It's been a feature over the last 5-7 years or so that many vintage watches of any quality have fast appreciated beyond what was once an enthusiast hobby that could be carried out on a modest budget. This becomes harder the more common and popular the models are. The days of a nice pickup for a couple of hundred pounds are probably over...
For example, having personally missed the boat on the Speedmaster moonwatch a few years ago, pricing on anything from the Tritium era is now above current retail and anything nice with the old column wheel movement in serious collector territory.
Having said this - with a little hunting off the beaten track there is still much to find I think. The 60s and 70s was a fertile era for design and many names that have been positioned in the mid range by the current brand owners used to have a far more illustrious past (I'm looking at you Swatch)
I just tried on a Speedmaster Racing with this core colouring and look for a mere 7k. These Tissot Navigators are stunning looking ( I actually prefer it ) prices are starting to rise but still fantastic value
It's with this in mind that I've been hunting for a nice 70s chronograph that wouldn't break the bank. Although my preference was for a panda dial these are quite sought after too, so I widened my searches and came up with something this week.
I posted this in the incoming thread and arrived on Friday and as mentioned I probably overpaid for it even taking a good chuink off the sellers price by sending an offer, however "New Old Stock" 70s chronos are relatively hard to find and bar a couple of very light scratches on the case back, this one is immaculate.
A quick change onto a nice Hirsch Ranger strap in black and I'm seriously impressed. Thinking it might work on a tan strap too. I have to say the level of detail would shame many manufacturers now. Nice patterned subdials, applied and filled markers etc.
My photos don't really do it justice but see what you think?
Dial detail
In the sun