Marconi chronometer geneve 15 jewels

[moeed]

Hello all,

I am interested to know the history of this watch i have acquired recently. I haven't found any marconi wrist watch which is chronometer certified. is it a rare watch ?

Also on dial it says "Rolex Watch Co. LTD", "CHRONOMETER" & "MARCONI". I guess it is enamel dial because it has two hairline cracks and chipped edges at two different places.

I can not see any reference on the movement but it has inscription as Marconi & CHRONOMETER on it.

There is a serial number on steel back (snap-on type) but i can not understand what does it mean. No inscription on inside of watch back cover.

Case seem to me as nickel plated.


Any idea about its age ?
Rarity ?
Worth ?

I got it in a part exchange therefore no idea what it is worth.

Any suggestion/view is highly appreciated.

Regards,
Moeed

[offrdmania]

I have my suspicions. Im thinking it is a Marconi/Gruen caliber 179 movement cobbled together with an aftermarket dial or at the least a real enamel dial with added wording. The blank inner case adds to my suspicion as being cobbled together. Most Marconis were converted pocket watches with silver cases and very very few were actual wrist watches exist. If it was a real Marconi/Rolex case, it would be stamped on the inside of the case back with at least RWC or Marconi or some hallmarks during this time. And your movement is in very poor condition. It is actually missing the ruby above the main spring.
Honestly, it is hard to age due to the use of parts spanning 30 years or so. Value is very minimal due to the poor case and the poor movement. It would cost more to fix it than its worth IMHO.

[landroverking]

I too feel the dial is aftermarket.

[moeed]

Originally Posted by landroverking

I too feel the dial is aftermarket.

Thank you for your replies. Picture of the dial is attached for comments please. Is it look like after market dial ?

How can i be 100% sure if it is an original/aftermarket dial ?

I was wondering the watch has a sub second at 6 o'clock position and winding stem at 3 o'clock. Imagine if it is a pocket watch movement, if winding stem of this movement positions at 12 o'clock then sub-second dial will be at 3 o'clcok.

I have never seen a pocket watch with sub-second at 3 o'clock.

Your views are awaited.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by moeed

Thank you for your replies. Picture of the dial is attached for comments please. Is it look like after market dial ?

How can i be 100% sure if it is an original/aftermarket dial ?

I was wondering the watch has a sub second at 6 o'clock position and winding stem at 3 o'clock. Imagine if it is a pocket watch movement, if winding stem of this movement positions at 12 o'clock then sub-second dial will be at 3 o'clcok.

I have never seen a pocket watch with sub-second at 3 o'clock.

Your views are awaited.

It may very well be an original dial but as poor as the condition is, the value is minimal. The only way to tell for sure is to take a loop and look at the printing under magnification and see if it is printed or if its enamel. What you have pictured did not start life in that case. Most likely it was a silver case that someone melted down long ago destroying any value that it might have had. If the dial is original to the movement, I would give it a $150US value just as a dialed movement.

[moeed]

Thank you all for sharing your experience and knowledge.

Regards,
Moeed

[Vlad]

for the record, here's a later production, but real Oyster Marconi

[MILGAUSS88]

Typically the early Marconi's I have seen are in silver cases.
That chrome plated case looks like late 40's early 50's to me. Especially with the steel back. Wrong era for that movement.
So best case scenario is you have a Marconi movement with a bad dial.
And they are not as desirable as ones signed Rolex, because only diehards are aware of the connection.