Today it's a vintage Waltham A-17 Milspec Pilot's Watch used in combat during the Korean War in the 1950s. Purchased from a dealer who sold it on behalf of its original owner who wore it in combat. All original parts except the bund strap which I placed it on to give it some heft as the case size is a modest 32.5mm. The dial is in amazing condition and it still has all of its original radium lume.
13 comments
Sort by
Mel
I really like chronographs especially vintage ones.
NYC
Member since
Last active: 25 min ago
7.50” / 19.05 cm
Very cool watch and you know the history of the watch makes a nice conversation starter 😉
Korean war watch! That's a rare gem!
Fantastic, Mel! You can easily see the prior owner took great care and pride in preserving the watch.
Amazing bit of history!
Brilliant 💯👏
That’s amazing 😍
A nice find - I use the bund trick too with a few of those vintage watches.
Do you know if it’s an American or a Swiss movement? I ask as the Korean War was right around the time Waltham were switching from US domestic production to importing movements.
Found a couple of pics of one that is only slightly later than your one. This very clearly has a USA movement and so I would expect yours to be the same.
Found a couple of pics of one that is only slightly later than your one. This very clearly has a USA movement and so I would expect yours to be the same.
Thanks - that is a great photo - appreciate you sharing it.
A nice find - I use the bund trick too with a few of those vintage watches.
Do you know if it’s an American or a Swiss movement? I ask as the Korean War was right around the time Waltham were switching from US domestic production to importing movements.
Thanks for the kind words.
To answer your question, the A-17 is powered by the US made Waltham 17 jewel 6/0 D manual wind movement.
Thanks for the kind words.
To answer your question, the A-17 is powered by the US made Waltham 17 jewel 6/0 D manual wind movement.
Only adds to the appeal as they stopped making movements in the US shortly thereafter.
Congratulations on a nice pickup. It is good to see original watches being ket up and enjoyed for generations.
That's amazing!
#waltham