Bruce's Vintage Watches
Fine timepieces at reasonable prices from a name you trust.
$295.00
Tissot square bumper automatic. Yellow gold filled case. 31mm x 43mm to lug tips, 19mm lug width, gold-filled snap back case, black leather strap, silvered dial with applied gold indices, 17J. Large size, unusual to see a square automatic from Tissot; most are rounds. Great quality brand, underappreciated. Winds and sets perfectly, runs to within 2 min/day but not known when last serviced.
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Mido, 21mm x 35mm to lug tips, 18mm lug width, rose gold case, gray leather strap, copper colored dial with black painted indices. 106 Mido rectangle dress watch 14kt pink gold. Hard to find a Mido dress watch, let alone one in 14kt solid gold. Movement sets and winds perfectly, keeps time to within 2 min/day but not known when last serviced.
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Longines, 25mm x 36mm to lug tips, 19mm lug width, yellow gold case, black leather strap, silvered dial with applied gold indices. Gross weight of combined 14K gold cases without movements or straps 13.0 dwt (20.3 g). Movement winds and sets perfectly, keeps time to within 2 min/day but not known when last serviced.
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$850.00
Hamilton Contour, driver's watch with flexing lugs. Yellow gold filled case measures 39mm long lug to lug, by 27mm wide. Excellent case. 17J Caliber 980 movement. Sets and winds perfectly, keeps time to within 2 min/day but not known when last serviced. Made for only a couple of years, then recalled by Hamilton, perhaps the only watch to have been recalled. I'm guessing the lugs were too fragile and prone to breaking. 18mm brown leather band.
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$650.00
Omega Cushion in a Dennison 20-year ygf case. Early example. Cushion shape. 30mm x 33mm to lug tips, 20mm wire lug width, snap back case, champagne dial with black painted numerals. Movement winds and sets perfectly, keeps time to within 2 min/day, but not known when last serviced.
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Omega Seamaster gold shell/steel rare model date at 6:00 Ref 2627-2, 35mm x 43mm to lug tips, 18mm lug width, gold cap over stainless steel screw back case, gold-filled and stainless steel expandable bracelet, silvered dial with applied gold numerals, date aperture at 6. Omega only made this caliber for a couple years. Winds and sets perfectly, date changes correctly. Runs to within 2 min/day or better but not known when last serviced.
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Omega Seamaster,, stainless steel case, rare model with date at 6:00 Ref 2757, 34mm x 41mm to lug tips, 18mm lug width, stainless steel snap back case, expandable steel bracelet, refinished silvered dial with applied silver indices, date aperture at 6. Omega only made this caliber for a couple years. Winds and sets perfectly, date changes correctly. Runs to within 2 min/day or better but not known when last serviced.
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Tavannes, 14kt solid gold case with hidden wire lugs measures 31mm x 40mm to lug tips, 16mm lug width, white enamel dial with black numerals and a red 12. There is a hairline fracture on the edge of the dial between 11 and 12 o'clock. Gross weight of assembled 14K gold watch 20.1 dwt (31.4 g). Beautiful specimen of an early Swiss gent’s wristwatch, probably made in the early 1910s before U.S. companies made them. Gorgeous dial and Breguet hands.
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$750.00
Gruen Veri-Thin Precision, "Pan-American," pilots watch, manual wind, 32mm x 38mm to lug tips, 17mm lug width, 14K yellow gold snap back case, engraved name on caseback, brown leather strap, original silvered 24 hour dial with applied gold indices, 17J grade 420 movement, Case serial number G591866. Case reference number 420/534, indicating manufacture year 1944. Triple signed. Gross weight of assembled watch without strap 15.1 dwt (23.6 g). . Movement sets and runs fine, running but not known when last serviced. Good plastic crystal. number inside case back of 420/534 indicates manufacture 1944. Back is engraved "Wilbur W. Molzahn." Starting about 1943, Gruen produced a series of pilot's watches with 24-hour dials for Pan American World Airways. They were initially not intended for civilian use, so this early one was no doubt intended for a pilot or other flight personnel.
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$200.00
All YGF case measures 41mm long lug to lug, by 17mm. Excellent condition case. Excellent original dial. 7J grade 488 movement sets and winds perfectly, keeps time to within 2 min day, but not known when last serviced. Leather cord band. This is a super example from the "Streamlined" period. Ultra thin at just 17mm wide. The fancy horn lugs make it look really cool on the wrist! Can't pin down the exact model name, but one very similar to it appears in the '37 company catalog. The movement serial number dates to 1938.
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$200.00
10kt yellow gold filled case measures 37mm long lug to lug, by 29mm diameter. Case is in excellent condition with no excessive wear. Original dial in excellent original condition. Original crown, which Hamilton made oversize on purpose for use in labs, workplaces, etc., where gloves might be used. Good condition 18-jewel grade 748 movement sets and winds perfectly, keeps time to within 2 min/day but not known when last serviced. The Nordon was introduced in 1948 and was one of the first of Hamilton's "CLD" series, where the movement was supposedly "sealed" against moisture via a series of gaskets and the fact that the movement lifted out through the top of the watch versus the back. This specimen has a 16mm pigskin strap. Clean back with no engraving.
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$400.00
Illinois “Finalist” Art Deco, white gold filled, 38 by 23mm wide, not including crown. Original dial, nicely aged patina, replacement crown. Winds and sets fine, keeps time to 2 min/day but not known when last serviced. Black leather strap.
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$500.00
Hamilton Dorsey, manual wind, 23mm x 35mm to lug tips, 19mm lug width, original 14K yellow gold snap back case with hidden pierced lugs, brown leather strap, original silvered dial with applied gold numerals, 22J cal 770, serial number V05021, triple signed. Gross weight of 14K gold case without movement, crystal or strap 7.2 dwt (11.1 g). Movement running but unknown when last serviced. Light freckling to dial and hands. Good plastic crystal. The original "Dorsey" was produced from 1936-1938. The model was re-introduced in 1955 and looked nothing like the original! The redesigned Dorsey was available only for two years, in 1955 and 1956, and so it is a relative rare model.
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Dec. 5, 2019
14 New Watches added to Bruces Vintage Watches! I have watches by Elgin, Gruen, Hamilton, Illinois, Omega, and Tavannes. They are priced from $200 to $1,195. To get right to the watches, click on the link above that reads "Store."
Also, my latest book, "The Golden Age of the Swiss Wristwatch" is for sale on my website for just $39.95. That's $10 off the list price. The link for more information and how to order is right below this announcement.
Sincerely,
Bruce
More...
The Golden Age of the Swiss Wristwatch. 360 pages of gorgeous ads not seen in 60 years!
Order the book now!
Elgin Wristwatches: A Collector's Guide. First reference devoted exclusively to Elgin, with nearly 900 models from 1913 to 1962 identified.
Order the book now!