Thoughts on Tourneau 5100 *LINK* Posted By: Paul T Date: 3/22/07 16:08 GMT

THanks to this wonderful forum I am no longer satisfied with my Carrera 45.

Well, that'll happen!

As I said, thanks.

It happens to all of us, trust me!

I've been thinking about a 5100-based watch for everyday use - thanks Chuck

Y'all see how responsible I am? I'm responsible for this one too! LOL!

- and wondered if you had any comments about this one, or the seller. TIA...

Ok, I already have my example which is in NOS or near NOS condition:

The reason I say Near NOS is that I've modified the bracelet with a Citizen bracelet extention so I can wear it (although it's rare that I actually do:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150103629936&fromMakeTrack=true

I'm always looking for additional examples of this series of watch, even though I rarely bid. I typically don't bid because a) I have an example of this model [actually I have a Heuer 510.502 too without a bracelet as well...]

[Heuer 510.502 at top]

So I'm not really hurting for another example, but it has occured to me that this bracelet would be a nice addition for my Heuer example.

However...

While it looks fine from the front...

If you look closely at the bracelet and case, you can see [whitish/silverish] spots where the Olive PVD is starting to wear through...

See the shiny parts in this picture?

That's where there's wear on the case and pushers...

And the side picture:

Kinda speaks for itself...

The following is a concern to me:

This engraving looks like it was [however carefully done] hand engraved. Perhaps it was aided with drafting lettering templates, I don't know. Still it does not look original and looks like someone was trying to do a little engraving to improve the value [at least that's what it looks like to me].

The outside case back [above] looks correct though.

The pusher side looks to be in similar condition as the non-pusher side.

So... How do I assess? First off, I really don't need this one, unless it goes REAL cheap. So I'm not currently in the hunt for this one.

Secondly, as for the finish... Getting a watch [re-]PVDed can prove very difficult with a BLACK PVD model, Olive would be much more difficult. I'm sure it can be done, but most places I'm aware of prefer to do PVD jobs in batches.

That said, my Heuer 510.502, which I bought from a seller in Hong Kong in 2003 or so for $400 and change had a very large noticeable scratch on it's case above the 11-12 o'clock part of the dial when I bought it. I figured back then that $400 was a fair price for the watch even with that scratch.

If you look at the watch today, you would be hard pressed to see anything untowards...

By now your thinkin' "What the F--- did Chuck do to the case to conceal the scratch?!?!?"...

I happen to keep an assortment of finepoint Sharpie markers for labeling CD-R's by the mouse on my desk, and I grabbed a black fine point Sharpie [To this day, I don't know why I grabbed the black and not a green ink Sharpie] and I was amazed with the results...

So what do I tell you?

At a certain point, even as a beater watch, the Tourneau would be a good purchase even if you leave the PVD alone as a wearer watch. With a little judicious work with a Sharpie, you might improve the appearance of the watch immensely, even though getting it re-PVDed would be a very difficult task at that.

The caseback innards detract and I think harm the watch's value.

Do I think the watch is worth the current bid price? Yes. Do I think it's worth more? Yes, the movement, dial, inner bezel and bracelet are worth more than the watch is currently going for. How much do I think it's worth? Whatever the market will bear. No, what to you honestly, Chuck, think it's worth without the cutesy pat answer? I dunno... $500 and 600 is probably a good range, it might fetch more if the seller is willing to part with it for that amount.

I don't know that I have done business with the seller so I don't have any insight on that.

I will tell you that all vintage watches, not just Heuer and Tourneau are getting much harder and harder to find in any sort of good condition and the amounts being paid seem to be on a steady increase. One can always wait for a better example to come along, but that's not always the best course of action.

I hope this is helpful. Feel free to ask follow-up's!