Let's see your Small Vintage Watches with Beautiful Dials!

[Tony C.]

I'm one of those collectors who isn't opposed to acquiring "small" (by today's standards) vintage watches. It helps that I have small wrists, and can wear many of them comfortably, but I also collect on the basis of other criteria, not least of which is the attractiveness of the dial.

So, I thought that it would be fun to create a thread of small vintage watches that feature particularly attractive dials.

Let's try to keep it to watches that have cases that are 32mm or smaller. If you post one with a 33mm case, you may be chosen for testing of the site's electro-shock feature, which is currently under development.

I'll kick things off with a superb 32mm Girard Perregaux from the '40s.

 

[LesXL]

Does 32.5mm count? Or maybe a crème brûlée ? Calibre 520

 

[size11s]

This delights me whenever I wear it, 32mm

 

[Vanallard]

I’ve got these two that are about 31-32mm.

 

[ghce]

 

[gatorcpa]

1931 Hamilton Palisade - 30mm diameter.





I bought this with a rather unusual redial, but a NOS original popped up on eBay and I grabbed it.
gatorcpa

 

[__ryan__]

This Tissot from the 1940s comes in at 31.5 mm. The dial is patinated and the lume has turned gray, but I find it attractive.

 

[ghce]

I love these WW1 porcelain dials.
Unfortunately you can't see the full beauty of the dial as it has a period replacement aged acrylic glass on it and I haven't yet been able to locate a glass for it.

 

[TexOmega]

Gruen at 33mm

 

[Vitezi]

A few favorites, all between 1936 and 1939:

 

[Duracuir1]

 

[Syrte]

A few of mine… not posting ladies watches though it would be cheating. All sub 32mm. One of them actually is 32mm, and one is no longer with me.

 

[gbesq]

1952 Seamaster 2635. 32mm.

 

[Aroxx]

32mm Gruen with a waffle dial.

 

[seekingseaquest]

This Venus-powered Breitling..

 

[rob#1]

How about checks with rubies and diamonds?

 

[aap]

Here are my smallest watches! The two Zeniths are gone now

In terms of the one with the most beautiful dial, it's the IWC at the center, from no less than the OP, @Tony C.

Edited: Feb 9, 2024

 

[Matty01]

A lovely old Zenith
A Hema- perhaps not beautiful but I love the dial
40s 30t2

 

[Mods]

seekingseaquest

This Venus-powered Breitling..

very cool

 

[Radiumpassion]

And the one named «Two face»