Dear Ange,
Thank you for sending your watches to mearto for appraisal. I will try to help you with them today. Although you only show me the front of the cases, they are apparently both from the mid-20th century era, circa 1940s-1960s. I will also assume they are not made of gold since you do not mention that in your supplied information. You state,” Both have precious stones definitely ruby and emerald in one and the other has some type of diamond I think.”
MILEX: A ladies, gold plated, manually wound, dress wristwatch, circa early 1950s, with a canted bezel and large fluted winding crown, with gilt broad block lugs and two lancet silver colored lug extensions, each with four green emerald stones and four rubies, both types with varying depths of green and red colors. The back cover is not shown, nor is the movement, which is assumed to be a 15 jewel manual Swiss made movement. Made circa early 1950s by the Milex Elem Watch Company, Switzerland. {Elem was founded in 1890 by Marchand-Monnier & Co., Bienne, Switzerland. By 1919 the company was in Geneva and Bienne. They made gold, metal and silver bracelet watches in the Art deco years. During those years both the Milex & Elem Watch Company names were in use individually and the watches were imported to the USA by Oris. In 1925 they advertised Jewelry watches. It was not until 1951 that the combined ‘Milex Elem’ Watch Company was formed in Bienne, Switzerland and as of 1979 was still in business. The condition shows wear to the gold plating on the case. In addition, the variance in color hues of the green emeralds (especially) and the red rubies makes me feel that their quality is not very high. The fair market price of this watch would be $50-$75. . .
OLYMPIC: A ladies, gold plated, manually wound, shock resistant, gemstone dress wristwatch with gilt rim bezel around the faceted dial crystal, a large gilt fluted crown and a back cover not shown. This ladies dress watch, made in Switzerland and the case perhaps in the USA, was made during the 1950s-1960s. The gemstone bezel is shaped in an Asian/Indian inspired style with central circular case and ‘domed shrine’ type ends. There are approximated 28 dark colored cut gemstones (? diamonds) set into the bezel. This links to two hooded gilt lugs with triangular shapes, each segmented into five compartments filled with similar stones. The color of the stones being quite dark and machine cut suggest they might be marcosites and not diamonds. If they are diamonds-they are of poor quality. The movement would be a Swiss made, manually wound, mechanical example with 17 jewels, and Incabloc shock resistance. The condition of the watch is very good with the gold areas without any loss of finish, but I am still calling this gold filled or gold plated. . . The Olympic Watch Company was first listed in 1923 and 1940 and being imported into the USA by Sam Stern of New York City. They were listed in 1951 and again in 1961 as an importer of Swiss made movements from A. Schild, Felsa, ETA, Buren, Pesaux, Olympic (they still made movements in Switzerland), Aurore, Venus and Unitas. The gilding on this case is finer than the Milex, the faceted crystal and the dial is finer than the Milex as well. I am not convinced that the gemstones are diamond and certainly not of high quality.
The fair market price of this example would be approximately $75-$90. . .
Therefore the two watches together would be valued at $125-$165.
It was my pleasure to be of service to you today.
My fair market appraisal is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of Swiss made comparables. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and vary.
Best regards,
David