It Started With One Watch
Long before Labadie & Cora, Dee Taylor was a 13-year-old kid in St. Louis who kept returning to a neighborhood watch shop for one reason.
A 1982 Citizen 1300 Meter Professional Diver.
He couldn’t afford it, but the older gentleman who owned the shop would let him hold it, study its details, and come back as often as he wanted. Dee would examine its weight, design, and rugged character, slowly building a fascination he couldn’t quite explain.
He didn’t know anything about collecting then. He just knew the watch fascinated him.
That fascination never left.
Over time, it became a passion for vintage watches, the stories they carry, and the character that only comes with age. Each watch began to feel like more than an object—it was a small piece of history, shaped by the people who wore it and the years it had lived through. Eventually, that passion became Labadie & Cora.
Sometimes, one watch is enough to start a lifetime.
Selected Through a Dealer’s Eye
Labadie & Cora specializes in vintage, neo-vintage, and modern watches, along with signed jewelry chosen for quality, character, and lasting relevance. We evaluate the details collectors care about—case condition, dial and hand configuration, bracelet fit, service history, and provenance—and disclose what we know clearly.
Built on Verification and Transparency
Every piece is inspected before it is offered. Known service or replacement components are disclosed when identified, watches are function-tested and serviced when necessary, and each shipment is fully insured. Our goal is straightforward: represent each object honestly and make a high-value purchase feel informed, secure, and personal.
Trade memberships: Labadie & Cora is a member of the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), the International Watch & Jewelry Guild (IWJG), and the Hong Kong Watch Guild Show (HKWGS).