6 Discussions and CommentsMember since Oct. 20, 2010
Hello
my wife recently bought an IWC 4254 (at least, I'm pretty sure it's a 4254, looking in old catalogues) at auction. My best efforts suggest it's probably a 1956 model, or thereabouts. It's in fair cosmetic condition; it's certainly been worn quite a lot, but there are no cosmetic defects beyond daily wear and tear.
Can anyone suggest a very rough value for this watch? I only ask because it seems to need some repair work, and we want to know whether it's worth spending the money on it.
We could use some more information, including a photo or catalog reference. Generally ladies watches of this period have 500 value, less than 500 USD, for ones in mint condition, and many repair costs are more.
We bought it for about £200. It ran perfectly well in the auction house for the couple of hours we could test it for; when we got it home it became clear it could not keep time for longer than that, and was a couple of hours slow when it stopped completely after 24 hours or so.
I've asked a repairer, who thinks that simply servicing it might well put it right, and will charge me another £200 or so. Assuming that this will work, I need to decide if it is worth it. If the overall value of the watch in working order is around $500 (or around £350) then I think i will go ahead. It's better to have spent £400 on a £350 watch, than £200 on a worthless watch!
4,760 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
[quote=]Argh - how do I attach images to posts here?[/quote] You have to upload them somewhere (photobucket for example) and use the 'picture' button in the posting page. Place the URL to the image between the image 'tags'. Use the preview feature to check if it works before posting.
5,078 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 9, 2006
[quote=cinq][quote=]Argh - how do I attach images to posts here?[/quote] You have to upload them somewhere (photobucket for example) and use the 'picture' button in the posting page. Place the URL to the image between the image 'tags'. Use the preview feature to check if it works before posting.
Kind regards,
Clemens[/quote]
An option for those of us with a vision challenge i.e. placing the code between the image tags is to copy the IMG CODE generated within Photobucket and simply paste this code directly into the message box. With this there is not need to click on the Image link above and to place the URL code between the tags.
Both methods work. But do use the preview link first to make sure your post is what you expect.
6 Discussions and CommentsMember since Oct. 20, 2010
Try as I might, I can't get an image to appear in my post! I've posted it onto my old Flickr account, but putting the url between img tags isn't working.
I've thought about the problem I have. We've already spent £200 on it, and being an auction I can't take it back! If it is repairable at a sensible cost, I would rather repair it than give in, even if I could actually buy another for slightly less than the total cost.
So, my two questions are: does it seem likely that a service will repair this fault, do you think? And is £200 a reasonable charge for a service?
6 Discussions and CommentsMember since Oct. 20, 2010
You're right - certainly looks closer to the 4256. I wonder if it doesn't look exactly like the 4256 because of the difference in the strap? 4254 was the closest I could find; where did you get the pictures from? The catalogue link I posted above was the best match I could find.
For me, right now, the critical question is whether the £200 I was quoted for a service is reasonable (some internet searching suggests it is, for a good service) and whether this is likely to work - I'm determined to have it back for my wife Christmas if at all possible. It would be lovely to know exactly what it is, though!
Your service price is not unreasonable, and worth doing if it solves any issues which it most likely would. I have seen some service for slightly less, and I know that official IWC service would be more. My general feeling is not to look for a lower price for "brain surgery", nor to scrap this watch.
By the way, you watch looks earlier than the two examples shown. Also, it might have a "CresArrow" case, which would not be in a catalog (the archives have info on those cases). Just a guess.
6 Discussions and CommentsMember since Oct. 20, 2010
That's great - thank you again.
Off for a service it goes, then. I'll let you know the outcome (and, indeed, if I get a positive identification). You'd think the model could be looked up from the serial number.
my wife recently bought an IWC 4254 (at least, I'm pretty sure it's a 4254, looking in old catalogues) at auction. My best efforts suggest it's probably a 1956 model, or thereabouts. It's in fair cosmetic condition; it's certainly been worn quite a lot, but there are no cosmetic defects beyond daily wear and tear.
Can anyone suggest a very rough value for this watch? I only ask because it seems to need some repair work, and we want to know whether it's worth spending the money on it.
Thanks ever so,
Jamie
Last edited: 25 October, 2010 - 23:38
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
I'm pretty sure it's the model 4254 on this page http://www.iwcforum.com/Catalogs/1957/0000026.jpg, though it has a metal double-strand bracelet. I'll post a photo of it tonight.
We bought it for about £200. It ran perfectly well in the auction house for the couple of hours we could test it for; when we got it home it became clear it could not keep time for longer than that, and was a couple of hours slow when it stopped completely after 24 hours or so.
I've asked a repairer, who thinks that simply servicing it might well put it right, and will charge me another £200 or so. Assuming that this will work, I need to decide if it is worth it. If the overall value of the watch in working order is around $500 (or around £350) then I think i will go ahead. It's better to have spent £400 on a £350 watch, than £200 on a worthless watch!
Photo to follow this afternoon.
Thanks
Jamie
J
You have to upload them somewhere (photobucket for example) and use the 'picture' button in the posting page. Place the URL to the image between the image 'tags'. Use the preview feature to check if it works before posting.
Kind regards,
Clemens
Last edited: 30 May, 2012 - 20:59
You have to upload them somewhere (photobucket for example) and use the 'picture' button in the posting page. Place the URL to the image between the image 'tags'. Use the preview feature to check if it works before posting.
Kind regards,
Clemens[/quote]
An option for those of us with a vision challenge i.e. placing the code between the image tags is to copy the IMG CODE generated within Photobucket and simply paste this code directly into the message box. With this there is not need to click on the Image link above and to place the URL code between the tags.
Both methods work. But do use the preview link first to make sure your post is what you expect.
Bill
Last edited: 23 June, 2012 - 20:15
Anyway, here's a link to the picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29973391@N05/5113666165/
I've thought about the problem I have. We've already spent £200 on it, and being an auction I can't take it back! If it is repairable at a sensible cost, I would rather repair it than give in, even if I could actually buy another for slightly less than the total cost.
So, my two questions are: does it seem likely that a service will repair this fault, do you think? And is £200 a reasonable charge for a service?
Thanks
Jamie
It looks closer to a Ref 4256 than a Ref 4254 and I'm not 100% sure that the Ref 4256 is your watch.
Cheers from the cellar
cellar@gregsteer.net
Last edited: 4 January, 2013 - 22:35
For me, right now, the critical question is whether the £200 I was quoted for a service is reasonable (some internet searching suggests it is, for a good service) and whether this is likely to work - I'm determined to have it back for my wife Christmas if at all possible. It would be lovely to know exactly what it is, though!
Cheers
Jamie
By the way, you watch looks earlier than the two examples shown. Also, it might have a "CresArrow" case, which would not be in a catalog (the archives have info on those cases). Just a guess.
Good luck.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
I used IWC References Before 1974 by Christian Niemann which can be found:
http://fotoservices.bluewin.ch/fotopage/chniem/
I maintain a page of IWC links called IWC Lynx;
http://www.gregsteer.net/IWC/IWC_Lynx.html
for those hard to find articles
Cheers from the cellar
cellar@gregsteer.net
Last edited: 4 January, 2013 - 22:35
Off for a service it goes, then. I'll let you know the outcome (and, indeed, if I get a positive identification). You'd think the model could be looked up from the serial number.
All the best
Jamie