For what it's worth, there have ALWAYS been knock-off / imitation watches. Hell, you might even call the Speedmaster a knock-off of this early 50's Geometer from Rodania:




Without knowing about the partnership between the brands, it would be safe to assume the Waltham was just another copy of a more famous watch.

 

Regarding pricing of these watches:

Blancpain MC4 retailed for 137 DM when it was released in 1959. Accounting for the average yearly conversion rate of 4.18DM for every USD in 1959, the BP would have cost 33 USD.

Advertisements from Waltham show a retail price of $75, which would make it the more expensive watch.

 

Much like advice for a noob... Google is your friend

 

Not sure I agree that Blancpain's modern brand status accounts for difference in value - for me, and I did spend the extra time and money on finding a Blancpain rather than Waltham, the value is in the historical significance in the dive watch context, and that history and originality belongs to Blancpain, at least more than Waltham.

The Blancpains also appear to be rarer or at least offered for sale less often - as the OP says, they are very difficult to come by.

 

There is this (later red logo) one currently up on the bay with a few days left: https://www.ebay.com/itm/183179439481?rmvSB=truePurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Looks nice to me

 

It seems like it’s got a reasonably nice case (unusually for these), and the bezel is great, but everything else seems pretty much as you’d expect. So I’m a bit surprised by the price... I don’t remember ever seeing a plated one pass 2k euro on eBay.

 

Yeah, I was looking at that one as well. The prices have really been trending up so I wouldn't be surprised to see this one go for around $4k.

 

Other issues I often see with these:
- hands replaced - even if correct, they look younger and ruin the look of the watch to me. Here the hands are original.
- dial damaged or patinated: im assuming the marks we see are on the crystal. If that is right, the dial looks great.

That leaves the only thing NOT perfect about this watch the aged lume markers on the dial, which have some patina, but this looks even and actually is common in these models and to me desirable, adding to the vintage tool watch look.

Now the pictures aren't great and we can't see the movement, which adds some risk. But from what we can see, I would describe this as a good or very good condition example.

 

Thats awesome!

 

there are 36mm version around arent there?

 

Yeah, the ones pictured in this thread are about 36mm

 

If you're into the other-brand Bathyscaphes, there's a very nice Moeris one for sae at Analog/Shift for USD 3,500

https://shop.analogshift.com/collections/moeris/products/moeris-bathyscaphe

 

I don’t think any of the watches shown in this thread are the 36mm size, they’re all the 34mm versions. I’ve never seen a Waltham in the middle size, but there are big case versions around.



Photo credit: Matthew Bain

 

Sorry, that must be right.

Always amazes me how well a 34mm watch suits my wrist!

 

Just a quick update: the watch came back from service looking great. It almost looks like a completely different watch. A lot of the grime (see original post) cleaned up nicely and the dial has a great tropical patina. Sorry @w154 I asked the watchmaker to take a photo of the bezel assembly but he forgot :-(

After service:


Before service, so you don't have to go back to the first page:

 

Looks great !

And no worries about the bezel pictures, thanks for trying anyway

 

wow the dial looks awesome!

could do with a bezel upgrade dont u think?

 

I don't disagree haha. Just not sure where/how easy it would be to find one.

 

Yeah me neither