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Information and worth of an Invar watch

doug sinclair

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Aug 27, 2000
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Paulo,

It would appear that the case on the watch is sterling silver, although I didn't see any marks to indcate this. The movement is Swiss, I'm sure, and it has a jewelled lever, and it would appear to have 15 jewels. It is an average grade from appearances. The name is meaningful in the watch business, referring to the alloy Invar which is the name given to the alloy that makes watches non-magnetic, and steady timekeepers through a wide range of temperatures. Whether or not your watch has any Invar in it is open to debate. The name Invar on the dial is not really a nationally or internationally advertised household name in the watch business, and is therefore difficult to determine age, maker, and number of watches made. The case alone should sell the watch as it appears to be nicely decorated and well done.

You will notice by the quote below which appears in the header at the top of the page that we are unble to help you with its value.
No Requests for Timepiece Values
You might want to check out the archives on ebay to get an idea of value.
 
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Kent

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This may not help very much, but there are records that a 16-size, 21-jewel, open-face Invar watch serial number 191790, in a gold-filled case, was serviced in Calgary, Alberta, Canada several times during the 1930s.

I've seen several other examples offered for sale over the years, either by mail order dealers or on the internet. They were only memorable because, as Doug pointed out, the name is linked to a material used in trying to reduce the effects of temperature (and perhaps magnetism) on timepieces.

So, by all indications your watch sounds like a 'private label,' or 'contract,' watch from a relatively small retailer. Just about all the watch companies, including the Swiss firms, would mark both the watch movements and/or the dials in just about any manner for any customer who wished to pay for the service. I don't have any exact references for the costs, but I've heard (read?) that, for some companies, if five or more watches were ordered, there was no charge for marking the movements. Special dials were said to cost 25 or 50 cents each. Some watch manufacturers were more liberal.
 
K

Kosta

Hello Pauolo,
I also have an Invar watch that was made for the Turkish Market. I posted some pictures on February 25, 2006 on nawcc bulletin board to get more information. Unfortunately, I had a very limited info. I would appreciate if you can share the information you have about your watch. That would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Kosta


Originally posted by Paulo Daneu:
Please,

I have an watch all signed Invar, silver cased.
But I don't have any information and the worth about it.
Can the friends help me?
Photo of dial.
Photo of movement.
Photo of back.

Thanks,

Paulo
 
Last edited by a moderator:
M

Meltem

Hi,

I have Invar watch too...it is 18K golden cased
inside of the watch "CAMPANIE DES MONTRES" AND MEDAILLE DOR MILAN 1906 ---- and---- Grand Diplome O Monnear Brexless 1810 ( as far as I can read) written... and there are stamp marks on it also on the corner of the case 1819 writen(for sure) and some speacial marks and numbers written very very small which I am not able to read with magnifiying glass or my one would be not enough.... on the case serial number and in the machine part series number different than each other ... one starts with 28 other starts with 25...

what would be the price of this watch .... I am leaving in Istanbul do you know any one in here that I can show this to him/her?

Thanks...
mel
 

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