Please allow this thread to serve as a Record watch "show and tell" as well.

Online research leaves one feeling unsatisfied. The Record brand seems to command little respect in the vintage watch world. Longines apparently absorbed it and then it faded away. Were the Record wristwatches more popular in Europe than here in the U. S.? Where did Record appear in the pecking order of watch brands of its day? I have the impression that it was a lower tier brand, on the order of Cortébert or Glycine.

I've long been drawn to certain vintage logos that strike my fancy. I find myself attracted to the vintage Record models which feature their swan logo. None of these are going to be large watches, so the poor thing would likely be lost on my wrist if one was acquired. If I did acquire one I'd wear it despite its size. Record dials of the 1940s-1950s(?) are quite appealing.


Here are a couple of images of Record watches that appeals to me.
Gleaned from Google Images.




This one looks suspiciously like a redo because it is so crisp.




The applied swan logo has somewhat less appeal to me.



Have you owned a Record watch?

 

Record was a manufacturer of really good watches and I don't think that they are not valued. For calendar watches usually more than 3000 Euros are asked. Unfortunately, I do not own a Record watch although I am searching for a good one. But it seems very difficult to find an original example in good condition and with acceptable size.

 

Record was one of the "dirty dozen" manufacturers that made military watches for the British during World War II. I had one of these Record WWWs but passed it on. The image is from the internet. I can't seem to find a shot of my former watch.

 

Record is a somewhat under-appreciated brand in the vintage market. Their Datofix models are popular, and priced accordingly, as are their chronographs.



Nice time-only models, however, can still be found occasionally at very reasonable prices. Don't bother seeking one of these out, though, as I've never seen another!

 

Hi B., no specific knowledge about Record other than what's been said. However and while I may be wrong this dial looks original to me... I think it's important to remember that "pristine" does not necessarily mean a dial is refinished.
Otherwise we'd be inappropriately calling into question many prime watches with original pristine dials.

 

Mikrolisk lists the swan logo as a registered Record Watch Co. SA wordmark, but no mention of the registration date. An early version appears with serif text, like this:


A later logo, registered in 1943, uses san serif text:

 

Record is a great undervalued brand with really interesting calibers. Here below some of mine

 

Not so loud!

 

Ok...ok ...got it

 

Just want to share some pics. Great watches from 1930-1960, both design and movements... One of my favorite brands...

Venus 175 chronograph



pocketwatch with beautiful movement






Record Datofix



Record with Cal. 174 inhouse movement





Late Valjoux 72 chronograph

 

This movement is beautiful. Do you have pictures of the other side under the rotor?

 

Well, Record was reborn this year a sub-collection of Longines. Interesting because all the new models are chronometers, which makes it a more expensive Longines vs a less expensive one back in the day?

http://www.timeandwatches.com/2017/05/longines-record-collection.html

 

Record made these RR grade pocket watches for Ball in the mid 1950's.

Webb C. Ball was turning in his grave, he developed the standards and specifically excluded non-USA made watches in the standards.








Nice last gasp for RR grade pocket watches.

 

#cry
#cry
#cry


....

 

They made a few nice chronographs

 

I have several record watches, starting with my Grandfather's gold circa 1950s automatic, which got me interested in vintage watches in the first place. I just bought a circa 1930 Record manual-wind watch as a non-runner, which my watchmaker serviced and regulated. It's very unusual in that it's huge for the period, 40mm. It uses a Cal. 26 movement which apparently was also used in Record's hunter pocket watch. Why it exists is a complete mystery.. It is not a pocket-watch conversion. I wonder if it was intended as an early pilot watch. Any thoughts would be welcome.

 

This is my favourite, a German military-issue watch circa 1940. Record, like other Swiss makers, happily supplied both sides.

 

Had this until a few months ago... lot of patina