Hello Nick,
Thank you for sending in this family wristwatch to mearto.com for an appraisal. I shall try to help you with that tonight.
TITLE:
Gent’s designer replica, gold plate and stainless-steel, quartz wristwatch, dial signed ‘Jean Claude’, maker unknown, most likely made in Japan, circa 1990’s. This watch is a fake or forgery made to imitate those made by Jean Claude Biver of Switzerland.
DESCRIPTION:
Case: Square steel dial bezel surrounded by gold plated link bracelet with Jean Claude deployment clasp. The back cover is steel and carries the script name, Jean Claude’.
The key to understanding this watch is that it is named as if made by Jean Claude Biver, the Swiss watchmaker who helped restore the swiss mechanical watch industry after the devastation that the quartz revolution caused to the Swiss industry during the 1970s and 1980s. This brand, ‘Jean Claude’ obviously has used the name of this famous watch maker, who helped restore Blancpain, Swatch, Omega and Piguet to prominence. He purchased Blancpain in 1982. He fought the introduction of the Asian quartz movement into the Swiss industry. There are no gold hallmarks seen on the bracelet nor the watch.
Dial: Textured tree bark gilt dial with applied black and gilt baton hours, skeletonized baton hands and center seconds pointer with the dial marked Jean Claude with logo above and quartz below. Note that the base of the dial is NOT marked Swiss.
Movement: Not shown but is assumed to be a Japanese made quartz movement.
Condition: Case – There are dark speckles where oxidation of the steel beneath the gold plate is taking place although quite small, they are scattered about. Dial – Also has some oxidative marks at the ten and one positions. This indicates the dial is not gold. Same is seen on the gold and black baton numerals. Movement – Not seen nor evaluated except it is said to be a quartz movement, but likely of Asian origin.
Commentary: This watch is precisely what Jean Claude Biver fought against during the 1970’s through the 1990s until he had helped restore fine Swiss made mechanical watches back to the top of the charts in wristwatch production at the high end. The only quartz watch I can find with that brand had a manually wound mechanical movement originally and was replaced with a Japanese quartz movement. All Jean Claude labeled Swiss watches said swiss made at the base of the dia. This brand is simply an attempt to use his name and reputation to sell their watches. Essentially it is a replica made in Asia to take advantage of the famous name on the dial. As such, this was is made to deceive and has no fair market value today.
I am sorry if this comes as a surprise to you since I do not enjoy bringing bad news to anyone. But the truth is what matters, and this is what I believe this watch represents.
My best,
David