Watches from each decade, 2023 edition - Share your watches Part 3: The 30s
(*Illustration photo by The Omega_Enthusiast*)
If the previous decades of 20th Century started off in optimism they didn’t end well. The 30s seems all bad throughout.
The crash on Wall Street in 1929 was the starting point of the big depression. Originating from the United Staes it spread and impacted the entire Globe. Mass unemployment and loss of private fortunes, big or small. Endless numbers of people were forced to leave their homes and finding help and job elsewhere.
States, maybe for the first time, made efforts to turn the financial wheel in a positive direction by investing in infrastructure projects. Roads, railroads, powerplants is all example of initiatives trying to overcome the bad times.
Financial problems aside, but also sometimes the cause, the 30s was a time of political drama. Domestic as well as international. Civil war in Spain, Italian colonisation in Africa, Japanese invasion of Manchuria. And of course the German annexation of Austria and invasion of Checkoslovakia which finally ended the hope for ”No more wars” with the invasion of Poland and the start of World War II.
Despite hard times people still needed watches. In the 30s wristwatches outsold pocket watches for the first time. Future classics like the Reverso and the Calatrava was introduced in this period. If you are in the possession of a timepiece from the era don’t hesitate to share.
I collect new as well as vintage. I have a weak spot for 50s and 60s Omegas. Besides from those I consider myself allround.
Unlike last year I get to play in this space this time. Gruen watches are notoriously hard to date and identify by model. When they closed shop in 1958 and the name was sold the new owners had no interest in the old catalogs and years of records and it was all thrown away. Thanks to a very small number of devoted collectors in the United States and Germany all information about Gruen is slowing being reconstructed.
When I bought this watch I didn't know what it was or when it was produced. The style clues told me that it was early. Thanks to the work of others I believe that I have now identified this as a 1938 Veri-Thin "Comet" in rose gold. The rose gold part will make it the more rare version.
The same watch from different angles produces different effects.
Unlike last year I get to play in this space this time. Gruen watches are notoriously hard to date and identify by model. When they closed shop in 1958 and the name was sold the new owners had no interest in the old catalogs and years of records and it was all thrown away. Thanks to a very small number of devoted collectors in the United States and Germany all information about Gruen is slowing being reconstructed.
When I bought this watch I didn't know what it was or when it was produced. The style clues told me that it was early. Thanks to the work of others I believe that I have now identified this as a 1938 Veri-Thin "Comet" in rose gold. The rose gold part will make it the more rare version.
The same watch from different angles produces different effects.
That is a beautiful piece you bring to the table! Thank you for sharing! I’m so glad you could enter such early in the serie. Your contribution is always enjoyable and interesting.
Let’s see if any contributors from the 20s have something from the 30s in their watchbox. @nichtvondiesemjahrhundert @CliveBarker1967 @ayadai@brunofrankelli @blake70605 @DukeMo @rowiphi @ChronoGuy
I have this one (as you know), but no idea what era! I think it's more 50ties...
Of course there is this Archival 1930 from Fears as a reissue!
Happy to oblige. I've told this story in a post I did before. To recap, my daughter is turning 18 and I have asked her what, among my watches, she would like to get. She wanted cash, obviously, but I said to her, "Yes yes, cash. But if you were to get a watch from me, which one?"
She said she's always liked my 1930s Hamilton Endicott and the only watch of mine she actually liked. The Endicott was also the first vintage watch I ever bought. I panicked. I mean that watch was going to be hers anyway but I thought, not now, not this soon. But she was turning 18 after all so, okay. Then the most serendipitious thing happened. The same seller who sold me the Endicott told me that she has a Lester as well from the same decade. I thought, awesome. We get to have vintage father-daughter matching watches. So I pulled the trigger on the Lester, gave my daughter the Endicott and we're both happy.
So here, my wrist and my daughter's. Lester is the rectangular (mine), Endicott is the round one (hers):
Here's the Lester in close-up:
The Endicott when it was still mine:
My daughter replaced the strap with something a bit more modern and colorful and so now it doesn't look so old:
Sorry my story isn't exactly historical.
I have this one (as you know), but no idea what era! I think it's more 50ties...
Of course there is this Archival 1930 from Fears as a reissue!
Let’s not get picky. Let’s call it 30s. Thank you for sharing your gems. Reissues, or inspired by, is what I can bring to the table what the 30s is concerned.
My dear friend, allow me to introduce you to one of my first acquisitions. It was piece that I purchased when I was 21 and had know idea hat I was purchasing. I knew the name and I loved the art deco inspiration in the watch.
Since then I’ve managed to trace the Hamilton to a date of 1934 Traditional series. It’s on a burgundy lizard strap which goes well with piece. Wishing you all the best my friends!
TG
Happy to oblige. I've told this story in a post I did before. To recap, my daughter is turning 18 and I have asked her what, among my watches, she would like to get. She wanted cash, obviously, but I said to her, "Yes yes, cash. But if you were to get a watch from me, which one?"
She said she's always liked my 1930s Hamilton Endicott and the only watch of mine she actually liked. The Endicott was also the first vintage watch I ever bought. I panicked. I mean that watch was going to be hers anyway but I thought, not now, not this soon. But she was turning 18 after all so, okay. Then the most serendipitious thing happened. The same seller who sold me the Endicott told me that she has a Lester as well from the same decade. I thought, awesome. We get to have vintage father-daughter matching watches. So I pulled the trigger on the Lester, gave my daughter the Endicott and we're both happy.
So here, my wrist and my daughter's. Lester is the rectangular (mine), Endicott is the round one (hers):
Here's the Lester in close-up:
The Endicott when it was still mine:
My daughter replaced the strap with something a bit more modern and colorful and so now it doesn't look so old:
Sorry my story isn't exactly historical.
That is a beautiful story and two beatiful watches. Your daughter seems to have a good taste regarding watches and straps. Thank you for sharing. My children are a bit older and have not fully got the watchbug. But I still have hopes for both.
My dear friend, allow me to introduce you to one of my first acquisitions. It was piece that I purchased when I was 21 and had know idea hat I was purchasing. I knew the name and I loved the art deco inspiration in the watch.
Since then I’ve managed to trace the Hamilton to a date of 1934 Traditional series. It’s on a burgundy lizard strap which goes well with piece. Wishing you all the best my friends!
TG
That is a nice one. Fantastic patina! A lot of squared dial up til now. Very time approriate. Thank you for sharing.
That is a beautiful piece you bring to the table! Thank you for sharing! I’m so glad you could enter such early in the serie. Your contribution is always enjoyable and interesting.
Let’s see if any contributors from the 20s have something from the 30s in their watchbox. @nichtvondiesemjahrhundert @CliveBarker1967 @ayadai@brunofrankelli @blake70605 @DukeMo @rowiphi @ChronoGuy
Not sure of the exact year but my little Rone looks a lot like a 1926 Oyser.
Not sure of the exact year but my little Rone looks a lot like a 1926 Oyser.
I have a couple more that are possibly early 20's.
Not sure of the exact year but my little Rone looks a lot like a 1926 Oyser.
Absolutely a valid case shape for the 30s. Classic look. I can see that shape in watches from the 70s. Maybe more oversized. What size is it? 35mm? Thank you for sharing.
I have no watches from the 30s myself. I have two watches with the design from the period. The JLC Reverso (1931) and the Omega CK859 (1938).
Absolutely a valid case shape for the 30s. Classic look. I can see that shape in watches from the 70s. Maybe more oversized. What size is it? 35mm? Thank you for sharing.
More like 30mm.
I believe this is late 30s Hamilton
I believe this is late 30s Hamilton
A very handsome piece as well! Thank you for sharing. Is it inherited?
✅
I have this lovely watch that was given to me by my Father in-law.
It belonged to his dad, but it tiny so I think it could’ve been his mom’s…LOL
I think it’s 30’s…
Wind it up and it goes!
Great post , thanks Per.
OK Per...I will find a few from the 1930s to spice up the thread...
Universal Geneve
Compur Chronograph 1938
Chronograph 1938
Mono Pusher Chronograph 1930
Berthoud Geneve (Universal Geneve) 1930
Eberhard Monopusher Chronographe 1930s
Elgin Moisture Proof Sport Watch 1934
Wow, quite a collection! The Waltham with it’s tonneu case is a looker. Thank you for sharing.
I have this lovely watch that was given to me by my Father in-law.
It belonged to his dad, but it tiny so I think it could’ve been his mom’s…LOL
I think it’s 30’s…
Wind it up and it goes!
Great post , thanks Per.
Your Bulova is a lovely piece. Seems to be in excellent condition. Thank you for sharing.
OK Per...I will find a few from the 1930s to spice up the thread...
Universal Geneve
Compur Chronograph 1938
Chronograph 1938
Mono Pusher Chronograph 1930
Berthoud Geneve (Universal Geneve) 1930
Eberhard Monopusher Chronographe 1930s
Elgin Moisture Proof Sport Watch 1934
Thank you Mel for sharing. All stunners of course. The Compur Chronograph is fantastic. So clean dial but still with the design language of it’s time. But the Elgin is my fav.
Wow, quite a collection! The Waltham with it’s tonneu case is a looker. Thank you for sharing.
No problem.... can't wait for the 40s and 50s....
No problem.... can't wait for the 40s and 50s....
Looking forward to it👍
This is the oldest I have - 1958
Love it. The whole looking after a piece of engineering and art is something that makes this a pleasure not just a hobby
This is the oldest I have - 1958
Love it. The whole looking after a piece of engineering and art is something that makes this a pleasure not just a hobby
Looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing.