What have I bought ?

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
Good Afternoon and hello,

I am a new member to the forum and of course very late to the appreciation of all things Enicar. I bought this watch on a Japanese site on a whim after consuming several large glass of wine as I loved the design and the dauphine hands. Now sober in the cold light of day am anxious to know if I now own a genuine Sherpa guide or a Franken watch.
I have included some photos but there aren’t any photos of the movement on the listing.
 

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JimJupiter

Moderator
Staff member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
Pretty brave to buy a 4 figure watch without knowing what it is. I have some good and some bad news:

good news:
- this is a rare mk1 Sherpa Guide with black dial and crescent GMT hand
- bracelet is original

bad news:
- red ring is missing
- the crystal. If its not salvagable, its an adventure to find a new dial
- dial condition pretty much unknonw (although I think its ok).

Why did you think its a Franken?

Nico
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
Hi Nico
Brave in hind sight I would suggest foolish. Thank you for your appraisal of my purchase. I had done a little research but a little knowledge is nearly always a dangerous thing. I had hoped it was a mk. 1 sherpa guide and I didn’t have a reason to suspect it was a Franken but was anxious as I had allowed by heart to rule my head and I just hoped it was authentic.
So some more newbie questions. I have managed to acquire a red ring for a vintage Sherpa which appears to be a new replacement part. I do have some concerns as the colour appears not to be quite right as it is slight orange. Can this be changed? Or am I better to continue searching the internet for an authentic one?
I didn’t realise that the crystal was going to be such an issue and give that my watch is going to need the attentions of a watch maker does anyone have any recommendations.
Again thank you for the news good and bad

Mallory
 

jbcollier

Member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
Not knowing the price, I'd say a nice find. I'm still looking for a Mk 1 Guide. I have my heart set on the earlier logo but my pocket book is thinking I'm balmy. I believe the orange rings are for the later Guides as shown here:


Can't see why it couldn't be re-anodized though not within my skill set.
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
Not knowing the price, I'd say a nice find. I'm still looking for a Mk 1 Guide. I have my heart set on the earlier logo but my pocket book is thinking I'm balmy. I believe the orange rings are for the later Guides as shown here:


Can't see why it couldn't be re-anodized though not within my skill set.

Thank you for your advice. I will start the search for a watchmaker with re-anodizing experience. Not sure the price was that good especially once the customs duty is added to the price paid. I do plan on keeping the watch and I guess like most enthusiasts I never think of watches as an investment. I just hope when my time comes my wife doesn’t sell them for what I told her I paid for them!
Thanks again
Mallory
 

JimJupiter

Moderator
Staff member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
re-anodizing is possible, but to get the correct color isnt that easy. Often the guys in those workshops dont know what you want. Besides that, when you have bought the orange bezel there are two problems. Its highly possible the ring doesnt fit (Enicar changed their bezel system three times in 10 years) and secondly and more important: the shape is wrong for a MK1. The pointer needs to have the shape of a triangle, but later ones hat the shape of a house.

Nico
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
re-anodizing is possible, but to get the correct color isnt that easy. Often the guys in those workshops dont know what you want. Besides that, when you have bought the orange bezel there are two problems. Its highly possible the ring doesnt fit (Enicar changed their bezel system three times in 10 years) and secondly and more important: the shape is wrong for a MK1. The pointer needs to have the shape of a triangle, but later ones hat the shape of a house.

Nico

Hi Nico
Thank you for the lesson. I now see what you mean about the shape of pointer. I have taken a photo of the ring which confirms my mistake. I didn’t think it would be that easy. Do you have any suggestions or advice on any likely sources for the correct bezel.
Mallory
 

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JimJupiter

Moderator
Staff member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
Do you have any suggestions or advice on any likely sources for the correct bezel.
Mallory

unfortunately not. Enicar didnt make any service bezels in this shape to my knowledge, just the later ones. Only possibility is to have an eye on ebay and try to aquire a cheap parts watch one day.

Nico
 

jbcollier

Member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
Assuming the new ring fits, you could have the hole laser welded up, the indicator tip reshaped, the hole redrilled and then anodized. It wouldn't be cheap but it's one way around unobtainium.
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
Thank youagain for all your advice, I’ve got lots to think about. What is obvious to me now is that unlike my previous watch purchases this going to be a marathon and not a sprint. I will have to look around for a bezel or a cheap parts watch but failing that I will re look at modification of the modern bezel.
Of course when I get the watch I will post some pictures unfortunately it’s trapped in Fed Ex pending delivery limbo
Mallory
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
This is the first pictures of my Sherpa guide from Japan out of the box,

The good news;

- the watch made it here despite being held for nearly three weeks in clearance
- the dial looks in really good shape and the watch appears to run

The bad news / request for information

- the original bracelet is too small can additional links be found?
- the crystal is pretty scratched up and crazed would a Sherpa guide gmt crystal
ref: 148 -3501 be a suitable replacement?
- the missing red ring is there any hope of sourcing one?

Many thanks for any help you can give
 

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JimJupiter

Moderator
Staff member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
148-35-01 crystal would fit. The long lug Sherpa Guides have all the same dimensions. BOR links is most likely not possible to find. Maybe someone will swap with you.

Red Ring....same as i said before. You may find a later example, but I have not seen the matching one for sale in all these years alone. Maybe you find a parts watch or case one day. Sorry for not having better news,

Nico
 

jbcollier

Member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
I found two Guides on ebay with the early, correct, red indicator ring. Neither were inexpensive but they are out there. The early red rings seem to have been used on at least early MK2 Guides. You could find an appropriate example and swap in the more easily found later ring and then sell it on. One would have to give some thought as to whether you were lessening a good watch to fix a poor one. YMMV
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
148-35-01 crystal would fit. The long lug Sherpa Guides have all the same dimensions. BOR links is most likely not possible to find. Maybe someone will swap with you.

Red Ring....same as i said before. You may find a later example, but I have not seen the matching one for sale in all these years alone. Maybe you find a parts watch or case one day. Sorry for not having better news,

Nico
Thank you for the information. That's one issue solved
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
I found two Guides on ebay with the early, correct, red indicator ring. Neither were inexpensive but they are out there. The early red rings seem to have been used on at least early MK2 Guides. You could find an appropriate example and swap in the more easily found later ring and then sell it on. One would have to give some thought as to whether you were lessening a good watch to fix a poor one. YMMV
I think I may have seen them too. I was hoping to find a parts watch and do take your point of lessening a good watch to fix a poorer one. The search continues:)
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
Hi I am hoping for some advice. I am trying to find out if the beads of rice strap on this Enicar self-winding watch ref 147-01-03 would be suitable for my Sherpa guide. It appears to be a similar design but google translate isn’t my friend with this listing when it comes to understanding the dimensions of the strap, Any thoughts
 

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jbcollier

Member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
That is modern, aftermarket BOR strap.

The Guide takes a 22mm strap and that is a rare size in period-correct straps. 20mm, 19mm and 18mm you can find on lower priced Enicars, but not 22mm.
 

jbcollier

Member
Enicaristi
Sherpa
Just noticed you are thinking of your Mk1 Guide. Wow, that's even tougher as the early clasps were different as well. Myself, I would chase down a period 22mm tropic strap (expensive enough!) and go with that.
 

Mallory

New member
Sherpa
Just noticed you are thinking of your Mk1 Guide. Wow, that's even tougher as the early clasps were different as well. Myself, I would chase down a period 22mm tropic strap (expensive enough!) and go with that.

Thank you for the advice. Definitely a better strategy than searching for unicorns !
 
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