Ladies watches

Smuterella · Sep 21, 2008

Can anyone advise me on what I should be looking for when buying a vintage watch. I know there were distinctions in evening and everyday watches, most of the ones on eBay seem to be evening types (presumably they had less use so survived better) but I'm not really sure what I'm looking at or for at the moment and I'm sure folk on here can enlighten me.

LizzieMaine · Sep 21, 2008

The most important consideration in a vintage watch is the overall quality -- you can't go wrong buying by brand name. A Hamilton or a Bulova or a Gruen is going to be a better investment for regular use than a cheaper brand, and you'll be happier with it in the long run.

You're right about evening watches vs. daytime watches -- a daytime watch will be bigger and less ornate than an evening watch, which is important if you're going to use it regularly: the smaller the watch, the fussier the movement, and the more likely it is to get knocked out of whack. Women's watches also have a tendency to get clogged up by particles of face powder -- so it's a good idea to avoid wearing yours while doing your makeup!

Day watches will have simple bands -- in the thirties, cord bands, made of braided silk were most popular, and hinged/flexible metal bands were most popular from the forties on. You might find the occasional "sports watch" with a leather band, but these weren't especially common. Yellow gold and white gold were both popular for day watches, and especially during the thirties there were nice decoish details to the cases.

If you find one you like, you'll need to get it cleaned and adjusted before you can use it -- this tends to run about a hundred dollars in the US, and probably around the equivalent in the UK. You might have to look around a bit to find a jeweler who still does proper watch repair -- most today do nothing more advanced than changing batteries in digital watches.

Well cared for, a vintage watch keeps time quite well -- as long as you remember to wind it each morning!

Smuterella · Sep 21, 2008

Thanks Lizzie. Have seen a 40's metal hinged one I quite like but I was worried about sizing. I have very delicate (read thin) wrists.

Were most watches loose bracelet style or were they intended to fit tight to the wrist?

LizzieMaine · Sep 21, 2008

Tight to the wrist. The cord bands were cut to exact size -- you had to measure your wrist for the jeweler before buying -- but the metal bands could be either made to size or flexible. If you have small wrists you should be OK -- some of the metal bands had adjustable links that could be removed to make the band smaller -- but sizing upward was more difficult.

One good thing, though, is that it's still very easy to find vintage old-stock bands on eBay -- when the band on my Bulova broke a couple years ago, I found a near-exact replacement for about ten dollars, and it's very easy to change a band with a pair of needle-nose pliers. So if you find a watch you like and the band doesn't fit, it's easy enough to fix that problem.

Smuterella · Sep 21, 2008

thanks! I'd love to see some photos of peoples vintage watches, if anyone can be bothered...!

LizzieMaine · Sep 21, 2008

My daily wear -- Bulova "Goddess of Time" from 1938.

Lots more watch pics here -- http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=11626 -- although they seem to be mostly gents' styles.

LelaViavonie · Sep 22, 2008

Your watch is soo pretty! I also have been searching ebay for a watch.. but didnt really know what I was looking for.. thanks for the pic and info

Vintage Betty · Sep 22, 2008

Sometime in the next week, I'll post pics of my watches + additional suggestions and some thoughts about wristbands and cleaning.

Lizzie has done a great job of advising you of the basics.

Vintage Betty

Smuterella · Sep 23, 2008

thanks Lizzie and Betty, i'm looking forward to seeing Betty's collection.

Moby · Sep 24, 2008

Here's a lady's watch you might like. It's a Waltham from 1878. Probably older than you really want. It's an early watch, actually a converted pocket watch.

Lady's watches from the 1900 to 1930 were often converted pocket watches. They are a bit larger and can be quite valuable.

From 1940 to about 1960 was the time of the small baguet watch. The watches are the very small Bulova's and Hamilton's that our Mothers and Grandmothers wore. These watches are very reasonable in price, especially gold filled models.

After 1960 lady's watches grew in size and became more modern looking. The first battery powered watches became available.

I suggest you spend some time looking at watches on Ebay to decide what you really like. Some real bargains are available on Ebay in lady's watches. Just pick a dealer who specializes in vintage watches and has a good feed back rating and a money back guarantee. Don't buy from a dealer who sells many different items but only has one watch for sale.

Miss 1929 · Sep 24, 2008

Here's a few...

Left to right:
30s-40s chrome and copper faced curved crystal watch, with a metal band like a snake chain. Definitely daytime - it is very streamlined and utilitarian, like something Ninotchka would wear. It's an "Aristo", whatever that is.
20s engraved white gold watch, with a sapphire cabachon on the winding stem. I like this for both day and evening, as it is fancy without being flashy. This one is an unnamed watch.
The treasured one - a 1930s white gold Longines, set with four diamonds and another 2 on the band. Problem is the winding stem WILL NOT stay fixed, apparently the part it latches onto is also worn out. But Sr. 1929 gave it to me the night before we got engaged (isn't that an old-fashioned engagement present?) and I adore it. This one also could go day or evening, as it is genuine, and oh so understated. Kind of the Norma Shearer of my watches.
1920s Rhodium plated and faux emeralds watch! This one was a STEAL as the seller thought the band was broken and they couldn't see it has an invisible fastener! I couldn't either, a jeweler pointed it out. This is really detailed and flashy, so I would say evening only. One doesn't wear emeralds before 7 pm, anyway. I just made that up.
Below, we have a little chrome Bulova with no band, and a swell pearl and rhodium band! They look bad together. But I am considering switching watch #2's band and using this watch on that band. In which case, new watch will be daytime and old watch (with all those pearls) will become evening, or at least teatime.
None of them stay working - something about whacking one's hands against ivory and ebony for ours at a time seems to bother them.

Vintage Betty · Sep 24, 2008

This is quickly turning into one of my favorite threads. I've started collecting my watches to photograph. Stay tuned. But I really think Miss 1929 and Moby have the most gorgeous watches; mine will be more utilitarian.

My couple fancy watches got stolen along with all the fine jewelry by a contractor working at our house, and have not been replaced. So, everything you will see from me will be low-end, generally speaking.

Vintage Betty

Smuterella · Sep 24, 2008

Thank you Miss 1929, what a beautiful collection.

I think i'm looking for one utilitarian day watch and a pretty evening number too.

Betty - I'm so sorry to hear about the theft, I was burgled a few years ago and they made off with the jewellery my aunt left me in her will. Its one thing when they take your stereo, quite another when its something vintage and irreplaceable.

texasgirl · Sep 24, 2008

I got this Bulova last month. The band was super tiny, so I had a black cord one put on it. I wore it to an event last weekend and it worked great. But I think I will stick with my Fossil for everyday and keep this one for special dress up occasions. I got it for about $25 on ebay. There are a lot on there. I bid on 2 and lost before I got this one. They both went for in the $50s

Vintage Betty · Sep 26, 2008

I bought a vintage watch repair shop over the summer...what did you do?

The watches below mostly don't work. And they are mostly from two sources:
warbaby and the contents of a shop I purchased.

Yes, I purchased the contents of a vintage watch repair shop over the summer!

Bunches and bunches of ladies watches - how fun! The right hand plastic container holds a Gruen watch, watchband, springs and there is a crystal in that paper - all circa 1930/1940.

I will have more pictures posted around the Lounge and will post links shortly. Here's the short story: I did a great trade for some watches with warbaby, and than helped out that family with their house clearance, remember? Anyway, the father had a shop and used to repair watches and clocks. When I found this out, I said that I would like to buy any tools they were willing to sell me, as I'd like to learn watch repair for myself and also for a charity shop I volunteer at.

This is my childhood watch, which I assumed I purchased at Disneyland

After spending a week with the family, I was astounded at the generous offer I was given: two boxes with the contents of the shop, for the price of LESS than a single watch repair. So, I'm jazzed beyond belief. I hope to start studying watch repair next year. I'll post the tools and the cool deco clocks I received in another thread. The cutesy pocketwatch-looking jewelry with the fleur-de-lis was thrown in for fun; it's actually a broken piece of junked Coro. Unfortunately, my original Mickey Mouse watch from the 1930's was stolen, along with my other fine jewelry.

In the meantime, enjoy the ladies watches in this thread! The watches and contents of the store and now back in storage until next year or so.

Vintage Betty · Sep 26, 2008

Watches above: Gruen, Gruen, Benrus

Watches above: Elgin, Elgin

Watches above: Unknown, unknown

Watches above: Left to right: Hamilton (silver oval); Temple (Embedded Ruby, need serious repair on back); Withnaur; and on the bottom: a fat tire ladies pocketwatch, brand unknown

Watches above: Left to right: My watch I've had cleaned and repaired twice (can't read manufacturer name); Bulova; Gruen, Bulova and above them all is a Paulette

Last of the ladies watches: Top is a Royal and an unmarked pocketwatch I've had for over 20 years and cleaned at least twice, bottom shows you a Gruen and my childhood Snow White watch from Disney.

I think almost if not all these watches don't run correctly, so I have a lot of work to do and learning to bring these up to being serviceable and usable. In some cases, I am not sure if I can restore them as it might need professional jewelry repair, like the lovely Temple watch.

Here's the post of the tools, men's watches, and additional photos to look at.

Smuterella, I will write more thoughts on what to look for when purchasing a vintage watch shortly.

Smuterella · Oct 1, 2008

ooh such beautiful things!

am looking forward to the tips when you have time

Hestia · Sep 3, 2009

I decided to resurrect this thread!

I bought this cute little watch on ebay today; it is not nearly up to the level of all the lovely timepieces on this thread, but it appealed to me. Plus it was very inexpensive, has been serviced and is in working order, so I couldn't resist!

Now that I've got a cheap watch fix, I can take some time to look out for an older, dressier one.

I'm looking forward to having portable ticking on my wrist again. I love that sound.

Vanessa · Sep 3, 2009

Hestia said:
I bought this cute little watch on ebay today; it is not nearly up to the level of all the lovely timepieces on this thread, but it appealed to me. Plus it was very inexpensive, has been serviced and is in working order, so I couldn't resist!

What a deal!

$ally · Feb 28, 2011

http://timex.homestead.com/nursetimexalan.html
I really want one of these

Ladies watches

One Too Many

One Too Many

One Too Many

Practically Family

My Mail is Forwarded Here

One Too Many

Familiar Face

My Mail is Forwarded Here

My Mail is Forwarded Here

One Too Many

One Too Many

My Mail is Forwarded Here

My Mail is Forwarded Here

One Too Many

Familiar Face

One Too Many

One Too Many

Similar threads

Log in

Forum statistics