After a few hundred visits to thrift stores and only finding baskets of invicta and Nixon watches, I finally found something nice! Just curious if anyone knows what the reference is, as I don’t have the proper tool to remove the case back, and no trusted local watchmaker. And yes... lose the spiedel bracelet...

 

Very nice! It's an early "All-Guard", or "pre" All-Guard. The later ones had that on the dial, as well as the case back. High-quality throughout, and it appears to be in very good, original condition.

The eccentric date window, compressed towards the inside, is not to everyone's liking, but I've always liked them. IWC, to name one manufacturer, also produced automatics in that style.

I owned one like yours, but cannot recall the reference number off the top of my head.

 

Thats a good looking watch! Congrats on the find.

 

Could it be ref. 9000? I, or someone else, will follow-up.

Fantastic condition! A real great find.

Edit: 9000 is Conquest in steel. The non-calendar "Automatic" is ref. 9006. The calendar model is less common so struggling to find the ref. at this time.

 

The All-Guards are ref. 9006, but I don't recall is these early versions were the same.

And note also that both versions were essentially "pre-Conquests", as there are few differences between them and the first generation Conquest.

 

As soon as I saw it, the term "pre-All Guard" popped into my mind also.

That is a great find OP!

 

Here is some data that I compiled a few years ago. Conveniently, the lone "Automatic" calendar has no reference data.

 

Final guess, 9011.

 

I think that’s the one!! Gonna throw it on a strap and wear it tomorrow before sending it off for a service and clean up (there’s a lot of skin between the lugs, and it ain’t mine).

 

Enjoy! It is a fine example in that condition and uncommon, it seems, with the calendar.

 

Well scratch that last idea. I guess I don’t have any 18mm straps. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Any suggestions on what might make for a nice combo?

 

Great find. I fell hard for these 9000-series mid-1950s All-Guard/Conquest models. As previously mentioned, yours is a close relative. Beefy case and lugs with great proportions, very wearable. Yours is in fine shape including original/correct crown. Cheers!

 

Great find, congratulations. I’ve been giving up on thrift store finds, but this’ll make me keep looking

 

Finally got around to finding an 18mm strap so I can actually wear this thing and I'm loving it!

 

That looks excellent - rare to find these unpolished and retaining the sharp 'outside edge' on the lugs, as well as the wonderfully over-detailed crown. 9011 it is !

 

Congratulations on the find - i too rummage plastic containers of broken Nixons, Chinese quartz monstrosities & occasional casios. Always great to see a fellow prospector hit gold.

That is a magnificent watch - it looks so good on the new strap. Bravo.

 

Oh now you're just rubbing it in! Sure beats my Michael Kors thrift store finds

 

Jeez, best thing I've ever found is a Zodiac Sea Wolf Quartz Chronograph. Congrats!

 

Watch looks great.

Below is another ref. 9011 for posterity. The serial number, 10'472'089, is only 4 away from the unidentified "Automatic" calendar in my chart above.

 

Awesome! I imagine mine looks pretty similar under the hood. I’ve retired it for now until I can get it out for a service.