Vintage Chronos

[nikaiyo2]

I am considering a vintage chrono, considering

Heuer/ Leonidas bund
Zenith/ Movado Pilot Diver
Heuer Autavia (prob at the Viceroy end of the scale)

I was considering a Tudor Big Block, but I already have a Seamaster Chrono with a white face and same movement, I nearly bought one last year, but just thought they were too similar...

Has anyone got any further inspiration?

[andy tims]

There are some nice vintage Seiko’s to look at.





Non-big block Tudor also lovely





How about Omega?





or Porsche Design?

Edited by andy tims on Friday 2nd March 08:40

[glazbagun]

Enicar Sherpa? Was good enough for Jim Clark, though I prefer the panda dial.

[simonr100]

Rolex 16520 daytona with the Zenith movement is a good shout.

116520 seem a great buy at the moment.

I would like a vintage heuer chrono myself and am looking.

[Podie]

Do it.

[nikaiyo2]

Seikos for some reason don’t hit the spot for me, no idea why, they should, they are the sort of watches I like. I do like some of the fruity Thai market ones. Do you have any models in mind?
Enciar... interesting
Rolex Daytona, does not have that vintage thing I don’t think, nice idea tho.
Heuer Daytona, love it, but, and it’s a big but, can’t change the strap I have to be able to put it on a nato or purple alligator if the mood takes me!

[andy tims]

How did I forget Sinn?

[T6 vanman]

nikaiyo2 said:

I am considering a vintage chrono, considering

Has anyone got any further inspiration?

Surely a BREITLING Navitimer with a Venus movement hit's this bell

[Koln-RS]

The Tudor above looks very nice, reminiscent of the hand wound Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas that are now at stratospheric prices.

Daytona 16520s with the Zenith auto movement also lovely and highly collectible, but also getting increasingly expensive.

However, for affordability, collectability and genuine vintage, the Tissot Seastar Chronos look like a good value

[andy_s]

'Vintage chronos' is a huge swathe!

Heuer/Leonidas - alternates may be something like Bulova Marine Star, Excelsior Park Monte Carlo, Tissot Navigator 817, Breitling 817 / Unitime, of course Cairelli CP2 Zenith/Leonidas, Chronograph Suisse Selectron...

Zenith/Movado Diver - alternates may be something like Zenith A277, Zenith DeLuca Series 1, Movado Super Sub Sea / Sub Sea. A chrono that's not a chrono - Breitling SuperOcean...

Some of the above (C. OnTheDash)


For a corking alternative to a Cosmograph look at the Universal Geneve SpaceCompax, Compax & Tri-Compax date/moon from the seventies, so much more interesting.

The early Zenith EP automatic 'A' series - the 384/5 are still a little undervalued imo, also perhaps the interesting 'Big Eye' Universal Geneve and Longines Diver.

Outlying but respected makers to have a look at are Minerva, Record, Wakmann, Enicar, Gallet, Angelus and Eberhardt perhaps, but most tend to be older style, and if you're looking at 40's/50's then I'd stay with outsized UG tri/Aero-Compax.

You could approach it in other ways - the classic movements I think in chronography are perhaps - Longines 30CH/13ZN, Lemania 2310 (AKA Omega 321) & 5100, Valjoux 23 & 72 & Zenith El Primero of course. Or Integrated or modular? Vertical clutch? Castle wheel? Split-seconds? Fly-Back? Automatic or hand wound? etc etc. if you have a particular interest in the movement.

My favourite is the L5100, here in 3 versions - Omega 1045, L5012 and L5100 -



My personal ultimate Chronograph would be the Universal Geneve Cairelli HA-1; 44mm, split second, 16 minute, single pusher, 24hr, military issue for air navigation - what's not to like...



...except the (now) price...?!

Good luck and enjoy the next six months looking....

Edited by andy_s on Friday 2nd March 14:17

[Powerkiter]

Heuer Carrera 510 Lemania

[55palfers]

I've had this since the early 1970s.

It's seen a lot of use. Needs a proper Breitling crown, service, etc. Keeps quite good time still though.

[andy_s]

Powerkiter said:

Heuer Carrera 510 Lemania

I never got round to that one, but have the .523 & .500 - you've resurrected my hunt...won't my wife be pleased...

[nikaiyo2]

Thanks for the ideas guys, especially

Some lovely watches.

Andy S... The Zenith Subsea, how could I forget about that, I think that is all the boxes ticked!

So heres the thing, vintage chrono, I only have 1 chrono so feel the need to add something in this direction, then I stumble across this...



Its not a chrono, but its orange, its a little more than I wanted to spend (going to sell Big Pilot plus some cash) but not by a huge amount, its advertised at £5300 from an Italian seller, its obviously NOS, or near NOS. Thats my problem, my 5513 is mint, so I wear it about 3 times a year, because I dont want to damage it, my Felca is the same, I would be so pissed off if i marked it, but I am an oaf, cant help it.

Will I regret going for that Zenith?

[Caruso]

[Somebody]

Would this count as vintage?

[Podie]

The alternative is to find something a bit knackered and get it restored. Getting harder to do these days though.

I’ve got a couple of other Heuers, sorry for the crappy iPhone pics





The top one is a Montreal 750.503, which I found in a shop in London looking pretty sorry for itself on a modern TAG strap. Some TLC with Heuerboy and some further movement work via DominicH. Largely kept the patina but had the chrono hand repainted. Case / face combo quite rare according to Heuer experts.

The lower one is a Pasadena 750.503-1 which was the most expensive watch in the 1982 Heuer catalogue (I am told). This still has the original sticker on the rear. Absolutely mint and comes out in special occasions.

There will be something or there hat suits you. Happy hunting.

Edited by Podie on Saturday 3rd March 08:19

[skirk]

I have had this for 41 years and it still ticks......

[ceebmoj]

andy_s said:

My favourite is the L5100, here in 3 versions - Omega 1045, L5012 and L5100 -

I love the way some of these watches look. Where do people recommend looking to find vintage chronos?

[Podie]

Left field choice...

Check out the new Le Jour watches. Retro looks, but look a steal at under £1500