Just purchased what I’m hoping is a yellow Solari Cifra 3 battery flip clock...help with identification please

[Retrogal]

hi there,

I have just purchased this clock which is being shipped from overseas to me next week. It looks like a Cifra 3 but I’m no expert and really confused as it doesn’t say Solari on the clock only ‘Trophy’. Any ideas??

thanks so much

[Mackey]

That is without a doubt a Solari Udine Cifra 3.
I'm not sure about the "Trophy" thing. But I do know that some clocks were produced with other businesses names on them, usually on the base though.
If you look on the H an M (hours and minutes) adjustment wheel you'll see the Solari Udine symbol.
There's no question that it's a Cifra 3

This is the logo from solari lineadesign
This is a modern division of Solari that was tasked to bring back the Cifra 3 (in 2015) as a way to promote the company overall. The new Cifra 3s are expensive, but we were able to do an unboxing of one. The one you're getting may be an original (from the 60s 70s) or one of the ones produced in 1990s called the MOMA version (museum of modern art).

How to properly pronounce Solari Undine Cifra 3

[Retrogal]

Thanks so much for your reply. Do you know how I can date the clock? The seller thinks it is from the 60s or 70s. Does the fact that Trophy is written on the front devalue the clock at all? It wasn’t cheap - £220 but i thought this price was ok if it’s an original vintage clock. Thanks again

[Mackey]

That's a good price for that clock. They are pricey and the yellow ones are sought after.
If you look inside the battery case you'll see a label. If I remember right it will say Museum of Modern Art if it's from the early 1990s (1993 actually). It's certainly not a modern (2015 to present) clock. When I get home I'll dig out my Cifra 3s and see. I have both North American, European old versions, MOMA version and the modern version.

Does it affect the value..... Well. Depends upon the collector. If I had a choice of one that was blank, or had "SOLARI" on it vs Trophy, I'd go for the blank or Solari version. However, if I were an insane collector (more insane than I am) I'd want that Trophy version because it was different.

If that clock is working, it's easily worth 275-315 US dollars or more all day long. (that's what people will pay these days).

[Retrogal]

Thanks again for the info. Would LOVE to know why it was branded Trophy...loads of googling hasn’t helped to answer that question! When it arrives I will look inside the battery section and report back. I paid 220 in UK pounds so after the exchange rate to dollars maybe I more or less paid the market value...

[Mackey]

You didn't overpay

[Mackey]

Well Retrogal I just made a YouTube video that may be of interest to you:

[Endo312]

Hi
A couple of month ago, I saw in the collection of the Grassi Museum in Leipzig a Solari Cifra 3 with the Branding of Rowenta, which is a German brand for white goods.
I assume that Solari was selling its clock also to other companies for reselling
Michael