Reply With QuoteBrilliant post! Thanks for taking the time to produce such an enjoyable read.
Hi, and merry Xmas to you all
I have to admit, I’ve always liked a vintage, albeit one in pristine condition.. which in itself is a bit of a contradiction.
My first was an Omega Geneve
Bought in this condition, it didn’t take me long before the urge of having it restored kicked in..
One Brendan later..
And it came back looking like this.
Great, great little thing.. you would think, after spending so much money in a restoration job, and after such results, I’d be wearing this every day with pride.. alas, that wasn’t the case.. I just couldn’t bond with it.
I know understand, the reason.. the watch came back like new, but new it wasn’t.. its a vintage, and a vintage should always be, first and foremost, a conversation piece.. but what the watch gained in beauty, it lost in charm, and when there’s no charm there’s no love to share and that’s the end of it.
Next down the line, was my Tudor 7944..
Great watch, in great condition, with some (for me) special features, such as a roulette date wheel (I was a casino dealer at the time), a very unique crown (+) and bezel..
Unfortunately, back then, I was so focused on raising money to fund my next purchase, so this one ended being short lived, and sold.
Fast forward to the present, and many, many watches later (none of which a true vintage)..
This comes along..
This is a vintage chronograph, in 18k gold, which had been recently cleaned and serviced, by a famous watchmaker..
It’s history is unknown to me, but whatever life it had, it must have been a great one! I mean, look at that dial!
This gentleman (the watchmaker) went to such extent to keep the watch originality.. that when it came to find a replacement crown, he ended up having to fly to Italy to personally look at the replacement and making sure it was, period correct, and of the right shade of gold!
Speaking of love for watches, and conversation pieces!
I bought this in part/ex along with a Rolex 1501.. and walking out, I’ve put the Rolex in a pouch, and the Axes on the wrist.
And I remember the seller smiling and saying.. you’ve just bought a Rolex, but you’re putting “that” on the wrist?
And that’s how, I’ve found love (again) for vintage watches.
Thank you all and Happy new year.
Claudio
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Brilliant post! Thanks for taking the time to produce such an enjoyable read.
I like the Tudor. Very unique bezel.
The Chrono looks great, what a fantastic pick-up. Love the story about how it has been preserved. Thanks for sharing - hope you give the 1501 some wrist time too though
John
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I've been through that many watches I also have found more interest in vintage the last few years. Mostly in Rolex Day Dates / Date Justs due the variety available. I like them original also and don't have them touched up, better to buy in the right condition.
James
Is the chrono a Landeron movement? If so, I have its cousin:
The Tudor has a lovely dial - gold indices/figures/hands and a light dial is such a good combination.
It is indeed! :)Originally Posted by unclealec
Is the chrono a Landeron movement? If so, I have its cousin:
What made me buy it was the roulette wheel at the time. It is still owned by a TZ member, so you’ll might see it up for sale soon.
I don’t know.. I’ll probably wear it once or twice before i put it up for sale on TZuk, I’ll have to see what vibes it gives meThe Chrono looks great, what a fantastic pick-up. Love the story about how it has been preserved. Thanks for sharing - hope you give the 1501 some wrist time too though
John
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Here’s a picture of it
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I only have 1 watch that's not vintage, I wear all of them on rotation weekly.
Apart from the ones in for service!
Thanks for the write-up Claudio...enjoy that lovely chrono!!
Great back story OP and I can identify with the attraction of a vintage watch (anything over 20 years?) as around two thirds of my collection is vintage. Whilst new watches are nice, they don't have the same attraction as something from the 50's or 60's.
Lovely post and an excellent read!
I'm cut from the same cloth. I've always enjoyed the uniqueness and charm that a vintage watch carries over more modern pieces.
Great patina on the dial of that chronograph!
I really like the look of that Tudor though - what are the case dimensions please?
Here's one I prepared earlier, dates back to ca 1972, dial's original, hands have been replaced at some point (I think), case has been refinished by me. Movement's been fully serviced and the watch keeps excellent time.
post image online
Here's one I restored with a view to selling, but I`ve become attached to it and it'll be staying. Refinished dial, replacement handset and repolished case won`t suit everyone, but it's a 1965 watch in virtually 'as new' condition and that's something I like. A good original dial always wins over refinished, can`t dispute that........... but they get refinished for a good reason and that's because they've gone beyond 'patina'. The case is a lot sharper than it looks on the picture, the watch is on my wrist today and it does look nice.
Both these are hand-wound (cal 601 and 613), excellent movements [provided you remember to wind them.........it's easy to forget when you're used to automatics!
I've a few vintage, and very much like wearing them. This is (probably) the oldest at 1961.
Practically all my watches are vintage and I’ve posted pictures of many of them before. When you can pick up a pair like this for less than the cost of a high end strap, why wouldn’t you?
Is this just a hobby of yours, or else you do this professionally? Either way, you’ve done a fantastic job! And, it would be interesting to see a “before and after” photo setHere's one I prepared earlier, dates back to ca 1972, dial's original, hands have been replaced at some point (I think), case has been refinished by me. Movement's been fully serviced and the watch keeps excellent time.
Here's one I restored with a view to selling, but I`ve become attached to it and it'll be staying. Refinished dial, replacement handset and repolished case won`t suit everyone, but it's a 1965 watch in virtually 'as new' condition and that's something I like. A good original dial always wins over refinished, can`t dispute that........... but they get refinished for a good reason and that's because they've gone beyond 'patina'. The case is a lot sharper than it looks on the picture, the watch is on my wrist today and it does look nice.
Both these are hand-wound (cal 601 and 613), excellent movements [provided you remember to wind them.........it's easy to forget when you're used to automatics!
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Very very nice!!I've a few vintage, and very much like wearing them. This is (probably) the oldest at 1961.
Why do you think the hands have been replaced Paul? Look original to me.Here's one I prepared earlier, dates back to ca 1972, dial's original, hands have been replaced at some point (I think), case has been refinished by me. Movement's been fully serviced and the watch keeps excellent time.
Cheers,
Neil.
I love vintage watches and find them so much more interesting than most modern equivalents.
Look what you used to get for forty years service!
Cheers,
Neil.
They look a bit too clean! I suspect new replacements have been fitted at some point. I’ve come aross a few Dynamics with similar hands and they usually look a bit more aged than these.
I recently replaced the strap with a dark blue Hirsch Duke, suits the watch better IMO, I was never happy with the white stitching.
I bought this for £68 in 1998 from a dealer at Newark Antiques Fair after a bit of haggling.......those were the days.
Paul
Last edited by walkerwek1958; 2nd January 2019 at 21:49.
Each to their own, but vintage is what this hobby is all about for me. There's an authenticity which you don't get from a new watch. The vintage pieces were made for a purpose - because they were the best tools for the job in the day, whether that be simple timekeeping or some other function.
Love the omega!Hi, and merry Xmas to you all
I have to admit, I’ve always liked a vintage, albeit one in pristine condition.. which in itself is a bit of a contradiction.
My first was an Omega Geneve
Bought in this condition, it didn’t take me long before the urge of having it restored kicked in..
One Brendan later..
And it came back looking like this.
Great, great little thing.. you would think, after spending so much money in a restoration job, and after such results, I’d be wearing this every day with pride.. alas, that wasn’t the case.. I just couldn’t bond with it.
I know understand, the reason.. the watch came back like new, but new it wasn’t.. its a vintage, and a vintage should always be, first and foremost, a conversation piece.. but what the watch gained in beauty, it lost in charm, and when there’s no charm there’s no love to share and that’s the end of it.
Next down the line, was my Tudor 7944..
Great watch, in great condition, with some (for me) special features, such as a roulette date wheel (I was a casino dealer at the time), a very unique crown (+) and bezel..
Unfortunately, back then, I was so focused on raising money to fund my next purchase, so this one ended being short lived, and sold.
Fast forward to the present, and many, many watches later (none of which a true vintage)..
This comes along..
This is a vintage chronograph, in 18k gold, which had been recently cleaned and serviced, by a famous watchmaker..
It’s history is unknown to me, but whatever life it had, it must have been a great one! I mean, look at that dial!
This gentleman (the watchmaker) went to such extent to keep the watch originality.. that when it came to find a replacement crown, he ended up having to fly to Italy to personally look at the replacement and making sure it was, period correct, and of the right shade of gold!
Speaking of love for watches, and conversation pieces!
I bought this in part/ex along with a Rolex 1501.. and walking out, I’ve put the Rolex in a pouch, and the Axes on the wrist.
And I remember the seller smiling and saying.. you’ve just bought a Rolex, but you’re putting “that” on the wrist?
And that’s how, I’ve found love (again) for vintage watches.
Thank you all and Happy new year.
Claudio
Inviato dal mio iPad utilizzando Tapatalk
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Ah right, difficult to see in the pic but obviously the correct type.
£68 'eh, those were definitely the days. Thankfully we were both buying then.
Cheers,
Neil.
You've posted about those before, and I've said before - that one on the left is an absolute belter!Practically all my watches are vintage and I’ve posted pictures of many of them before. When you can pick up a pair like this for less than the cost of a high end strap, why wouldn’t you?
Cheers mate. I know you have one or two Helvetias of your own to cherish. Have you had a good look around this new site, set up by forum member Enfield?
https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk
Thank you Claudio for bringing up the subject of vintage watches again.
I get more pleasure from finding these watches, if necessary getting them restored, and then wearing them, than I do from any of the other watches that I own. They have a tactile quality that I tend to find to be missing from most modern watches.
They can - pretty much without exception - be picked up for relatively little money yet, once serviced and/or restored, they will give decades worth of enjoyment-
A small sample, none of which I guess are particularly noteworthy from a collectability perspective:
The Girard Perregaux, the Baume and the Omega with the sweep second hand were all beautifully restored and/or serviced by Brendan, but the others remain pretty much in the same condition as when acquired.
I hadn't seen that site - but I can see that this evening's reading material is now sorted! Thank you for posting the link, and what a great job Enfield looks to have done - so nice to find something different to the seemingly endless Rolex and Omega sites.
Having a quick look at the pages for both the Pilot's Watches and the Post War Dress Watches turns up some lovely looking timepieces. The early Helvetia adverts are a bonus too.
I particularly like the fancy lugs on the dress watch in the middle left of the page:
https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/po...-dress-watches
Here's one of mine which I picked up on this forum
Chronographe Suisse Ancre 17 Rubis Rose Gold (plated) dress watch, teardrop lugs - - NOS
I believe the following to be true
made by a group of Swiss Watchmakers in the 1950's and 60's for sale mainly to the tourist market
40mm to crown - Landeron 51 movement
Ancre = Anchor?
He is an absolutely top guy, with a lot more to share that isn’t on the site yet.
One of those pilot watches is mine as well ;).
Completely agree.
The thunderbolt indices on your Universal Geneve are fantastic.
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Feels like summer today in London, doesn’t it?
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Some of mine
That Pogue is lovely. Wear wellSome of mine
Nice thread, will post some photos when I can.
I also enjoy wearing vintages and wondering about all the history this watches had before I was even born.
i love wearing this
Here is one from my latest vintage purchase
I don't really own any new watches, apart from now the NEWmark chronograph re-issue. Here a SmithS RH0810 from 1947/8...
Last edited by size11s; 15th February 2019 at 16:40.
Put a photo of this in the Friday 15th thread as well. One of my first watch purchases was this Omega from the early 60's. It is in lovely condition considering its age and the photo does not do justice to the linen dial. Basically, a nice little watch with bags of character.
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I've posted this first one before, but...here it is again.
This is my father's watch that he wore throughout my youth. He was given it by his father in December 1946 as a new watch. It's is still in working order and I wear it on special occasions....like last week when I took my mother out for her birthday dinner....So that my father could be with us.
Longines 13ZN Flyback Chronograph
and then I also have my Grandfather's dress watch. It's also hugely sentimental and I was given it in my early twenties. I wore it every day for about a year until I realised that this definitely wasn't a daily beater! This is a VC from 1937 (from VC archives)
Last edited by Rich; 16th February 2019 at 23:49.
Just WOW...and WOOOOW, fantastic, congratulations on two wonderful heir looms. Thanks for showing them.I've posted this first one before, but...here it is again.
This is my father's watch that he wore throughout my youth. He was given it by his father in December 1946 as a new watch. It's is still in working order and I wear it on special occasions....like last week when I took my mother out for her birthday dinner....So that my father could be with us.
Longines 13ZN Flyback Chronograph
and then I also have my Grandfather's dress watch. It's also hugely sentimental and I was given it in my early twenties. I wore it every day for about a year until I realised that this definitely wasn't a daily beater! This is a VC from 1939 (from VC archives)
That Longine is simply gorgeous. It is beautiful and yet understated.I've posted this first one before, but...here it is again.
This is my father's watch that he wore throughout my youth. He was given it by his father in December 1946 as a new watch. It's is still in working order and I wear it on special occasions....like last week when I took my mother out for her birthday dinner....So that my father could be with us.
Longines 13ZN Flyback Chronograph
and then I also have my Grandfather's dress watch. It's also hugely sentimental and I was given it in my early twenties. I wore it every day for about a year until I realised that this definitely wasn't a daily beater! This is a VC from 1939 (from VC archives)
You are indeed a luck man to have it.
and knowing the deep enjoyment that I get from these watches got me started on collecting watches of my own. Hopefully when I move on, my sons will have fond memories of their own
Last edited by Rich; 15th February 2019 at 19:15.
Amazing Longines, you don’t see many of those often. Thanks for posting.
Gorgeous watches even if you'd just bought them without knowing anything of their history, but to have that family connection to them makes them truly special.I've posted this first one before, but...here it is again.
This is my father's watch that he wore throughout my youth. He was given it by his father in December 1946 as a new watch. It's is still in working order and I wear it on special occasions....like last week when I took my mother out for her birthday dinner....So that my father could be with us.
Longines 13ZN Flyback Chronograph
and then I also have my Grandfather's dress watch. It's also hugely sentimental and I was given it in my early twenties. I wore it every day for about a year until I realised that this definitely wasn't a daily beater! This is a VC from 1939 (from VC archives)
Thanks for the kind words Willie and the plug Alfa!
I'm finding out new info all the time and have added a blog section under 'What's New' so check back regularly!
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