This just popped up in the google window (yes, they are watching me). I stopped to think: Is there an old prominent (or even semi-prominent) watch brand that has NOT been brought back from the dead? Gotham wasn't that common but it seems someone has bought the name and marketing a product. Railroad dial + toy train = marketing blitz.
Well, Lanco (an abbreviation of Langendorf Watch Company) was "revived" from 1971-80, but has been "dead" again since then. I believe that Aureole, Cortébert, Perfecta and Sabina are gone for good. One of the best, in a sense, might be Record Watch Co., which made some superb watches during the first half of the 20th century. I'm sure that there are others.
Smiths? At the very least Gurgle doesn't present ads for modern ones at the top of the page..... makes a welcome change
Pop 'Timefactors watches' into Gurgle....there are one or two Smiffs knocking around. Eddie Platts bought the rights to the name many years ago and does a half decent job with the brand.
Sadly see https://burenwatch.com/ Here's a Hamilton/Buren from the old days (even if assembly was by Heuer)
How about an edge case? Heuer as a brand is now TAG-Heuer, although some of the recent production have only Heuer signature on the dial. Not sure if that applies to crowns, movements and buckles tho....
Wyler Advertised as highly robust against shock & water intrusion (not sure how much better they really were than any of the competition...).
Relide was trademarked in 1937 and made a lot of cool looking watches, mostly, is not entirely with ebauche movements. I’ve seen one double signed with Tiffany’s My first vintage piece was a thrift shop Relide This ad is apparently from 1950, my watch is 1955 or later I have never seen one from the late 70’s, so I assume they didn’t survive the quartz crisis. Not unexpected, as they named themselves in the past tense
I assume that screenshot means the trademark is owned, not that they’re producing watches. The Curvex quartzes all seem to be ‘80s.
Haven't seen any recent manufacture Midland watches. Their asymmetric cased electric watches have collector interest but are scarce on the ground. My midland 25 jewel self winder is my favorite, still accurate to around 4 seconds per day after perhaps 60+ years.