Vintage Swiss (affordable)

Malnwatch

2 years ago

Hello all I’m sure this topic has likely been covered a numerous amount of times.

I am looking to build a vintage swiss watch collection of obscure watches / brands.

If you all could give your two cents to this topic please do share. So I can find it easier to pick and look for what I am most interested in.

no particular style of watch albeit diver / skin diver is a useful addage.

cheers - Mal.

#swiss #vintage

Reply Reply

SteveDSSD

· 2 years ago

I've dabbled a bit with vintage Swiss divers over the past 12 months. I think Super Compressors are an interesting option but the prices seem to have gone up quite a bit recently. That said I picked up an Ancre from 1968 quite cheaply and as a bargain. I've also experienced the other side of the coin and bought a 1960's Cleber skin diver, which stopped working soon after I bought it. It is currently being serviced at a cost which makes it far from a bargain but I really like the watch..... There seemed to be a huge amount of Swiss brands in the 60's/70's often with an identical watch being marketed by several brands.... From my personal experience I'd factor in some sort of service costs into the equation and also look for watches that have movements where parts will be less of an issue such as ETA.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/R5kr5Rd.jpg[/img]

Aurelian

· 2 years ago

This is a subject after my own heart. So, you are interested in broken Google links, old WUS threads, and pin pallet movements? God bless.

I think that you will reach a crossroad very quickly: do I buy a loupe and tools and learn to clean, service, and nay fix, these old Olmas and Alprosas? Even an inexpensive watchmaker can't make this a value neutral proposition.

I have an old Ruhla at the watchmaker (not Swiss, I know). I am guaranteed to lose money on this transaction. Apparently, I have money to burn. It would have been better for me to disassemble, clean, oil, and reassemble the watch. Maybe, someday I will.

I think that the only way to make it work as a collection is to have a bench and the confidence to work on them.

thatguy306

· 2 years ago

This is something that I've been moving towards myself. There are so many now defunct Swiss Made Watch Brands.

I have noticed prices on the Vintage Swiss (even non-runners) seems to be climbing. I wonder if this is the result of some of the market insanity on some new Swiss Watches. Anyway this is a interesting article that may be of help:

https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a431019/forgotten-watch-brands/

There was no shortage of Swiss Movement Skindivers in the 60s-70s. So many brands that I've never heard of packing swiss movements. Some you can get for well under $200 on eBay. I'm always watching for a Sears Tradition Skindiver. I believe they packed a Heuer movement back when they were still awesome.

Good luck hunting

OldSnafu

· 2 years ago

Lurk on Etsey too as a lot of vintage watches go there as well as Ebay. Also try the Asian , Europe and north American Ebays as content varies. Our Canadian Ebay doesn't have all the adds the American one does.