Tag Archives: Vintage Watches

1968 18k Longines Admiral Cal. 501

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — 1968 18k Longines Admiral Cal. 501

As August proceeds apace yet another wonderful vintage watch has blown in on the warm breezes — this time an absolutely beautiful Longines Admiral in solid 18k gold from 1968. It’s quite unusual to find Longines dress watches in solid 18k gold from this period, much less with a heavy water resistant polygon screwed back case. To put the cherry on top of the sundae it’s even unpolished and so is nice and thick and displaying its original factory case finishes.

1968 18k Longines Admiral Cal. 501

This ultra cool swinging ’60s Admiral also features a stunning silver vertically brushed “tapestry” dial in Near Mint condition. The effect of the brushed metallic silver dial with the gold accents within the gold case simply has terrific eye appeal.

1968 18k Longines Admiral Cal. 501

Under the hood of this Admiral is a Longines 17-jewel automatic cal. 501 movement with Kif ultra-flex shock protection and semi-quickset date. This high-grade movement was introduced into Longines arsenal with their acquisition of the Record Watch Company in the early 1960s and the movement serial, along with the watch case numbers, date this Admiral to 1968 according to Longines’ excellent Heritage department.

1968 18k Longines Admiral Cal. 501

With a full size 35mm heavy solid gold water resistant case, this great vintage Admiral is priced less than a lot of comparable steel models from other fine Swiss houses of this period. Don’t miss your chance to make it yours and spend the rest of this golden summer in fine vintage style!

1968 18k Longines Admiral Cal. 501

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and complete condition report over at the always hopping Omega Forums’ Watches For Sale section — you’ll be glad you did!  SOLD

1950s Tissot Visodate Honeycomb

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — 1950s Tissot Visodate w/Beautifully Patinaed Honeycomb Dial

It might be August but no dog this lovely watch — on the contrary, this mid-1950s Tissot Visodate is a compact package packed with many of the special elements that make vintage wristwatches so unique & pleasing. Most outstanding, of course, is its beautifully patinaed honeycomb or waffle dial. The even, cafe au lait patina is elevated even further by the application of gold Explorer-style numerals and a framed date window with black & red “roulette” date wheel, the latter an extra nice bit of true vintage eye candy. 

1950s Tissot Visodate Honeycomb

Inside the classically proportioned 34.5mm x 44mm all-stainless screw-back case, which shows nary a polish with razor sharp chamfers to the sweeping lugs, beats an in-house Chs. Tissot & Fils manual wind caliber 27B-621with an exceptionally fine micro-adjustable balance wheel.  It’s a solid little 16-jewel engine and running strong.

1950s Tissot Visodate Honeycomb

On this wrist this Tissot Visodate is a real vintage charmer and proves once again that a classic watch needn’t cost an arm and a leg to deliver deep satisfaction to its owner. Priced perfectly for the aspiring vintage collector, as well as the savvy veteran, this Tissot punches well above its weight and is the very definition of ever-stylish bang for your buck.

1950s Tissot Visodate Honeycomb

Check it out now on the always hopping Omega Forums’ Watches for Sale section for many more pictures and complete condition report. But hurry — there aren’t many bargains left in the vintage watch world but a well-preserved beauty like this Tissot Visodate is certainly one of them!  SOLD

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage Rolex ref. 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

The beautiful June weather is finally here so now’s a good time to pick out a suitable watch companion for the summer… and all the seasons thereafter, for that matter. My vote would have to go this timelessly elegant yet sporty Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph aka the Thunderbird.

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

One of Rolex’s most interesting and innovative designs, this classic model features a fine engine-turned elapsed time bezel that rotates just like those on the Submariner or GMT. But being cast in solid white gold this Turn-O-Graph bezel is obviously a more discreet and under-the-cuff option for the well dressed man who also enjoys his fair share of sport.

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

This example, an early reference 6609, dates from 1958 and has a slightly later 1960s-era Tritium dial that is in absolutely stunning condition with wonderful matching patina to the lume plots and hands. Strap this versatile and distinctive classic Rolex Datejust Thunderbird on and you’ll be ready for office, holiday or motoring to the beach on weekends in equally fine style.

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and full condition report over at Vintage Rolex Forum’s stalwart Market section — it’s getting hard to find good Datejusts at reasonable prices these days and this one checks both boxes!  SOLD

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage Rolex 18k PG ref. 6284 JOYERIA RIVIERA

There’s rare and there’s truly rare. That word is thrown around a lot these days in the vintage watch world but this sweet vintage Rolex definitely earns the honorific. Just one look at the double-name dial on this beautiful pink gold ref. 6284 will tell you why. Two little words — Joyeria Riviera.

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

Click images for full size gallery

Back in the day Joyeria Riviera was a top Cuban jewelry retailer, the Tiffany’s of Havana if you will, and they were forced to move their operations to Puerto Rico when Fidel Castro and the communists took power in 1960. Therefore, finding a pre-Castro Rolex signed with their name is a major coup, much less a lovely pink gold semi-Bubbleback Oyster Perpetual in such wonderful condition. Click here for a great Rolex Passion write-up for further reading on the great history of Joyeria Riviera.

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

Obviously the main event on this stunner is the original factory printed honeycomb guilloche dial with pink gold dial furniture that has aged beautifully and varies in tone from an off-white ivory color to an almost butter yellow depending on the light and angle. The oh-so-rare Joyeria Riviera signature is perfectly intact below Oyster Perpetual and on the wrist this amazingly warm toned double-signed dial in this lovely pink gold watch is an absolute knockout!

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

As you can find out by doing just a little research online, a Joyeria Riviera-signed Rolex is a real blue-chip purchase with historic significance and the trajectory for these elite double-name watches has only been ever upwards. This is a special chance to add a genuinely rare watch to your collection that instantly commands respect from Rolex and non-Rolex aficionados alike. So don’t miss it, as these Joyeria Riviera Rolexes simply don’t appear that often.

Newly offered at an AMAZING CRISIS REDUCTION — Contact me for more info on this beautiful Joyeria Riviera Rolex  SOLD

CLICK HERE FOR MANY MORE PICTURES AND COMPLETE CONDITION REPORT

Certina DS2 SuperPH1000M

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage Certina DS-2 Super PH 1000M Dive Watch

Now on offer for the merry month of May is one of the great cult dive watches of all time — the massive and massively good looking Certina DS-2 Super PH 1000M (say that 3 times fast!).  At 45mm in diameter and a whopping 18mm tall this muscular, purpose built diver is what it would be like if a Doxa Sharkhunter and an Omega Ploprof had a baby.

Certina DS2 SuperPH1000M

Hailing from the innovative late-1960s/early-‘70s era this early version of DS-2 1000M features the coveted matte black applied index dial with orange accents in Mint condition. The dial’s original Tritium luminous has acquired a lovely patina, as has its original highly legible Tritium handset. And its innovative bi-directional bezel features a very clever spring loaded self-locking design. You simply press down to rotate it in either direction and when you stop applying pressure it pops back up and locks itself into place.

Certina DS2 SuperPH1000M

An underrated company for the most part, Certina was a true manufacture at this time and their excellent in-house 27-jewel caliber 25-651 with semi-quickset date is what lies beneath that remarkable robust all-steel exterior. I’ve had it serviced since owning it and it’s ticking away like a champ.

Certina DS2 SuperPH1000M

Obviously no safe queen, this stunning Certina DS-2 Super 1000 has instead clearly led an adventurous life and is ready for its next chapter as a robust tool watch companion for an equally adventurous new owner. Strap this bad boy on and see where it takes you!

Certina DS2 SuperPH1000M

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and complete condition report over at the always hopping Omega Forums Watch Sales corner.  SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — 1960s Movado Cal. 95M Chrono w/Stunning Inverse Panda Dial

It”s time to kick off April in stunning style — no fooling. To make that happen I have on offer, a beautiful 1960s Movado caliber 95M chronograph with coveted black dial with contrasting white registers, aka an Inverse Panda dial, one of the most sought after chronograph layouts in vintage watches.

1960s Movado Cal. 95M Chrono Panda

The unique 95M in-house chronograph movement was one of Movado’s crowning achievements and it operates in a funky “upside down” manner, with the bottom pusher starting & stopping the timer and the top pusher resetting it, likely due to its innovative modular design. Also unusual is that the minute counter is calibrated for a full 60 minutes as opposed to the more common 30-minute register found on most chronos.

1960s Movado Cal. 95M Chrono Panda

Further adding to this watch’s allure is the all-stainless steel screwed case, which features an inner anti-magnetic dust cover and was manufactured by FB (Francois Borgel/Taubert & Fils) who also manufactured water resistant cases for Patek Phillipe, Vacheron and Mido among others.

1960s Movado Cal. 95M Chrono Panda

But the real star of the show is the beautiful glossy black dial with contrasting white sub-registers and silver print. That super legible layout gives this 35mm Movado loads of class and wrist presence even with its modestly sized proportions. This 1960s stunner is simply a big league addition to any vintage chronograph collection and is probably still undervalued in the grand scheme of things. Once you behold that Inverse Panda dial and strap it on you’re bound to fall in love with it — just like I did!

1960s Movado Cal. 95M Chrono Panda

Check out the complete ad now over at the always hopping Omega Forums’ Watches for Sale section for many more pictures and complete condition report. I doubt it will last so you better pounce!  SOLD

1968 Vintage Rolex 1600 Datejust Smooth Bezel

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — 1968 Vintage Rolex 1600 Datejust Smooth Bezel

It may be a new year but my obsession remains great vintage watches. Which is why I’m very happy to make my first offering of 2019 a classic and uncommon reference 1600 Rolex Datejust with smooth bezel in all-stainless steel.

1968 Vintage Rolex 1600 Datejust Smooth Bezel

This 1600 DJ dates from 1968 and features a super clean silver sunburst dial with original Tritium luminous and a minimally polished case. The special thing about the 1600 Datejust is its smooth, Explorer-style bezel. This reference was also made in much fewer numbers than the more ubiquitous fluted white gold bezel 1601 and the castellated steel 1603.

1968 Vintage Rolex 1600 Datejust Smooth Bezel

On the wrist all those clean lines translate into an absolute knockout. Even better, the stalwart caliber 1575 Chronometer movement has been recently serviced for maximum future reliability and faithful service for many more years to come.

1968 Vintage Rolex 1600 Datejust Smooth Bezel

Supplied with a very attractive and suitable shell cordovan strap this Datejust is a beautiful synthesis of sportiness and elegance. Its timeless design is just as handsome and masculine today as it was when it was manufactured those 50 years ago. So start the year in classic vintage Rolex style and make this great Datejust your own today!

1968 Vintage Rolex 1600 Datejust Smooth Bezel

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and complete condition report over at Vintage Rolex Forum’s Market section. You’ll be glad you did.  SOLD

Vintage 1960s Vacheron & Constantin ref. 6308 in Steel

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage 1960s Vacheron & Constantin ref. 6308 in Steel

It’s only fitting that in the month of Thanksgiving I’m offering up a special piece that any true vintage watch aficionado would be grateful to own — a 1960s Vacheron & Constantin reference 6308 dress watch in stainless steel.

Vintage 1960s Vacheron & Constantin ref. 6308 in Steel

Much like their main rivals in haute horology, Patek Phillipe, Vacherons in steel are fairly uncommon, as both manufactures preferred to work in precious metals and still do to this day. This 6308 is also characterized by its full sized 36mm case diameter and an absolutely stunningly symmetrical dial layout.

Vintage 1960s Vacheron & Constantin ref. 6308 in Steel

Inside this peerlessly elegant watch beats the heart of a champion — a JLC-derived manual caliber P454/5b with sweep seconds, 18 jewels, a whopping 8 original adjustments and stamped with two Geneva Seals, an attestation of particular horological achievement somewhat above and beyond the usual Chronometer certification.

Vintage 1960s Vacheron & Constantin ref. 6308 in Steel

Coming with both its rare original USA-made brick link bracelet and a perfectly suitable thin black lizard strap, this Vacheron 6308 ticks all the boxes for the man of style and substance. With the Holiday Season just about to hit full stride I can think of no better wrist companion than this beautiful dress VC to accompany you to all your finer festivities.

Vintage 1960s Vacheron & Constantin ref. 6308 in Steel

Check out the full ad now with many more pictures and complete condition report over at the always busy Dealers & Manufacturers section at Watchuseek. If you’re looking for a timelessly elegant timepiece you’ll be glad you did!  SOLD

Vintage Tudor ref. 7016 Snowflake Submariner

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage Tudor ref. 7016 Snowflake Submariner

It’s the last day of October and what better match for Halloween that this Tudor Snowflake Submariner with amazing pumpkin patina? This rugged beauty is all original, unpolished and dates to 1970. It’s a first generation Snowflake dial as you can tell by the exceedingly rare SWISS-only signature below “6.”

This 7016/0 Tudor Sub, a reference which started with Rose dials before transitioning to Shield Snowflake dials like this one, is obviously no safe queen and seems to wear every one of its years on this planet with a well-earned mark or nick to its Oyster by Rolex case. These first generation Snowflake dials were also prone to a “bubbling” effect to the surface due to a reaction between the paint and the plate, which you can clearly see on this example. While the wabisabi on this devil won’t be to everyone’s tastes, I love it because it just shouts unmolested vintage authenticity. Ad isn’t that really what its all about?

Top all that ugly beauty off with period correct bezel with fat font insert, Tropic 19 domed crystal and even the original no-dots big Twinlock crown and you have an amazing 48-year-old survivor that was clearly used like a toolwatch should be. And did I mention that stunning deep orange patina? As unique as a many-times sharpened hunting knife, this Tudor Snowflake is ready for its next adventure. Only this time it’ll be on your wrist as you impart your own unique history to this already great and long-lived Submariner.

Check out the complete ad now over at Vintage Rolex Forum’s Market section with many more pictures and complete condition report to make this stunning, patina-rich Snowflake Sub yours right now!  ON HOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage 1970s IWC Yacht Club Blue Dial B&P

As October speeds along and we inevitably face those frantic Holiday-filled final few months of the year it’s time to take a quick pause before the action begins and consider a truly beautiful and special vintage timepiece — this mid-1970s IWC Yacht Club with stunning blue dial on original bracelet.

Now the blue dial alone is reason enough to catch the savvy collector’s attention. But then there’s the fact that it also comes with its original box and a raft of matching paperwork that has survived the years along with this stunning watch. These bits of history include the original guarantee and even the sales receipt from Spandau, Germany dated 1976, among other records. That kind of hard-to-find provenance really puts this piece into solid investment grade “collector’s set” territory.

Of course you can’t wear the box and papers no matter how nice those goodies are to have. Where this Yacht Club really shines is on the wrist, its perfectly balanced 36mm “C-shape” case all flowing lines and making the dial really pop. And underneath the hood is a recently serviced caliber 8541B, the ultimate development of IWC’s wonderful in-house automatic calibers at the time.

On land or at sea, this blue Yacht Club is a watch guaranteed to make a fantastically stylish impression — make it yours before the gift giving season heats up and someone else snaps it up!

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and full description now over at the Chronocentric’s great Chronotrader marketplace.  ON HOLD