J.H.:

excellent question.

Im my view, there are two basic reference points in the Carreras -- the white on white Valjoux 72 from the early years (say, 1964) and the silver / black Cal 11/12, Reference 1153S (say, from around 1970). Of course, there are dozens of reference points, but starting from values for these, you can value many other models, by using premiums and discounts. [This sort of Relative Value Scale is what we used for the dashboard timepieces, in our Values Page relating to those timers.]

Using this approach for the manual Carreras, here are a few thoughts. I am not really a "Carrera expert", so I happily defer to those who are the experts.

• Let's start with the white-on-white Valjoux 72 (three registers) as being worth 1.0
• First step up from there might be the black-on-black Valjoux 72 . . . seems somewhat more scarce . . . I give it a 1.1 on the relative value scale
• Take a sizeable step up to get to the Valjoux 72 black dial with white registers (which I will call white-on-black) . . . in rough numbers, it would go at a 50% premium to the solid white guy, so it earns 1.5 on the relative value scale
• Next up is the white-on-white Carrera Dato 12, the triple calendar, three register chronograph, with Valjoux 72C . . . I put it at 1.8
• Next step up is the white-on-black Carrera Dato 12 . . . scarcer than the white-on-white . . . thin market, very rare . . . let's put it in the 2.0 to 2.5 range
• Last step in the scale is the black-on-white Carrera Dato 12 . . . scarcest Carrera of all . . . I've only seen one change hands . . . well north of 3.0, heading towards 4.0