FS: Smiths Astral (“W10” movement, November 1969) Incoming necessitates sale. A really lovely example of a late Smiths “Made In England” watch. Dial: is in mint condition. Lovely slate or graphite grey with a slightly metallic sunburst effect. Very cool. Applied two-tone hour marker blocky batons in black and silver. Uber modern. Case: Stainless steel in very good condition. 18mm lugs and snap-on stainless steel back (n.b. the back is a nice tight fit so only remove it if you are confident you can get it back on!) Crown appears original. Movement: highest grade Smiths cal. 60466E with hacking seconds and blue hairspring (mil spec: same as the W10 from the same period). Setting, winding and running well. Date code “119” = November 1969 £285 including RMSD in the UK. Apologies for the poor pics. I’m fairly knowledgable about vintage Smiths but rubbish with a camera. Good references here and elsewhere.
Diameter is ~35mm although it wears larger due to the thin bezel. It's very stylish and "modern". Hope this helps Ollie
SOLD From my message to the buyer: "It's a lot of watch for the money and that movement is fantastic. The mil spec cal. 60466E turn up quite a lot in the civilian watches towards the very end of Smiths' in-house manufacturing. Another 12 months and they'd shut up shop completely. I really like the early stuff (1945-55) and these very late ones (1965-70). Bremont et al. would kill to be able to make something like this, a simple three-hander manual wind movement, in the UK and there'd be a zero or two on the end of the price if they ever manage it." Just adding this for extra info in case anyone is interested or on the lookout for a vintage Smiths.
Shhhh, @Revo - those of us who already appreciate Smiths don’t need another hundred acolytes pushing those prices up… Congrats to the buyer - this was a bargain.
I was soo tempted by this one, lovely little thing. Congrats to both parties. If the buyer doesn't bond(assuming it was here) please shoot me a message.