Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

[rongoms]

AH, right up my alley!

first, do you want Vintage or "Vintage-look"?

I ask cause you can easily find true vintage watches, not a Hamiltion or Waltham maybe, but a vintage hand-wound or even an automatic can easily be found on the 'Bay within your price range.
I have a Tissot from 1936, which runs perfectly after a cleaning by my watchmaker for....$36.00. Search for "Vintage automatics" or "hand wound" in the jewelry and watch section and you'll see what I mean.

If you're looking for a modern watch or quartz (shudder), Invicta is hard to beat.

Don't overlook places like Target/Kohls either. There is quite a vintage trend in watches lately, starting with the swiss brands, and now trickled down to the Dept store watches.

All this being said, you might think about treating yourself to one of the nice new Timex Automatics. They use asian movements (made by Seagull in China). It's a little more than your stated price range, but a mechanical watch is one of life's little secret pleasures. i swear that when i'm at my desk and the world is collapsing around me, i can hear the little guy ticking....it's quite soothing, actually.

If you find somethign on eBay, shoot me the Item # and i'll check it out....like everythign else there, it can be a crapshoot.....

 

[rongoms]

...but it's Swiss-made, old-fashioned, and fairly unique in these parts.

They're not bad watches, but they're not swiss-made. they don't use swiss movements either, they use generic chinese in most of their cases. (I cannot find any reference to a specific movement used in any of their watches....it would be like reading the specifications of a car you're thinking asbout purchasing and having it say "Engine"....

I'm not knocking the watches, mind you, i like the look of the Monte Carlo series and the Blakes quite a bit....but there is a lot of disinformation out there about watches.

It should be noted that you can probably find the exact same watch without the brand name on it for half this price.

FWIW, the Altanus Roulette is a copy of the Corum Bubble Casino.

These are chinese watches folks.

 

[The D.A.]

These are chinese watches folks.

Hmmmm. Nothing against Chinese products, but if that's true, then I've been had, and that annoys me. Let's discuss this watch via PM. I still love the look of the watch, though, and regardless of where it's made, it's a lot nicer than many of the more expensive Russian watches that I've seen.

 

[Brian Sheridan]

Thanks everyone - I knew I would get some good direction.

I would love to own a real vintage one but I am concerned about being ripped off on Ebay. And the prices there seems to skyrocket.

My ideal watch would be a 30's tank-type with art deco numbers.

As for price, I wouldnt want to pay more than $150. And I agree that quartz is souless.

BRS

 

[Stinchcomb]

Check out this web site. I've thought about ordering one myself.
Great vintage looking watches for a decent price.

www.steinhausenonline.com

 

[Flash Gordon]

I have a beaut!

Swiss made.

Make: Glycine.

Model: Eugene Meylan

I love it! It's fairly high-end. But you can find deals on the internet.

 

[The Wingnut]

Gruen re-issued some of their Curvex designs in quartz in the '90s and plenty of examples can be found on eBay. Don't pay more than $40. I cracked mine open to replace the battery and the movement is puny. They're remarkably good repros, though.

Here's a good example(ended auction) identical to mine.


...and the same thing in brown / cream / gold.

 

[reetpleat]

I think if you buy something cheap it will never look quite as good in the metal and face and such, but not necesserily.
I do know that Hamilton made a nice repro of their older style a while back. Probably still do. Not too cheap though.

I would suggest just getting a vintage number. E-bay might be a risk I guess, but if you look for someone with good feedback.

I used to go to a jewlery shop in Sf that would often have decent refurbished watches for a hundred bucks. I would check out yoru town to see if there is any watch shops that sell refurbished ones or just used cleaned ones.

You can even find a cheapie at an estate sale or antique or pawn shop. I once had one completely redone, cleaned, repainted, replated numberse etc. It cost me a hundred and fifty, a few years back. When I was done the 20 dollar wathc was worth about $170, but that was cool. It was beautiful.

A vintage watch will be a pleasure to own and will always hold it's value.

 

[The Wingnut]

Indeed. I've a '34 Elgin like this...I bought it for less than $40 off of ebay, and thanks to a friend who bought a massive lot of NOS crystals and knows someone who will restore watch faces very reasonably, I've got a nearly like-new watch for around $60.

Bargains can be had, patience and knowing when to strike are key...

...but occasionally you just want something that looks the part that you can knock around without worrying about it.

 

[rongoms]

I have a beaut!

Swiss made.

Make: Glycine.

Model: Eugene Meylan

I love it! It's fairly high-end. But you can find deals on the internet.

LOVE the Eugene Meylan line.....i have one of the re-issues and while it's not got that lovely patina on the numbers that the true vintage models do, it's crisp readability is welcome to my failing eyes. (i've got an Airman 7 for sale for just that reason....the little sucker is FAR to small for me now.

 

[Naphtali]

Here's a local link to what you seek.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=5120

 

[rongoms]

Wow, Shill much?

Not bad wathes, I like the Jamboree, but i've always had a soft spot for anythign Longines. They're truly one of the classic watch brands. almost nothing "trendy" in the entire line. Cuervo y Sobrinos is another.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

And I like sundials.

.

 

[rongoms]

Swatch, in the early 90's i belive, sold a wrist sundial.
I had one briefly, but it's since gone missing (i'd love another one though, but they seem to only be in Japan for some reason)

totally a novelty, especially when one lives in Seattle, but it was cool, nontheless.

 

[The Wingnut]

I seem to recall a Fossil made in the same manner.

 

[undertaker]

Thanks everyone - I knew I would get some good direction.

I would love to own a real vintage one but I am concerned about being ripped off on Ebay. And the prices there seems to skyrocket.

My ideal watch would be a 30's tank-type with art deco numbers.

As for price, I wouldnt want to pay more than $150. And I agree that quartz is souless.

BRS

BRS

I just came across this one, a 1930's Benrus, 17 Jewel in a gold plated case.
I have only worn it a couple of times, but it seems to be a great watch. I might let it go though. Is it something like you are looking for? I seem to find them often. Let me know and I will be glad to keep an eye out for you one if you can give me some idea of what you want.

Regards,
J.S.

 

[Smithy]

I bought this watch in Europe about 3 years ago and love it. It's from the Swiss maker Certina, and is automatic with a 25 Jewel movement. It's a modern watch but inspired by classic pilot's watches. Just another type of option.

 

[PADDY]

Try a second hand Oris.

I have a 1980's made Oris and everyone who sees it thinks it is a throw back to the 30's! (as I was told at the London FL dinner!). There should be a healthy second hand market in these. Plus, no nasty far east movements with these, it's a nice clean Swiss Sweep!

 

[cookie]

Vintage Watch

I bought a vintage Omega c 1946 - my wife liked it and it looked grand but never wear it - sucker just kept breaking down - AUD800 wasted - Repro is the answer Paddy. I saw a German site with 1938 Deco models that look great. That's where I will go next time. In the meantime I will stick with my Aldi AUD15 job for now!

 

[jph712]

Suggestions

I have a 1980's made Oris and everyone who sees it thinks it is a throw back to the 30's! (as I was told at the London FL dinner!). There should be a healthy second hand market in these. Plus, no nasty far east movements with these, it's a nice clean Swiss Sweep!

First off, awesome looking Oris.

Secondly doa search at Amazon for Tommy Bahama watches, they make some tank style watches that may bery well fit the bill. Well made too.