Comments:
Hard to see in these photos, but different crowns and the ring to lock the case back....
(help needed) My Vintage Memovox Alarm Only Lasts for 3 Seconds
hi,
I am writing here to seek the advice of the many memovox experts on the site. I recently bought a vintage JLC memovox e855 at an online auction. While the piece looks spectacular and seems to keep good time, its alarm only lasts for about 3 seconds.
Does anyone here know what could be the cause and how I can resolve it?
Your help is much appreciated.
It should last a bit less than 20 seconds. It needs a service.
Hard to say what can be wrong on your watch. But if you bought it at a on line auction, it may well not have been serviced for a while...
So, giving it to your watchmaker is the most prudent decision to avoid further bad surprises.
Very nice " Ebony " specimen!
Welcome here, too.
Best,
nicolas
Welcome here and congrats to your Memovox!
Would you mind posting shots of the case back and crowns?
Thank you.
Best
Blomman
Yes, I have a small doubt about the crowns, but nothing to be worried about. The dial is top. [nt]
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Picture of crowns
Here is the picture of the crowns and the back of the case. Couldn't take the case back and movement as I do not have the tools to open it. Let me know what are your thoughts 
Well, I suspect this is not a E 855....
Goldfilled case?
Not the normal locking ring on the case back.
Crowns looks OK matching this type of case.
These are more often seen with LeCoultre dials.
Is it a manual movement or bumper automatic inside?
Just to point out, I don't see anything wrong with your watch, but it doesn't look like a E 855 / cal 825.
More like something with cal 911 inside....
Best
Blomman
+1.... Not the case back of an E 855. Maybe the inside of the case back will reveal its secrets... [nt]
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Supposed to be a E855, 14k gold case with Calibre 825
This was what i was told by the auction site. I got this from
Auctionata. All watches on the site are supposed to have been verified by experts. I hope I have not been duped.
Maybe I should get an independent watch shop to verify this.......
Quite sure this is a cal 825 as I can feel the bumper action. Though probably less certain if it is E855 unless it is written on case back. (nt) [nt]
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The Cal 815 / 8125 was used in several Memovox References. You really have to open it, we'll see. [nt]
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As mentioned, I don't see any problem with your watch....
Just that I doubt it is a reference E 855.
If bumper inside, you surly will find the cal 825 when you open it.
Why I asked is that this kind of case more often seen with LeCoultre dial.
Very curious to know which reference this is!
Best
Blomman
If bumper inside, you surly will find the cal 825 when you open it.
Why I asked is that this kind of case more often seen with LeCoultre dial.
Very curious to know which reference this is!
Best
Blomman
Looking for help
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am looking around for a watchmaker to help with the authentication in case it is really not E855 and I need to make a claim from the auction site. In any case, if the watch uses a case from another model and put it together with a Cal 825, does it make a Franken watch?
Thanks again.
Sam
Thanks again.
Sam
No, no - I am under impression that your watch is an all original watch!
BUT, with another reference than E 855.
Here are some of my E 855:
Hard to see in these photos, but different crowns and the ring to lock the case back....
Best
Blomman
Phew!!! A sigh of relief
If it is all original then I can take a bit more time to find the right watchmaker to do the job. Quality watchmakers cost a bomb here in Singapore. Thanks for showing me your impressive collection! Hope to get "Black Knight" myself one of these days
Thank you
Yes, good watchmakers cost.
It is the cheap one you have to be carful with...!
Singapore? You should get in touch with Stefan Ma!
Best
Blomman
Thanks for the link up
Got in touch with Stefan. He gave me the disappointing news that he was sure that no watchmaker in Singapore has the tool to open up the case. I am now stuck with a mystery that I cannot solve. Did managed to find a picture of someone's watch which closely resembles mine (but no picture was given of the back of the case) and he indicated that it was an E860.
Tried finding more information about this particular model online but the information was very sparse. Would you happen to know about the E860 and whether my watch matches that?
By the way, I realised that my alarm is working strong. Was just to afraid to properly wind it earlier. haha,
This message has been edited by Lee_Wee_Siong on 2015-11-11 09:05:30
This message has been edited by Lee_Wee_Siong on 2015-11-11 09:05:30
I am still trying to find a decent picture of the E 860. Maybe Blomman has a picture from
The catalog?
Best,
Nicolas
Yes, that is why I didn't connect the dots at first....
Stefan has a good eye!
Best
Blomman
Not totally convinced
Based on what I find online, it appears that E860 has a different numeral display for its 6, 9 and 12. Additionally, the back of the case also does not indicate 14k gold. These are some pics I got.
Hence, I think the only way to be sure is to open the watch and send the movement and case numbers to JLC to get an Extract of Archives. Didn't expect this to be such an eventful journey ;-)
Different dials and case material...
But still the same reference.
For example my photos of my E 855 - all have the same reference but different dials...
But only way to know for sure is to open the case...
Best
Blomman
This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-11-11 18:13:21Thank you
Would I be able to tell what model the watch is by simply looking at the movement and engraving on the case back or do I still need to take down the movement and case back numbers and send them to JLC for an Extract of Archives?
Don't think I have ever been so obsessed with finding out the truth. Haha
Cheers,
Wee Siong
Don't think I have ever been so obsessed with finding out the truth. Haha
Cheers,
Wee Siong
Look at what is written inside the case back, give us the case and movement number. We'll check some points.
No need to ask JLC for an Extract of Archives it won't tell you more, and will certainly not attest that your watch is authentic.
Best,
Nicolas
Best,
Nicolas
WOw! You guys are even more professional than the watch experts hired by the auction houses.
Thanks for all your help and guidance. Now all that is left, is for me to find that someone in Singapore who has the right tool to open up the case without damaging the watch.
With JLC it is not too hard. The case and movement numbers indicate the prod year.
Then we have to check the watch prod year is consistent with the ref prod years.
But the problem is that we don't have many things on the Ref E 860.
Best,
Nicolas
But the problem is that we don't have many things on the Ref E 860.
Best,
Nicolas
....
Hello Lee,
I believe the "P" on the back indicates that this one is an 18k solid gold case which was made for the European market so the "JLC" dial is correct.
If the case is "Gold filled" or "14k solid gold" than the watch was probably made for the USA market and should have "Le Coultre" dial and movement, regardless the reference number.
Regards,
Zsolt
I believe the "P" on the back indicates that this one is an 18k solid gold case which was made for the European market so the "JLC" dial is correct.
If the case is "Gold filled" or "14k solid gold" than the watch was probably made for the USA market and should have "Le Coultre" dial and movement, regardless the reference number.
Regards,
Zsolt
Case material
Hello Lee,
I believe the "P" on the back indicates that this one is an 18k solid gold case which was made for the European market so the "JLC" dial is correct.
If the case is "Gold filled" or "14k solid gold" than the watch was probably made for the USA market and should have "Le Coultre" dial and movement, regardless the reference number.
Regards,
Zsolt
I believe the "P" on the back indicates that this one is an 18k solid gold case which was made for the European market so the "JLC" dial is correct.
If the case is "Gold filled" or "14k solid gold" than the watch was probably made for the USA market and should have "Le Coultre" dial and movement, regardless the reference number.
Regards,
Zsolt