Request for information - vintage diver
I have never heard of this brand but liked the look of this watch and I won it in an auction. It was very inexpensive since it was listed for parts. I opened it up and the ratchet and click screws were both loose and would not engage when wound, easily fixed and now it’s running smoothly. I did polish the crystal because it was too milky and I think it looks great but I have no idea about the company that made it. I see other examples of it online but no information. There no country of origin markings on the dial or movement. I’m assuming it’s circa 1969-70.
So I throw this out to the community to see if anyone can provide some insight! Does anyone have any background information on this watch/watch company?
I am fairly new to watch communities and I tend to buy what trips my trigger, not always the name.
Not a clue, sorry. But it's gorgeous. Looks a bit like a Glashütte Original SeaQ. Nice catch. 👍
Not a clue, sorry. But it's gorgeous. Looks a bit like a Glashütte Original SeaQ. Nice catch. 👍
Thanks 🙏
A lot of divers during this period were made by a single manufacturer and then rebranded with different dials and sold under various names. I would do an image search for watches with similar / identical dials. They might not say "Wedgefield" but it might be a Wolbrook or something.
Thanks 🙏
Hiraeth 🏴 🔥
Not a lot out there but it seems that most examples are selling from 95-200 bucks based on a google image search. Prob one of many generic divers from the 60's-70's.
The movement is what interested me. I guessed either a PUW (Germany) or Lorsa (France) because they were both popular for modestly priced watches of the era and because I can't recognize them by sight. I think that it may be in the Lorsa P72 family of movements. Bookmark Ranfft for researching movements.
According to Mikrolisk (another must bookmark) Wedgefield was a brand of Hanowa in the early 1970's. Hanowa is better known for ring watches and novelties. They are still around, mostly branded as Swiss Military.
A lot of divers during this period were made by a single manufacturer and then rebranded with different dials and sold under various names. I would do an image search for watches with similar / identical dials. They might not say "Wedgefield" but it might be a Wolbrook or something.
Thanks for the advice, I was seriously hoping that the movement would give me a clue. I’ll do an image search. 🙏
Hiraeth 🏴 🔥
💯
Not a lot out there but it seems that most examples are selling from 95-200 bucks based on a google image search. Prob one of many generic divers from the 60's-70's.
Thanks for the info, I didn’t pay nearly as much as those prices, so woohoo, a win!
I see similarities
I see similarities
💯 as do I! What name is on the dial / movement?
The movement is what interested me. I guessed either a PUW (Germany) or Lorsa (France) because they were both popular for modestly priced watches of the era and because I can't recognize them by sight. I think that it may be in the Lorsa P72 family of movements. Bookmark Ranfft for researching movements.
According to Mikrolisk (another must bookmark) Wedgefield was a brand of Hanowa in the early 1970's. Hanowa is better known for ring watches and novelties. They are still around, mostly branded as Swiss Military.
👍👍 Thanks for a lot more information to research , I’m not familiar with either of those but I am about to find out. 🙏
Thanks for the advice, I was seriously hoping that the movement would give me a clue. I’ll do an image search. 🙏
I dug around, it looks like the Sheffield might be the same, I saw some people listing the movement as a Saxony though. A good start.
Def an old Skindiver of the 60s like Wolbrook or Glashute
💯 as do I! What name is on the dial / movement?
It’s ROSS on the dial
Lorsa P72a
Agreed, same just no stamps 👍
It's a Lorsa P72a. Like @Aurelian said... and now @Porthole and... me.
Agreed 👍
Nice piece
Thank you to @Aurelian for the find and @Porthole and @GasWorks for confirming that the movement is a French Lorsa P72 without any manufacturer stamping. Thanks to all of the Crunch Community! Cheers!🍻
Hell no…
That's what I say. Here's the post. Looks like the same movement. LOL
@Aurelian I am just trying to gather knowledge, I am thinking of dabbling in vintage watches, but I am a total neophyte, with no experience in that arena whatsoever.
My question is simple: Is Lorsa well-thought-of?
Thanks 😀
P.S. I did try to Google "is the Lorsa P72 any good?" but didn't find anything. No one was giving their opinion on its performance. All the forum posts I found were asking for help identifying the movement. 🤣
@Aurelian I am just trying to gather knowledge, I am thinking of dabbling in vintage watches, but I am a total neophyte, with no experience in that arena whatsoever.
My question is simple: Is Lorsa well-thought-of?
Thanks 😀
P.S. I did try to Google "is the Lorsa P72 any good?" but didn't find anything. No one was giving their opinion on its performance. All the forum posts I found were asking for help identifying the movement. 🤣
I have limited experience with them. My UTI French skin diver from the late 60's has Lorsa P75 and it keeps great time.
Here is an article from our own @MrBloke that is a good primer on French watches. I think that Lorsa movements have a generally good reputation.
Looks a lot like a Wolbrook/Douglas design to me
That's what I say. Here's the post. Looks like the same movement. LOL
I did see this Engo, Clinton, Kiple and others. It seems to be the NH35 of its era!
Looks a lot like a Wolbrook/Douglas design to me
So many different badges for the same movement, the NH35 of its time! 🙏
Nice piece
Thanks Ned, I am pretty happy with it! 🙏
I dug around, it looks like the Sheffield might be the same, I saw some people listing the movement as a Saxony though. A good start.
That Saxony is a very attractive dial.
I love these affordable skin divers from the 1960s. I have a special liking to the Le Forban Secuite de Mer especially the military issued divers. GO didn’t come up with the SeaQ design it was pretty much a design of its time in the 1960s. A lot of French skin divers from the French watch region of Besancon were produced during the 1960s.
I love these affordable skin divers from the 1960s. I have a special liking to the Le Forban Secuite de Mer especially the military issued divers. GO didn’t come up with the SeaQ design it was pretty much a design of its time in the 1960s. A lot of French skin divers from the French watch region of Besancon were produced during the 1960s.
💯
Looks a lot like a Wolbrook
https://wolbrook.com/