Some Vintage Watch Pics

[Ben]

I recently got this cool book - Wristwatches: A History of a Century's Development - and while there are just too many drool causing watches to mention, thought I'd scan a few to share.....

Here's a 1945 Vacheron Constantin chronograph with pulsometer scale. I'm sure that the photos don't do this one any justice at all:



Here we have a Rolex "Cosmograph" and a pair of "Chronographe-Calendrier" all circa 1950:



Here's a pair of late-1920's Rolex octagonal "Standard Tonneau" watches. I'm not a huge Rolex fan, but I'd sure take one of these!



A 1943 Cartier "Pasha" with screw-down crown:



So how timeless is the Jaeger LeCoultre "Reverso"? Just gorgeous! It's got a calendar, moonphase and fly-back date. This one's from 1938:



Now we have a Longines Aviator's Watch - aka the "Lindbergh." Charles Lindbergh collaborated with Longines in the design after his trans-atlantic flight in 1927. This one is from 1932.



Here we have an Omega bowed-crystal watch from 1935 (left) and a late 1940's Chronometer. A pair of classic Omega's:



Finally, we end in 1950 with an 18-carat gold self-winding Omega with eccentric dials. Just beautiful!




Enjoy!

-Ben

[truerolexer/trueradiomier]

BRAVO!!! Nice pics.....very vintage pieces!!! Specially Rolex Cosmograph of course!!! I think that a good book, Ben!!! Two thumbs up!!!

[Archer]

That VC is stunning IMO!

If Rolex still made watches like some of these, I would own one.

And that last Omega is very nice - reminds me of a Jaquet Droz.

[truerolexer/trueradiomier]

avalon said:

If Rolex still made watches like some of these, I would own one.

DITTO!!!

[Ben]

avalon said:

That VC is stunning IMO!

If Rolex still made watches like some of these, I would own one.

And that last Omega is very nice - reminds me of a Jaquet Droz.

The VC is even more remarkable when you consider that its target market would have been very small. The pulsometer dial is graduated to calculate heartbeats per minute and wouldn't really have much use to anyone not in the medical profession.

I love the early Rolex designs. The book has a fair number of them and I enjoy seeing them. I like the Cosmograph in the photo I scanned and often wonder why they don't offer those kinds of styles now (i.e. moonphase etc.).

Incidentally, speaking ov vintage, there's a really, really cool sterling silver Rolex trench watch on eBay right now. It's just too cool with its telephone dial, half-hunter cover to protect the crystal. If I had enough spare cash I'd definitely bid on it. I really like trench watches and would love to have one to occasionally wear.

I even like the Cartier Pasha. Would be a really cool watch to wear with a tuxedo! From what I've learned from the book, many of Cartier's designs from the 1920's -1930's used movements made by Audemars Piguet.

And the Omega's....WOW!

Hmmm....I see myself being strangely drawn to dress watch styles. Uh-oh.

-Ben

[atomic]

Those old Rolex Cosmographs are IMO the most handsome watches they ever made.

Agree with Al on the Omega/Jaquet Droz look. WOW!

And that Reverso... gorgeous!

Thanks for posting, Ben. If those vintage pieces weren't so tiny, I'd considering picking some of them up.

[truerolexer/trueradiomier]

You really like the cunkies watches, don't ya Mr. Atomic?

[mike]

Beautifull! It's pieces like this that make this hobby so much fun.

[atomic]

truerolexer said:

You really like the cunkies watches, don't ya Mr. Atomic?

I'm assuming you mean 'chunky'??

None of those vintage pieces are by any means, 'chunky'... so not sure what you're getting at. Vintage watches are just too small, since they're all around 36mm in diameter. I'm 6'6" tall and 220lbs, so they'd look positively tiny on me.

BTW, 44mm is the new 40mm.

[truerolexer/trueradiomier]

Wow...you a big guy!!!

[atomic]

truerolexer said:

Wow...you a big guy!!!

That's what all the girls say.

[truerolexer/trueradiomier]

;D