Vintage Watch Update – 16th February 2018 | 16.2.18

Opening this week’s newsletter is an Omega Seamaster chronograph Ref. 176.007. This model was released by Omega in 1972 and features a stylish light grey dial with blue accents. An impressive vintage chronograph, the watch incorporates the same movement calibre as that used by Omega in the Speedmaster Mark III and Mark IV – the calibre 1040. The chronograph’s minute recording hand is fitted to the dial’s centre and features a winged tip to clearly delineate it from the other central hands. As the chronograph minute recording hand is set to the centre and read to the scales at the edge of the dial, there is of course no subsidiary minute recording dial and the space this creates is taken by an aperture for date. To the base of the dial there is a chronograph hour recording dial and the sub dial at 9 o’clock combines constant seconds with a 24-hour dial, with triangular indicator and a grey sector for daytime hours and blue sector for the night.  Our video, which can be accessed on the product’s listing on our website, runs through all of the watch’s functions.

Rolex Oyster Precision Ref. 6426 vintage wristwatch, date stamped 1967

Next is classic Rolex Oyster Precision Ref. 6426 from 1967. This version of the model has especially broad and bold applied indexes which have multi-faceted surfaces. The silvered dial has a satin finish and the stainless steel Rolex Oyster case features a smooth polished bezel and typical screw-down Rolex crown and case back. Manually wound, the watch is powered by Rolex’s calibre 1220.

Tudor / Rolex Princess Oysterdate Ref. 7616 steel vintage wristwatch, circa 1973

Above is a lady’s Tudor Princess Oysterdate wristwatch Ref. 7616 from 1973. The watch has a really smart, dark grey, satin finished dial with contrasting white printed tracks and signature. Cased in stainless steel the watch has the typical screw-down Rolex Oyster crown and case back. Automatically wound via the Tudor finished ETA 2651, the movement has provision for quick date adjustment via the crown and there is also a hack feature – when the crown is unscrewed and pulled out to set the time, the second hand will stop, thereby allowing accurate synchronisation to a time signal.

Omega Genève Ref. 136.041 steel vintage wristwatch, circa 1969

Pictured here is a handsome Omega Genève Ref. 136.041 from 1969. Predominantly manufactured with a silvered dial, the present example features the more unusual, midnight blue, satin finished dial. Also notable are the white hour/minute hands and contrasting orange centre seconds – the standard version of this model was fitted with plain, single tone, polished metal hands. The stainless steel, tonneau form case has a satin finished bezel and screw-down case back.

Retailed by J. W. Benson of London and hallmarked for 1946, this lovely tonneau-shaped gold wristwatch is in good original condition with a well-defined case that retains its original, fully stitched, pig skin leather strap. Benson used a variety of manufacturers for the movements of their wristwatches and in this instance one of their favoured watchmakers, Cyma, has been used. The gold, English made case was produced for Benson by the specialist makers Dennison and is their model reference 15776. The numerals, tracks and signatures to the dial remain bold and clear and there is light oxidation to the surface. This watch is accompanied a J. W. Benson presentation box.

omega-seamsater-ref-2577-1-steel-vintage-wristwatch-circa-1950-wwosasv

The reference 2577 Omega shown above is a bold and imposing vintage Seamaster model which was first released in 1949. This example, from the model’s first generation, is fitted with Omega’s calibre 351 bumper automatic movement and dates to c. 1950. The robust steel case is made in two-parts with a solid upper body which has an integrated, shallow chamfered bezel and a separate case back which screws into the upper case. The silvered dial has strong two-toning with contrasting silk matte satin finishes between the main dial body and the outer chapter ring which carries the raised gilded baton indexes. At 12 o’clock, the Arabic numerals are rendered in gold foil.

Omega Ref. 2903 -16 steel vintage wristwatch, circa 1959

This is a great example of the Omega Ref. 2903 from c. 1959 which has a striking, silk matte silvered dial with applied Arabic and faceted, tapered indexes. The stainless steel case has a faceted bezel and there are clean chamfers to the edges of the lugs.  Manually wound, this model is powered by Omega’s calibre 268.

Omega Seamaster de Ville Ref. 136.020 steel vintage wristwatch, circa 1963

Shown next is an Omega Seamaster de Ville Ref. 136.020 from c. 1963. In great condition and retaining its original winding crown, the watch also has its original crystal with magnified date aperture. The silvered satin finished dial has applied baton indexes with the quarter markers featuring black inserts to their centres. Cased in stainless steel, the upper body has a chamfered bezel and the back is centred with the embossed Seamaster logo.

Longines gold vintage wristwatch, hallmarked 1962

Rounding off this week’s newsletter is a 9ct yellow gold Longines from 1962. This watch has a very handsome silvered dial that is fully set with raised, gilded, Arabic numerals. The solid 9ct yellow gold case was made for Longines by the Dennison case company and is a Dennison Ref. 13322. Reference 13322 was one of Dennison’s most classic case designs and, in fact, the company supplied the same case model to Omega. Dennison’s stamp of ‘A.L.D.’ can be found to the inside of the case back together with that of Baume, who were Longines’ agent in the UK. Manually wound, the watch is powered by the 17 jewel, Longines calibre 30LS. The dial is in good original condition with a rich lustre.

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