Hello Adam,
Thank you for sending in this wristwatch to mearto.com for an appraisal.
TITLE:
Gent’s stainless steel, self-winding, water resistant (200m), three register, quartz, chronograph wristwatch, ref. 964.013, made by Tag Heuer, Switzerland circa 1990-2000.
PROVENANCE:
Family
DESCRIPTION:
Case: Size not provided, but approximated to be 32-35 mm in diameter with crown, a mixture of a steel round and tonneau shaped case, both the back (stainless steel) and the front (chromed metal) with a round stainless steel notched rotating bezel marked in minutes from 0-60, for decompression timing when under water. Stylistically, the lugs are harp shaped and blend seamlessly into the first links of the bracelet. The shape of the first couple of links suggest the design being used by Tag-Heuer for their watch bracelets during the 1990s and into the first years of the 21st century. After the first two links the link steel bracelet becomes individual solid links rather than the curved shaped early ones and terminate in a marked steel fold-over clasp. This suggest a date close to the year 2000 for manufacture. The back cover of the case is embossed, ‘Stainless steel back, Swiss Made, Water Resistant, 200 meters tested’ while the cover center is marked “964-013, Swiss Since 1980, Tag Heuer logo”.
Dial: One photo shows a round black dial carrying the logo of Tag-Heuer in the upper dial center and with no further writing on the dial which has applied dart-shaped silvered dart hour indices, a dark band to the outside has open bar minute/seconds with the time broken down into fifths of a second. The uttermost band is in white open bars marked every five minute with Arabic markers. The dial center features three silvered subsidiary registers: continuous seconds @3, 30 minute register @6, and 12 hour register @9. There are luminous ‘Alpha skeleton’ hands
And a counterbalanced sweep center seconds chronograph pointer. It is extremely rare to have nothing written on the dials of any Tag Heuer wristwatch which makes me suspect of a replica watch here, but I cannot be certain without inspecting the watch by hand. This type of watch eventually became what is considered today the quartz ref. 964.013 - SEE - https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/gold-plated-tag-heuer-964-013-professional-200-meters-date-stainless-jtnxwtAiOQ (sold for $20)
The tag Heuer 964.013 turned into the 2000 Professional wristwatch, rather than a chronograph.
SEE - https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/tag-heuer-2000-professional-964-013-mens-wristwatch-LuTccaSZmG (sold for $271 in 2016)
Perhaps this is the predecessor to the 2000 Professional 200 meter wristwatch?
Movement: Assumed to be a Swiss made quartz, timed and standardized movement.
COMMENTARY:
The combination of two different forms of bracelet is unusual for Tag Heuer.
The use of a reference number for a chronograph that turn out to be the reference number of the 2000 Professional 200 meter wristwatch, not a chronograph, certainly suggests that this watch may well be a replica. Looking both at the computer and at a textbook on Tag Heuer I am unable to come up with this precise watch. Perhaps, it was first made back in the 1980s as an answer to Switzerland’s quartz crisis. So, this leaves a question mark about the originality of this watch and bracelet design and the reference number used on the watch. I cannot see enough to call it a certain replica but it raises enough questions about that subject that I have to place a lower value on the watch. If all were original the fair market value might reach $250. As is, with no answers to my questions I have put the fair market value in the range of $50-$75.
Thank you for choosing mearto.com for your appraisal.
My best,
David
_________________________________________________________________
Hello Adam,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. So that I may best assist you, can you please tell me what type of movement is inside this case. I am having difficulty with the numbers 964-013 that you gave me. Is it a mechanical movement or a quartz movement?
What is the width of the watch case?
When did you buy this watch or when do you believe it was purchased?
Thank you for your help in this matter.
My best,
David