Vintage Le Forban Securite-Mer 20 ATM French Diver Runs Slow FOR PARTS/REPAIR
FOR PARTS/REPAIR - While the movement runs strong it loses about 12 minutes by the end of its approximate 38 hour power reserve period. Additionally the bezel does not rotate, likely due to gunk buildup underneath. Given that the movement runs slow and considering its unknown service history a complete overhaul is required. This seldom seen vintage 1970's Le Forban diver has a black dial that is in lovely but not perfect condition as it shows wear.
The lume, which remains fully intact and emits a quick burst glow on only the hands after being exposed to bright light, has aged gracefully. The worn black bezel does not rotate, likely due to gunk buildup underneath. The all stainless steel case shows honest wear with no visible signs of oxidation. The outer edge of the case back is stamped "A 20 ATMOSPHERES 100% ETANCHE" with "LE FORBAN" followed by "SECURITE MER" and "66403" stamped in the center. The crystal needs to be replaced.
While I normally show pictures of the movements of watches I put up for sale I don't feel comfortable removing the case back on this watch. The semi-quickset date function works flawlessly by manually rolling over a new date and then moving the hour hand repeatedly between the 20.5 and 24 hour marks until the desired date has been reached. After recently winding the non-screwdown crown 39 full revolutions the movement ran about 12 minutes slow by the end of its approximate 38 hour power reserve period. The crown winds with some tension. This watch measures approximately 36 mm excluding the crown, approximately 40 mm including the crown and approximately 20 mm between the lugs.
Case thickness, measured from the bottom of the case back to the top of the bezel, is approximately 9.5 mm. Including the crystal thickness measures approximately 11 mm. As such there are no warranties, express or implied, attached with the sale of this watch.
Vintage means old and while my personal belief is that old-school means better quality and workmanship, things can and do go wrong from time to time. For this watch that time is now.
Any servicing costs going forward are your responsibility. And please study the 13 high magnification pictures carefully as they are part of the description and serve as an accurate representation of the condition of this watch.