Very nice white dial 1c up for auction on eBay

[SteveHarris]

ENICAR SHERPA GRAPH MARK I CHRONOGRAPH Ref 1308 VINTAGE c1962 MENS WATCH VALJOUX | eBay

Overall an example of this early model sherpa graph. All around in excellent condition. It is running with all functions working well, winds and sets smooth, stop watch functions and resets properly, etc.

www.ebay.com

All looks good to me. Serial is 528.105. Is it one you've seen before @JimJupiter?

 

[Joe_A]

You beat me to it, Steve.

It looks good to my eye.

My conservative rating system causes me to give it a rating of "Above average to very good."

It misses excellent only because of the scratches on the back.

The S/N looks barely warn, so a very careful & light polish to the cloverleaf will improve the case look as well.

Of course, it can be loved as is!

Movement looks in good condition.

The "EZR" code indicates a U.S. import code of "Enicar SA," likely a U.S. subsidiary of the manufacturer. First time I've noticed.

My Mark Id also has the EZR import code, but the Mark Ia and Mark Ib and the Mark III do not. This leads me to believe that this watch and the one I purchased from Lars in Stockholm were originally shipped to the US.

More info about these codes here:

Ranfft Watches, US Import Codes

www.ranfft.de

 

[SteveHarris]

Interesting! Never noticed the EZR stamp before. I'll have to check mine when I get the chance.

 

[DubbelUIam]

Between Eisenhower and Johnson

 

[Joe_A]

Between Eisenhower and Johnson

I appreciate the reference.

Doctor Ranfft participated in the 2020 discussion and apparently was able to locate the list as cited above.

Gallet watches imported into the US by Jules Racine carry the stamping JXR. A couple of my watches have no stamping, so it can be assumed that they were not originally destined for the US, or else they were smuggled in!

Two of my Sherpa Graphs are stamped (on the balance cock) and two are not.

I'll have to pay more attention to this in future as it relates to Enicar, but I suspect many more of the Gallet watches were sent to the US percentage-wise than is the case for Enicar.

Cheers,

Joe

 

[Joe_A]

23 bidders so far . . . and I bet more than a few are members here.

The more bidders, the more likely the result will reflect today's valuation of such a watch.

I dare not predict.

 

[mgernhar]

thoughts on what this might be worth? I think the market is soft right now, I would guess it wont go for much over 9k USD.

 

[SteveHarris]

Do you know what? I have no idea. All it takes is two serious buyers and these rarely come on the open market like this. I'll grab my popcorn and watch with interest!

 

[mgernhar]

I know there's there's another one see on C24 that's not in as good a condition that they're asking $14,000 but I think c 24 has like a 20% markup

 

[mgernhar]

At some level even though it's a rare watch the Aesthetics of it determine how much its value is at least in my opinion and the mark 1C looks almost like a Mark 3 and I actually like the lollipop second hand in Mark 3 better so aesthetically I think the Mark 3 is a better looking watch and so I think that will at some point limit the value of this Mark 1C I'm going to guess that maybe a little over 9,000 is what it goes for but who knows depends on like you said if there's two serious buyers

 

[Joe_A]

At some level even though it's a rare watch the Aesthetics of it determine how much its value is at least in my opinion and the mark 1C looks almost like a Mark 3 and I actually like the lollipop second hand in Mark 3 better so aesthetically I think the Mark 3 is a better looking watch and so I think that will at some point limit the value of this Mark 1C I'm going to guess that maybe a little over 9,000 is what it goes for but who knows depends on like you said if there's two serious buyers

As I pen this post (using the term "pen" rather loosely) the bid is $4,638.00 with 27 bidders. and with just shy of five days to go. I'm thinking the end price will be well above $10K.

As far as the "looks" go?

I know this is hard to believe, but there are people who like the look of a honking big and ungainly Panerai watch and there are even some who still like Rolex Submariners . . . despite the fact that there are so many knock-offs that look just like them that one never knows whether one is looking at a $50 watch ro a $25K watch. Can you imagine anyone liking a Graham cigarette lighter watch with that contraption on the side? Does it run on lighter fluid or butane?

I'm just being mischievous to make a point.

One person's grail watch is another person's 'meh' watch and I have noticed even for me, watches I once liked no longer appeal and others I may have ignored are starting to catch my eye.

I think part of the appeal of the Mark Ia through Mark Ic watches is the Enicar logo. That's one of the aesthetic elements that attract me.

I agree though that the lollipop hand is an essential element of the appeal of the Mark III. The Mark III overall is very appealing.

 

[Stephanerunge]

Yes indeed, the Logo is a very important detail, especially for the Sherpa Graph line

 

[Joe_A]

Now $4,938,00; 28 bidders. 4 1/2 days to go.

Now $5,600.00; 29 bidders. 4 Days and 5 hours to go.

 

[Gopher]

I was tempted to bid as I am missing an all-white SG, but will be sitting this one out now.

Price is high for this early in the auction, but I have learned it is difficult to predict these auctions. I bought a watch recently (not Enicar but in same price range as SG) that sat at a relatively low price over the ten-day auction and then climbed precipitously in the final minutes. Another of the same watch was up more recently and climbed quickly early on like the SG, only to end within $300 of the winning bid of the earlier one.

Rapid early bidding may even depress the final price by deterring some potential bidders.

Of course you just never know until the final minute.

 

[Joe_A]

Now $5,938.00 with 30 bidders and with 1 day, 21 hours to go.

I would say that interest is pretty keen, ah but if it were a vintage Rolex Daytona . . .

I think the more experienced bidders put in a low bid at the beginning to create an opportunity to snipe at the end. They make their final offer within the last 30 seconds.

I've put bids in as late as 5 seconds before the end, knowing full well that I may miss, but the process itself pumps up the adrenaline and can be part of the hunt. When I lose, I tell myself: "Another opportunity may appear tomorrow."

 

[Joe_A]

Of course there are other reasons to become a bidder early on.

One enters a low bid at the beginning of the auction so as to stay "in the game" and be informed as to what is happening along the way motivated by genuine curiosity and with no intention to offer up a potentially winning bid at the end of the process.

There are still 30 bidders and now we are at $6,238.00 with 30 hours remaining.

How many of the 30 bidders are serious contenders?

It will be eventually confirmed that there were at least two.

 

[Joe_A]

Now 32 bidders . . .

. . . and with a little over 8 hours to go.

I've also seen situations on Ebay where the successful bidder was not one of the original bidders. Rather, the new owner is someone who entered a bid at the last possible moment.

A bit of fun speculating what will happen . . .

Edit: The current high bidder has made only 14 purchases via Ebay and is bidding on nothing else at the moment, so a relative newcomer.

The next highest bidder has had 201 purchases but is also currently biding on 19 other items. Six bids are on either the US or UK site; 9 on Ebay.de. There are two bids on the Spanish site; one each on the French site and on the Turkish site, and all appear to be watch related.

 

[Gopher]

Great sleuthing, Joe! Very interesting global coverage.

 

[JimJupiter]

Now 32 bidders . . .

. . . and with a little over 8 hours to go.

I've also seen situations on Ebay where the successful bidder was not one of the original bidders. Rather, the new owner is someone who entered a bid at the last possible moment.

A bit of fun speculating what will happen . . .

Edit: The current high bidder has made only 14 purchases via Ebay and is bidding on nothing else at the moment, so a relative newcomer.

The next highest bidder has had 201 purchases but is also currently biding on 19 other items. Six bids are on either the US or UK site; 9 on Ebay.de. There are two bids on the Spanish site; one each on the French site and on the Turkish site, and all appear to be watch related.

Interesting to see the high interest in Germany. Enicar was allways one of the "hidden" Champions of the German watch forum "Uhrforum". There my passion for the brand started thanks to many others.

 

[Joe_A]

Great sleuthing, Joe! Very interesting global coverage.

Not too hard to do.

There are 51 bids now and still 32 bidders. Just click on the number of bids [51] and you will be taken to a page with more information.

The new guy (14 purchases) who is leading now really wants the watch. He's bid on nothing else. Some of the others are active with multiple bids in multiple places.

Click on any bidder ID and you'll find out what other categories of items they are bidding on and where - as in which site according to the language of the category. If the person is bidding on "Uhren & Schmuck > Armbanduhren," that indicates the German site Watches and jewelry > wristwatches.

The seller's ID is coded. Sometimes you can match the bidder to the item when the seller is offering only a couple of items in a category.

Edit: BTW, the edges of the subdials are not quite completely clean. Yes, I am being quite picky. It a trademark with me.

I've been wearing my Mark Id all last week and this week and the subdial edges overall are much sharper and without those apparent dark areas. Yes, yes, yes, picky, picky.

Edit, the 2nd: The subdial edges are not of much concern. The watch is beautiful. If I did not have the Mark Id, I'd be aggressive with the bidding on this one myself.