Hi, I was hoping to start a discussion about the old greats that still sell cheap considering they have in-house movements and a strong pre quartz history. Two examples is Cyma and Helvetia. There are plenty of other examples waiting for you to post 3 project watches bought for 100£
Here is a Helvetia with a super cool cal830 bought for £20 Case is now sent off for re plating and the movement will be serviced and It will be a super nice watch.

 

I agree with your choices, and have a very similar Revue. I believe that there more than a few brands that fall into this category, including Alpina, which also used very good cases during the '40s and '50s.

 

Alpina are super watches! And that is a very nice one you have!!! I have some also in my collection. This is one I got a month ago. Original green lume on the dial

 

Another brand Worth mentioning is Junghans as they have some very nice chronometer movements like this J82.

 

My circa 1957 Certina is 37mm so still wears nicely today



modest dial but has nice sub seconds



reliable Kurt Freres 330

 

Eterna. Probably the most influential automatics made when you consider they evolved into ETA.

 

Another that's in my normal work rotation:

 

.....and one more that's gotta get cleaned up & serviced.

 

I quite like vintage Rado but I don't know much about them, are they underestimated or just crap?

 

Rado made great stuff! Very high quality and substantially underappreciated IMHO.

 

I only have one, a very uncommon model, but it is certainly of good quality.

 

Eterna is still around, just not making the same great pieces...One to keep Dennis' pieces company:

 

As the last of the English-made watches, I admire the Smiths.




I have this Lucian Piccard automatic in a solid 14k white gold case. A guess is that it's late 50s/very early '60s. I don't know a thing about the brand except that it died off and the name was revived for a line of watches not well thought of. I'm guessing the movement was made for LP but don't know the movement's origin. The watch is accurate and trouble-free and the white gold case looks sharp.



If anyone can share any information on older Lucian Piccard watches I'd be grateful.

 

The watch outlasted the building that hosted Expo 67

 

I'll second the Helvetia, after all, it was a sister brand of Omega:

 

Did someone mention Lemania? After all that they made all movements and mostly cased all complicated Omegas like all the vintage Speedmastesr and the moon phase cal 381. And that is only a small part of their contribution to horology! Breguet? I rest my case.

 

And Eterna!