50s/60s Seamaster w/ alpha hands

Hamish02 · Jul 5, 2021

*EDIT* I have realised my search was too narrow and there are more references to consider. Looking for references 14722/14733/14389 or similar with ‘Seamaster’ on the dial and with alpha hands.

Hi all,

I’m looking to purchase a 14722 Seamaster.

Condition as good as possible!

I have attached a couple of pictures I have found online for reference.

Please PM if you happen to have one you would like to move on!

Kind regards,
H

Jones in LA · Jul 5, 2021

Hello @Hamish02 -- the ref. 14722 is kind of a fly-under-the-radar sort of watch. What is it that interests you about this particular reference?

I happen to own one that runs on a calibre 520, my Forum avatar is an image of medallion on the caseback. At the present time I am not interested in selling but I wish you the very best in your quest! Here's a photo of mine for your search database:

Hamish02 · Jul 6, 2021

Thank you for your encouragement! I saw the first one pictured for sale and really liked the look of it! Its going for circa £700 which seemed a bit steep to me so thought I'd see what was kicking around on here. I might be wrong but thought a might find one for a bit less.

I'm a fan of the Seamasters and already have a vintage 2576 and modern SM300MC and would quite like to add to the collection.

Yours does look very nice!

Spruce · Jul 6, 2021

I don’t think that £700 is unreasonable for the right 60-70 year old watch in the condition in the photo. You could go a lot further, wait a lot longer, pay a lot more and still not find one that seems to be as nice as the one you’ve posted.

gbesq · Jul 6, 2021

You might want to consider expanding your search to include reference 14389. Very similar to the 14722 but with a slightly larger case size, slightly curved lugs, and the bulletproof caliber 268. They were made with many different dial and hand styles as well as case materials. Here's mine:

.

Hamish02 · Jul 6, 2021

Thanks for the suggestion @gbesq injust quite liked the look of the 14722!

Why ‘under-the-radar’ just out of interest @Jones in LA ?

Jones in LA · Jul 6, 2021

Hamish02
Thanks for the suggestion @gbesq injust quite liked the look of the 14722!

Why ‘under-the-radar’ just out of interest @Jones in LA ?

This is just my opinion, of course, but in the late 1950s/early 1960s (when the 14722 came to be) self-winding watches and self-winding watches with Date and Day complications were all the rage and state-of-the-art, whereas simple manual wind watches (like the 14722) probably seemed old-fashioned, behind the times, and were offered as an option for the budget-minded watch buyer.

gbesq · Jul 6, 2021

Jones in LA
This is just my opinion, of course, but in the late 1950s/early 1960s (when the 14722 came to be) self-winding watches and self-winding watches with Date and Day complications were all the rage and state-of-the-art, whereas simple manual wind watches (like the 14722) probably seemed old-fashioned, behind the times, and were offered as an option for the budget-minded watch buyer.

I agree, but what buyers didn’t know at the time was the incredible build quality that went into those 30mm manual wind calibers. They have withstood the test of time and even today are reliable, accurate and inexpensive to service. I like the daily ritual of winding them. Makes me feel more connected to the watch and I love the audible ticking as they go about their work.

LesXL · Jul 6, 2021

Or a 14390... Mine says hello

gbesq
You might want to consider expanding your search to include reference 14389. Very similar to the 14722 but with a slightly larger case size, slightly curved lugs, and the bulletproof caliber 268. They were made with many different dial and hand styles as well as case materials. Here's mine:

.

You got great strap colour taste 😀

gbesq · Jul 6, 2021

As do you, sir. Mine is a Morellato. Very nice looking 14390 you have there.

Hamish02 · Jul 7, 2021

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions so far. I can’t put my finger on it but the 14722 (or 14723) just looks right to me, I have a couple of manual winds as well as autos so when on rotation hub the time I get to wearing them again I have to wind up whatever watch anyway! I think it’s the alpha hands…

Hamish02 · Jul 24, 2021

Bump 😀

50s/60s Seamaster w/ alpha hands

Hamish02

Jones in LA

Hamish02

Spruce

gbesq

Hamish02

Jones in LA

gbesq

LesXL

gbesq

Hamish02

Hamish02

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