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WTB Wanted: Vintage chronograph under $1000.00

  1. kidamazo Apr 6, 2014

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    Hello, I am new to watch collecting and I would like to start my collection, but I am on a serious budget. I was hoping to find a decent vintage auto chronograph I could proudly buy as my first real watch. In particular I have been coveting an Omega Dynamic, but will of course consider any reasonable offer. This is all new to me, so I am putting my trust into your capable hands, and then hopefully onto my wrist.
     
  2. Northernman Lemaniac Apr 6, 2014

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  3. kidamazo Apr 6, 2014

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  4. Northernman Lemaniac Apr 7, 2014

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    Your challenge will be to find a proper (Swiss) vintage automatic chronograph below USD1000.
    The Omega Dynamic chronograph is too modern to be actually referred to as "vintage", and even finding one of those (in OK condition) below USD1000 is not going to be easy.
    In practical terms there are three different main lines of vintage Swiss automatic chronograph movements (mainstream automatic chronographs first appeared in the early 1970's):

    - The Buren/Heuer/Breitling caliber 11/12/14/15
    - The Zenith/Movado El Primero cal 3019
    - The Lemania (SSHI/Tissot/Omega) caliber 134x/5100 (aka Omega 1040/1041/1045)

    Out of these, the top two will not fit your budget, and any Omega branded Lemania ones will also fetch north of USD1000.
    My best advice will then be to search for something you like, using the Lemania 1340/1341/1343 (excellent movements), or alternatively the later 5100 (not as refined, but very robust).

    Happy hunting!
    :)
     
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  5. kidamazo Apr 7, 2014

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    Thanks for this information. Can you recommend any actual models?
     
  6. Zuke Apr 7, 2014

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    I know that this one is about to hit the open market at $1,000. It's not my watch, but I wanted to point it out to you as I think it's a pretty cool chronograph from the 1960's. Panda style T dial, even has a yachting timer. If I wasn't about to build a new kitchen I would own it myself.

    [​IMG]

    If interested please send me an email and I will let you know where you can find it.
     
  7. Northernman Lemaniac Apr 7, 2014

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    Not an auto as OP requests.
     
  8. Zuke Apr 7, 2014

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    You are correct, this is not an auto. My mistake, I read the post too quickly
     
  9. kidamazo Apr 7, 2014

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    It is a cool looking watch, though. Thanks for the suggestion in any event.
     
  10. Northernman Lemaniac Apr 7, 2014

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    It would be Wakmann, Sinn, Tissot, Bucherer and a couple of other brands (including the maker Lemania themselves). Omega, Heuer and other more widely recognized brands will break your budget with a margin.
    Try to Google: Lemania 1340, or Lemania 1341, or Lemania 5100. Some will be way out of league, but I have fished good ones out of the bay below USD1000, but not too many!:whistling:
     
  11. kidamazo Apr 9, 2014

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    Bump
     
  12. X350 XJR Vintage Omega Aficionado Apr 9, 2014

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  13. NT931 Apr 9, 2014

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    If you're open to considering vintage Seiko , they're very very affordable - $180-300. Those with the 6139 movement were one of the first automatic chronographs (details here). 39mm in size, they have a nice chunky 70's retro vibe, a little like the Tissot mentioned earlier.
    Seiko 6139-6012 wood.JPG

    AdobePhotoshopExpress_2013_12_29_17-19-27.jpg
     
    lenny likes this.
  14. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Apr 9, 2014

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    Don't forget the 6138 versions with the dual counters. Far more function for the same money:

    [​IMG]

    Movement is not as finely finished as the Swiss, but it is a column wheel chrono with a vertical clutch. Very few Swiss Automatic chronos ever had both of these features.

    [​IMG]

    For $1,000 you can have a very nice little collection of these.
    gatorcpa
     
  15. Northernman Lemaniac Apr 10, 2014

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    Already suggested a couple I have FS.
    Citizen is bullhead with fly back!
    image.jpg
    image.jpg
     
  16. NT931 Apr 10, 2014

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    I like the orange bullhead! Nice
     
  17. kidamazo Apr 10, 2014

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  18. citizenrich Metal Mixer! Apr 10, 2014

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    What do you mean by original? It's missing the original steel bracelet, which is worth anywhere from 200/300 (short length, poor condition) to full boat Omega replacement retail which is probably $1500 or so.

    The Dynamic is a strange watch. It wasn't well received when produced (it's sorta ugly, in most peoples' opinion) but...
    the dials can age well and take on that tropical look which makes Rolex Subs worth ridiculous sums. The Dynamic is also rare for Omega; this being all relative meaning instead of selling a billion they only sold a million*

    *exaggerated for effect.

    you're not going to impress anyone at a dinner party or a watches anonymous meeting with a dynamic. Ever. Never.

    but, if you hold it 20 years and take care of it you might make a few dollars. And, I mean a few.
     
  19. kidamazo Apr 10, 2014

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    I am new to this, but I guess I meant that the face, the movement, etc. are the original when it was made.

    And ugly?! Man, I love this watch!
     
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  20. citizenrich Metal Mixer! Apr 10, 2014

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    and, at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

    a full watch (meaning all the original pieces) around $1,000 is never going to hurt you.


    *edit. Let me add one thing: if you're going to focus on a dynamic, make sure it hasn't been re-lumed. You'll know if it has, that's an easy thing to see.