 or make offer.
VINTAGE RARE ENICAR SHERPA GRAPH MRK. IB CHRONOGRAPH VALJOUX 72 | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VINTAGE RARE ENICAR SHERPA GRAPH MRK. IB CHRONOGRAPH VALJOUX 72 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
It looks good to my eye and If I did not own one, I would make an offer on it. Unlike Rolex, the market width or total available market size is pretty small for Enicar. Either Enicar is undervalued or Rolex is severely overvalued, or a bit of both, take your pick. There are just not enough people who want to own a Sherpa Graph when compared with those salivating for a Daytona.
I did see a Mark Ib listed on Instagram, but I don't recall any of the info on it.
Cheers,
Joe