vintage chrono?

[shirt]

so, after my last post regarding 'what watch' to buy for my 30th, i've been having a little snoop around and am now back for advice & price info.

to recap, i was looking at a junghans max bill chronoscope for £995:


however i showed a pic of a vintage black face omega seamaster in the same post which i can't help be more drawn to in terms of style, quality & price. i do like th max bill, but i think the deco style would grate day to day.

i am now looking pretty much exclusively at the vintage & second hand market. its either this or ram raid my local jeweller for the glashutte sixties senator i just absolutely adore.

i have found a few vintage watch sites on the web but the models that have caught my eye are either from very old posts or have sold already. therefore i am after a guide price for any of the following watches if anyone can help? my budget limit was going to be £1500, but this is entirely dependent upon me being in employment in january, i should err towards £1k if i'm being sensible.

so, my selections so far are predominantly 60s chronographs. either black or white face, must be on a strap as i don't like bracelets:

omega calibre 320 chronograph [what is the model called?]



cal 321 speedmaster:


cal 321 seamaster:


breitling top time:



heuer carrera 12:





i think i prefer the breitling or the heuer, the omega would have to be a minter and i gather the price would be steeper for a speedmaster of this era. correct?

any other suggestions i should look at? i would consider a heuer re-issue but would prefer the nostalgia/romance/cachet of the original [call it what you will, i just like vintage stuff].

is my price range reasonable? and lastly, can you recommend a good site / dealer with a good reputation and decent turnover of these watches?


thanks for reading, all replies most welcome. looking at some of the sites i have so far, i feel an expensive habit is beginning to emerge....

[sneijder]

Stick the kettle on and Google Heuerboy.

Inform family no Christmas presents this year.

[ShadownINja]

They are beautiful. I do like vintage chronos. The only thing in the back of my mind is reliability and robustness. Say you pick up a less-well-known brand vintage chrono for £300. You accidentally whack your hand against a door frame... or clap too firmly... £300 bill to repair?

[Vespula]

Have a look at this:

http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t...

Also, don't forget the Russians, a good bit cheaper.

[shirt]

sneijder said:

Stick the kettle on and Google Heuerboy.

Inform family no Christmas presents this year.

damn right, £2500+ for a carrera 12

i have actually gone a little overboard on the family this year, in hope that my birthday watch fund is swelled a week later

Vespula said:

Have a look at this:

http://www.tz-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t...

Also, don't forget the Russians, a good bit cheaper.

will do, cheers.

i'm unsure about a brand i don't know as this is my first watch purchase above £100 and i am sure i will want something cheaper later in the year as a daily wear.

[Vespula]

Most Russian chronographs are based on the Poljot 3133 movement (I think)

They are quite well respected and reasonably priced.

Here is a good site for Poljot:

http://www.poljot24.de/en/index.html

[shirt]

thanks. i know it smacks of brand snobbery which i normally don't adhere to, but if i'm blowing £1500 on a watch i do want it to be a name i recognise. i have seen some lovely pieces in the sub £500 range that will follow shortly if my contract is renewed and i do want a plain seamaster dress watch. see - the heurology bug has struck!

tz-uk forums are looking to be an excellent source of second hand bargains - a tag heuer monaco chronograph with black face for £1300 is currently making me rethink!

on those forums, what does RMSD mean?

[Vespula]

Royal Mail Special Delivery

[Vespula]

The Watch Forum is another good source for second-hand watches.

http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.php?act=idx

[shirt]

cheers vespula, i forecast an unproductive saturday!

[Bohemianesque]

I've had a couple of Top Times in the past. Not reliable or robust in my experience and at the time I had a great horologist/jeweller friend (RIP). Had a Speedy, loved it....bloody expensive to service.

I like the recommendations for Russians. Or maybe a Sinn? Or O&W?

I've a couple of vintage Seiko Chronos that I love and seem pretty robust.......

[andy_s]

Not being funny or anything but just making sure you know that all the chronos from the sixties were hand-wound.

[shirt]

i have seen that yes. not a problem really, i haven't had a hand wound since i was a kid and being an engineer i won't be wearing it every day anyway. does a hand winder give any problems maintenance wise?

one more qn - did tag do a reissue of the carrera 12? i am slightly in love with it but can't realistically afford one.

[Podie]

Might be tight budget wise, but you could consider a Stowa...

[shirt]

Vespula said:

Most Russian chronographs are based on the Poljot 3133 movement (I think)

They are quite well respected and reasonably priced.

Here is a good site for Poljot:

http://www.poljot24.de/en/index.html

i do like these:





food for thought, i could get one of these plus an omega or secondhand heuer reissue, or just one of these and save for the carrera

[Vespula]

I like hand wind watches, they are slimmer than automatics and have less moving parts so potentialy there's less to go wrong.

Remember, all mechanical watches should be serviced every 5 years or so.

A lot of watch folks like Steve Burrage at Ryte Time for servicing.

[Vespula]

One more thing to bear in mind, the 3133 movement does not have a quick-set date.

Edited by Vespula on Friday 17th December 10:11

[BluePurpleRed]

Vespula said:

One more thing to bear in mind, the 3133 movement does not have a quick-set date.

Edited by Vespula on Friday 17th December 10:11

I'm wearing my Poljot Chrono today and yes, that is *super* annoying. Esp if it is 15 days behind. Winding it on that far feels bad for the watch. I am sure it isn't but on one occasion I was 28 days behind so I just left it for a few days!

[Vespula]

Alpha-Watch.com have these for $152USD, no date. Sea-Gull Chinese movement.

http://www.alpha-watch.com/sub.php?list=8

Edited by Vespula on Friday 17th December 15:56

[sneijder]

Have a look at the Seagull 1963 also.