What is the Value of Lemaire opera glasses from Paris?

Answer 1

It depends on condition, model, rarity and provenance. i collect these particular brand and the cheapest good quality models, mother of pearl in working condition etc i have bought were around US$20.00. But some go in auctions for hundreds of dollars if they are exceptional. how do you tell if it's exceptional? well that's the trick..basically should be of sound construction, working, materials intact, some sort of provenance is useful eg receipt from lemaire dated 1901 (perfect), inscription "to Lizzie 1901" (hmm maybe). makers mark should be an insect symbol (bee) on brasswork, usually in an inaccessable place, plus numbers (no i won't say what they indicate, that how I know..) Many contemporary 'copies' read pirates exist, but some of them are very nice too, so i wouldn't be too concerned at the 20 -40 dollar part of the market.if you really want to know what it's worth, put it on eBay, label it:'lemaire Opera glasses' (to assist searches).

Yes indeed, prices vary considerably, US$10-lots and lots, lemaire is famous for 'inventing' the focussing system and producing beautiful MOP (mother of pearl) opera glasses. many imitators abound and some use similar names and symbols, but this doesn't devalue them unless you're a purist, these 'imitations' tend to be contemporary so 'good' also. have seen items on eBay listed as lamaire, lemare, lamour etc some actually are lemaire but wrongly labeled, others...well i wouldn't like to suggest that they are purposely misslabelled...anyway beauty is in the eye etc, so buy, sell or keep what you like and enjoy. maybe you'll score a $$$bargain, but better to stick with what you like. and to those murdering the french spelling, come on it ain't so dificile, write it right you could get more money.