Vintage Smiths Astral 1950s or 60s

antiaiden

The first vintage watch I got myself.  This Smiths Astral is gorgeous in person with the patinated dial and blued hands.  My camera work doesn't do it justice.

Diameter w/o crown - 32mm

Diameter with crown - 36mm

Lug to lug - 16mm

Length - 42mm

#vintage #smiths
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Porthole
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  • These are quite collectible. If it says Made In England it’s a good chance they are Cheltenham-made movements, which are the ones you want. Smiths, Astral… those are top drawer. If it says Made In Britain (like on a Smiths Empire) it’s likely to be a Welsh-made movement, and these are not as good quality. If a Smiths or Astral says anything else, walk away. Check the dial and… pop the back. 
antiaiden
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Porthole
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  • These are quite collectible. If it says Made In England it’s a good chance they are Cheltenham-made movements, which are the ones you want. Smiths, Astral… those are top drawer. If it says Made In Britain (like on a Smiths Empire) it’s likely to be a Welsh-made movement, and these are not as good quality. If a Smiths or Astral says anything else, walk away. Check the dial and… pop the back. 

I totally forgot a movement picture, I'll get one for you guys later.  But it does have a Made in Cheltenham movement along with that the dial says Made in England.  It's a very good quality watch and after all of these years it's still reliable.

ds760476
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That's a beauty!

Porthole
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antiaiden

I totally forgot a movement picture, I'll get one for you guys later.  But it does have a Made in Cheltenham movement along with that the dial says Made in England.  It's a very good quality watch and after all of these years it's still reliable.

Yes - those are the ones to go for, and are the most collectible. Those Cheltenham movements are also found in the Smiths, Smiths de Luxe, Astral, the military watches they made, and even in things such as the Everest (good luck finding a reasonably priced one of those). 

antiaiden
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Porthole

Yes - those are the ones to go for, and are the most collectible. Those Cheltenham movements are also found in the Smiths, Smiths de Luxe, Astral, the military watches they made, and even in things such as the Everest (good luck finding a reasonably priced one of those). 

Thats why I went with the Astral is because you can find them for reasonable prices.  The De Luxes and especially the Everests have been increasing in price significantly.  Thank you for the information!

Porthole
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antiaiden

Thats why I went with the Astral is because you can find them for reasonable prices.  The De Luxes and especially the Everests have been increasing in price significantly.  Thank you for the information!

Anytime. My watch guy used to work for Smiths in the late 70s before they shut down. Whether I wanted to know or not, now I do… they are lovely. A genuine vintage Everest is a seriously desirable piece of kit, it’s right up there on the collectible scale.