Hello Donald, We at mearto.com thank you for sending us this gemstone laden wrist chronograph for an appraisal. I will give you my own opinion today as to value. TITLE: Gent’s, haute joaillerie, self-winding, 18K white gold and diamond (8 carats of clear VS1/VS2 and natural black diamonds) wristwatch with round button chronograph, three registers, No.27, designed by and made in Switzerland for Jahan Jewelers, Geneva, Switzerland, modern era post 2000. DESCRIPTION: Case: 50 mm, two leaf, 18k white gold watch case in teardrop shape, a larger main dial above a smaller dial at the bottom of the tear drop, both with white gold bezels. The larger dial is thought to be 35mm in diameter. The oversize bezel of this piece of haute joaillerie is made of 18k white gold and embedded in the bezel is a plethora of white and natural black diamonds, weighing 93 dwt, to total 8 plus carats divided amongst the too numerous to count diamonds. The asymmetric bezel consists of alternating segments of black and clear diamond bands. The back of the case carries the name JAHAN No. 27. Two polished white gold round chronograph pushers are seen and between them the fluted white gold winding crown, while at the lower left side the single crown for the smaller watch dial. The watch has white gold Vendome lugs pairing it with a black leather strap. No gold hallmarks are shown. . Dial: The larger dial has three subsidiary dials, continuous seconds @6, 30 minute register @10 and tenths of a second register @2. There are no numerals for the hours. There are luminous paddle fan shaped hands and a center seconds chronograph pointer, also luminous at its triangular head. The rest of the dial is filled with clear pavé round cut diamonds. Below there is smaller dial also filled with clear gemstones and two steel baton hands with its own crown for time only purposes (likely controlled by a quartz movement). Movement: Not shown but most likely either a Swiss made mechanical chronograph (they have used Valjoux chronograph movements in past years) or a quartz chronograph movement, such as those made by ETA. . . Condition: I will make the assumption that this is a Jahan wrist chronograph since you show the back cover marked Jahan, J3, No 27. Most Jahan watches are produced in limited editions. The jewels and the dial and the strap that are shown are intact and assumed to be relatively new. I also will assume the watch is functional. The gemstones are of the highest clarity and color. In addition, there is no Certification or certificate of authenticity here. I have only the client’s word that these stones are of that quality. Commonly a gemologist has certified such findings in this type of Haute Jouallerie. The size of the diamonds which are quite small affects the pricing since a 1.0 carat bezel can be created with 50 smaller stones or 10 larger ones. The bezel with the larger diamonds is worth much more. There is also the question of aesthetics. It is difficult to picture this watch worn by people in the USA since it is a lot of bling and quite gaudy in appearance (to my eyes). Yes, for the wealthy in Iran and the Arab countries of the Middle East I can see this watch worn. Another consideration here is that if Jahan were dealing with watch firms such as Patek, Vacheron, IWC, JLC, or Audemars making the movements, then you would have something that might run over 100K, but I doubt they choose to use such fine watch companies. HISTORICAL: The jewelry house of Jahan, based in Geneva, Switzerland since 1980, is known worldwide for their unique, sumptuous and spectacular sets of jewels intended to be worn together. Their faithful clients include the royal families of the Persian Gulf, and for many years they were purveyors of precious jewels to the Shahs of Iran. Shapour Jahan, who represents the seventh generation of this dynastic Iranian Jewelry family, has stated: My passion is to conceive and create sets of jewels and watches that are radically different from all others. Their creations sparkle from the windows of their new and elegant salon in Geneva's fashionable rue de Rhône, as well as in boutiques in Saudi Arabia. Several years ago Mr. Jahan decided to start a line of watches for both men and women. Unique in design, and of the highest craftsmanship, these Swiss made watches are all limited editions. JAHAN COMPARABLES: ~https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/70211978_jahan-a-gentleman-s-club-wrist-watch-white-metal (sold for 1700 GBP) ~https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/57175899_jahan-a-diamond-and-sapphire-wrist-watch-the (sold for 3500 Pounds) ~https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/christies-jewels-online/meyers-lady-diamond-diamond-sapphire-wristwatch-214/68745 (SOLD FOR $1875 AT Christies 2019) ~https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/watches/a-diamond-set-gilt-booster-automatic-wristwatch-by-5933064-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5933064&sid=12b0e037-d849-4057-8867-5a6ffe0a04c6 (sold at Christies for $2750) ~https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/watches/a-diamond-and-mother-of-pearl-miracle-quartz-wristwatch-5883877-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5883877&sid=7e42715e-f3ef-4ada-ad0b-f29e15dbd0ce (sold for 3000 GBP) ~https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/watches/an-18ct-gold-coloured-diamond-and-ruby-5968822-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5968822&sid=7e42715e-f3ef-4ada-ad0b-f29e15dbd0ce (sold for 1750 GBP) COMMENTARY: Offered for $1300 on E-Bqy with no takers was this 5.5 crat diamond wristwatch; https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Don-Co-5-50CT-3-rows-large-size-Diamond-50MM-Stainless-steel-Watch/143228910960?hash=item21591bbd70:g:3n4AAOSww9xZDqGO If you sell this watch on the diamond market I am sure you can receive several times the value I have provided for you if you sold it at a watch auction. But that would also destroy the watch. Prices of such watches are not always determined by the quality and amount of gold or the nature of the diamonds, but by the fineness of the timepiece and its aesthetics. It is clear to me that the beauty or lack thereof in your wristwatch is a personal taste, an individual appeal which appeals to you and obviously my own opinion is rather different. There would of course be a very narrow market for such a watch in the western world for two basic reasons: the funds required to purchase such a watch on the retail market, and the appeal of the watch to today’s modern man. A few years back I found the same problem with the Haute Jouallerie coming out of the designer watch made by Hublot firm. I found very little aesthetic appeal despite those watches selling at very high prices. What has happened over these past half dozen years is that the value of such designer watches as Hublot have hit some bumps in the road and the value of such watches has declined. I was not in the least surprised by this. I find that taking all of the above into consideration your chronograph wristwatch of white gold and pave diamonds, if offered for sale at a watch auction should be valued between $5000 and $7000 - if sold at auction in the western hemisphere. It is possible that in the Middle East such a watch may be very appealing to a Prince or a sheikh, but just not to me. I do wish you the very best of luck with this watch and I truly hope that I am wrong in my evaluation of its market value. I am certain that the retail price is likely in five, perhaps six figures. My best, David
