Avg, Ex-Fn, Mint?

[Spike]

I can’t find where Shugart defines average, extra fine, and mint, his three condition categories. How do MB readers define these terms, at least in the context of the Complete Price Guide to Watches?

[Spike]

I can’t find where Shugart defines average, extra fine, and mint, his three condition categories. How do MB readers define these terms, at least in the context of the Complete Price Guide to Watches?

[bil2054]

Annie, mine is only the ninth edition, but the subject "Grading Watches" is close to the front of the book, pge. 8 to be exact. I would think they would follow the same schema in the later editions, too, it being so important to the subject. If they for some reason left it out, let me know, and I will plagiarize it for you.

Bill Miller
NAWCC Member #157710

[Spike]

Thanks Bill & Steve – found it – my bad – will delete the thread.

[michael h schneider]

I like going to flea markets, and I look at watches. Mny sellers will say that a particular watch is worth a particular amount in THE BOOK, pointing to their copy of Shugart & Gilbert.

Here's what I've found to be common understandings:

Average: looks like most of the watches I've seen - no crystal, no hands, badly damaged dial, some parts have only light rust, broken staff, tangled hairspring, and gold showing only in the bottom of the deeper dings in the case.

Extra Fine: I paid too much for this, some I'm going to charge you a penalty (an extra fine) to try to cover my stupidity

Mint: has crystal and at least two hands. Only a little brass showing. Not more than two dozen repairer marks inside the back of the case.

anonymoust

[Greg Davis]

That may be an accurate description of the way the term is used at flea markets, but antique malls use a different dictionary. For them, it goes as follows:

Average: Highly polished case (described as "two tone" if brass is showing), movement stripped of gilding (described as "professionally cleaned"), rusted parts (described at "patinated"), dial cracked and chipped (described as "shows light wear), watch ticks for two seconds then stops (described as "working").

Extra Fine: Hands still point in correct direction, movement has "low serial number" (anything lower than 15 million) and some gilding still visible, silveroid case engraved with American flag (50 stars), crystal has fewer than 9 chips, watch ticks for 15 seconds then stops.

Mint: All hands attached (even second hand), all case parts fit together properly, possible to see through scratches in crystal (fewer than 4 chips), has a crown and a bow (not necessarily original), movement ticks consistently (loses 20 minutes per hour).

- Greg

150941
Ch.149 member #77