The joys of vintage #408 - that’s not an Everest…

… this is an Everest.

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behold the Poster-boy for the Everest: the A408.

This was a very, very lucky find. I paid not a lot (sub £100), which for vintage Smiths De Luxe is rare. Every now and then the boy plays a blinder, and this is one of those occasions.

I’m not even going to talk much, I’m just going to leave this one here. If you follow me, and what I post, you’ll probably understand why I’m posting this with little to back it up. I’d also recommend Chronotriggered Destroys #2 as well, if you want some back story regarding the Everest.

Have you considered a vintage Smiths?

Vintage - the agony and the ecstasy. The highs are high (mountainous even). I deserve a break given the recent run of form. Thank you Chronos, my faith never waivers.

I also bought a jobber with a Felsa 690 movement:

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Last weekend was a good haul…

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But, but, but,...Rolex.

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Aurelian

But, but, but,...Rolex.

(D) Seiko

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Anyway… not that it’s important, but a vintage rubber tropical strap and voila, classic daily driver.

Iconic.

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Dude where’s my lugs??

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Good share Chris, absolutely sharp dial. Definitely on my radar, but like a lot of vintage pieces, it can be overwhelming to find a clean one and source from a reputable place.

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This watch demands Brylcream in the hair and a stiff upper lip!

Spiffing! Tally Ho!

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I bid on that myself. Well done, it's lovely.

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That Smiths looks fantastic. Congratulation and well done👌

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Betelgeuse

I bid on that myself. Well done, it's lovely.

Sorry…

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What’s the case material on that, Chris?

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Chunghauphoto

What’s the case material on that, Chris?

That I’m not sure about. I’d warrant its brass, so plated brass (although I’m not entirely sure what the original layer was, I can dream it’s gold plate, but I doubt it).

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Porthole

That I’m not sure about. I’d warrant its brass, so plated brass (although I’m not entirely sure what the original layer was, I can dream it’s gold plate, but I doubt it).

Oh nice. That “4” is so good!

On the second photo, the centre of the dial looks like a different texture - almost gives it a two-tone look

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Chunghauphoto

Oh nice. That “4” is so good!

On the second photo, the centre of the dial looks like a different texture - almost gives it a two-tone look

It is - the outer ring is polished, the inner dial is matte, it’s like a faux pie-pan. There is a lot going on, but I’m quite happy. The sub-dial seconds hand is blue, rather than gold, but I think that’s quite a nice addition. The crown is flatter than what is pictured elsewhere, so whether that’s aftermarket or if this was a dressier version of the A408 that didn’t have the Aquatite caseback… unknown. Bottom line is that I’m not sure I’m too bothered if this is slightly altered from original, especially at the price, it’s an A408, it’s one of the Everest trinity.

The A404 is effectively painted numerals from 1-12, and 6 removed by the sub-second dial. The A409 has gold raised numerals.

I saw a very beautiful one of these in a jewellers a couple of months that looked factory fresh and he was asking for a grand. It looked almost too good, which then sent alarm bells ringing. It had that plasticy shiny sheen, that’s how new it looked. I passed, I prefer my vintage to look battered.

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congrats, great find!

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Probably made of similar parts - it’s common for the time. They are not related though. Does yours have a Felsa Bidynator movement as well, or is it a hand-winder? I’m veering towards the latter.

Edit - I’ve seen that before haven’t I? AS movement.

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After you posted this I felt compelled to have another look at the Rolex/Smiths Everest debate. I didn't realise that Rolex have actually conceded that there isn't any evidence that they reached the summit with Hillary. They don't mention it in their literature any more, just that the members of the party that helped him get to the summit wore them.

Fake it till you make it I guess!

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DeeperBlue

After you posted this I felt compelled to have another look at the Rolex/Smiths Everest debate. I didn't realise that Rolex have actually conceded that there isn't any evidence that they reached the summit with Hillary. They don't mention it in their literature any more, just that the members of the party that helped him get to the summit wore them.

Fake it till you make it I guess!

Yes, but as you say, it’s not exactly public.

I suppose history has the last laugh, Rolex are still going and Smiths are essentially a name only commodity to shift Explorer-style homages for Timefactors. The Explorer itself was launched off the back of an untruth (a lie would be too harsh, there were Oysters on the mountain that is not in denial, but not necessarily first at the summit). Rolex had been trying to crack Everest for years, they definitely had form and experience from numerous donor watches and funding of climbers, so the Explorer would have had a lot of data to draw upon, and therefore it’s credentials shouldn’t be ignored.

Does it matter? No - the De Luxe Everests are essentially handsome horological footnotes, and they did capitalise on the Everest link as best as they could, so it’s effectively moot now. The trinity of the A404, A408, and the A409 are definitely iconic in British watch history, as they (quite literally) conquered the highest peak in the world and beat the Swiss at their own game.

I just like the image of all these climbers with rugged Explorers and what-not, and then just a couple of British chaps with bowler hats and umbrellas racing past with these gold dress-watch looking things going “Tally-Ho chaps” and bounding up the slopes. Of course Hilary was a Kiwi, so this is just whimsical nonsense, but hey. ATP watches were on the wrists of most WWII infantry, and they are equally smart looking dress-watch-esque affairs, and I love mine as much as this, it’s just classic as a style. If you want to kick ass, do it with class.

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Just to compound the good fortune, the Fluva hasn’t dropped a beat in 24 hours.

This is a little sweety, powered by a Felsa 690 Bidynator. Fluva is a brand trademarked in Geneva, 1949, by J. D. Klopmann. The Felsa 690 was launched as a movement in 1947, the second incarnation of the Bidynator automatic movement. Quite a lot of random jobbers had Felsa Bidynators, it’s common as an early automatic, and I have it good authority it’s one of @Aurelian ’s favourite movements. I can see why… silent but deadly.

Chronos looks favourably upon me, I feel incredibly blessed.

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That is a good haul,well done. Funnily enough I'm tracking a smiths similar to your one on the bay. But there's a lot of interest in it (like sharks round a dead whale) so probably won't be the bargain I hoped it would be, it will be interesting though to see its final price.

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I just did a bit of research on which watches made the first ascents of the various 8k meter peaks.

The Lip Himalaya (well, a custom proto-Himalaya) was the first to conquer an 8,000'er at Annapurna in 1950.

Smiths De Luxe did for Everest in 1953.

Henzi & Pfaff Hercules (?) made it to the summit of Nanga Parbat in 1953.

The Vulcain Cricket was first atop K2 in 1954.

Rolex Oyster Perpetuals did make the first ascents of Kangchenjunga and Makalu, both in 1955.

The Enicar Ultrasonic Sherpas (with the trailing S for some reason) was first up Lhotse in 1956.

The Certina DS for Dhaulagiri in 1960.

Not sure about the others (heck, not all that sure about these). Did Herman Buhl wear the same Hercules up Broad Peak? What would the Chinese team that conquered Shishapangma have worn? Did Toshio Imanishi wear a Seiko or a Citizen up Manaslu?

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Stricko

That is a good haul,well done. Funnily enough I'm tracking a smiths similar to your one on the bay. But there's a lot of interest in it (like sharks round a dead whale) so probably won't be the bargain I hoped it would be, it will be interesting though to see its final price.

I’m still trying to break down why this one missed the usual frenzy… it came up when I looked under vintage quartz as for some reason the seller had all the item details as Quartz, but the auction title and descriptions are all bang on. Perhaps it messes with the search algorithm. Perhaps the two-tone bracelet put people off (it was terrible). It also ended around 8:30 on a Sunday evening, so it’s a mid-late evening graveyard shift when kids or grandkids go to sleep or people are travelling home. Or maybe, it’s just pure luck that nobody wanted it as much as I did at that exact moment in time.

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Porthole

I’m still trying to break down why this one missed the usual frenzy… it came up when I looked under vintage quartz as for some reason the seller had all the item details as Quartz, but the auction title and descriptions are all bang on. Perhaps it messes with the search algorithm. Perhaps the two-tone bracelet put people off (it was terrible). It also ended around 8:30 on a Sunday evening, so it’s a mid-late evening graveyard shift when kids or grandkids go to sleep or people are travelling home. Or maybe, it’s just pure luck that nobody wanted it as much as I did at that exact moment in time.

I hate Sunday finishers(even at that time,although it's bath time for the kids) its usually a frenzy. Maybe the quartz thing did throw the scent. You did well on it,top buy