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Your top 5 Vintage Non-Omega Watches

timjohn
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On the military front, you can't beat the Smiths W10 for bang for the buck, or you could try to get an IWC Mk XI but you might be pushed under $3k
Smiths Wristshot.JPG
 
DaveK
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timjohn timjohn
On the military front, you can't beat the Smiths W10 for bang for the buck, or you could try to get an IWC Mk XI but you might be pushed under $3k
Smiths Wristshot.JPG

Good call. You’d have to be blind to miss having a Smiths in your collection

IMG_4295.jpeg IMG_5653.jpeg
 
Dsloan
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If you've got $3K to spend, you could load up on quite a few vintage Seikos. Just saying.

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Scarecrow Boat
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CBM1590 CBM1590
Can you really find a Rolex for under 3k, @Dan S ? I always thought that one would be beyond my reach.
If you are okay with 34mm, the Rolex Air King 5500 can still be had for well under 3k with an abundance of listings to search through. Though it might take a bit of sifting as many were excessively polished.

Here is mine from 1969. I picked it up in 2020 for just under 2k

IMG_7081.jpeg
 
krogerfoot
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If making yourself miserable is as important for you as it is for me, Gallet is certainly a choice.
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Edited:
 
Pascal S
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Lemania case reference 867-64 from 1964 (duh!) powered by an automatic calibre 3615
IMG_2657C16-P.jpg

Lemania case reference 936-65 from... 1965 (surprise!) powered by a manual wind calibre 3000
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Zman4eva
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Any love for calendar complications? Triple date moonphase were pretty common.

Many are under $1,500.

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DaveK
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
If you are okay with 34mm, the Rolex Air King 5500 can still be had for well under 3k with an abundance of listings to search through. Though it might take a bit of sifting as many were excessively polished.

Here is mine from 1969. I picked it up in 2020 for just under 2k

IMG_7081.jpeg

Nice! How is parts availability for servicing these?
 
CBM1590
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
If you are okay with 34mm, the Rolex Air King 5500 can still be had for well under 3k with an abundance of listings to search through. Though it might take a bit of sifting as many were excessively polished.

Here is mine from 1969. I picked it up in 2020 for just under 2k

IMG_7081.jpeg
Seems the floor is now solidly in the mid to upper 2’s. Beauty of a watch!
 
reverbtime
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
If you are okay with 34mm, the Rolex Air King 5500 can still be had for well under 3k with an abundance of listings to search through. Though it might take a bit of sifting as many were excessively polished.

Here is mine from 1969. I picked it up in 2020 for just under 2k

IMG_7081.jpeg
Gorgeous. Might get an unpolished later on. I like this classic design more than the current AK. Plus, these 34mm wear more like a 36mm IMO.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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reverbtime reverbtime
Plus, these 34mm wear more like a 36mm IMO.
I do enjoy 34mm, but honestly, I find preference to 36mm. For my wrist, it wears just a little more comfortably.

IMG_7084.jpeg


DaveK DaveK
Nice! How is parts availability for servicing these?
I can’t answer to the 5500, but my watchmaker had serviced the Datejust without issue. Though he did have a built up supply of Rolex parts he could use.
 
Watch my Whisky
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Rolex 16740 Fat Lady
Rolex Daytona 6263
Rolex Submariner 5513
Rolex Milgauss 1019
Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700
 
Dan S
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
I do enjoy 34mm, but honestly, I find preference to 36mm. For my wrist, it wears just a little more comfortably.
I prefer the 36mm models also. You can hunt down some interesting obscure references .

IMG_6199.jpeg
 
CBM1590
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Dan S Dan S
I prefer the 36mm models also. You can hunt down some interesting obscure references .

IMG_6199.jpeg
Never thought of myself as a Rolex owner. You guys are convincing me otherwise.
 
Dan S
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CBM1590 CBM1590
Never thought of myself as a Rolex owner. You guys are convincing me otherwise.
They made good watches, I enjoy collecting them, and they hold their value better than most other watches. But they are certainly expensive relative to the other brands mentioned. You just have to accept that. Early on in a collecting journey, people often think "I could get 5 watches for that amount." But later on, they often get interested in consolidating.
 
padders
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There is real value in the 34mm stuff. This 1978 solid gold Date cost me less than a tatty steel DJ of similar vintage would have:

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Edited:
 
KaiseRRuby
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Except Omega i like Tissot. I have this one:

IMG_20240331_194724_edit_142085053728245.jpg


I also have this one with the bakkelite bezel incoming, thats the one Roger Moore wears in 'To live and let Die'.
 
Fallout Boy
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I would say: steel, radium or tritium ->

ENICAR Sherpa, Eterna Kontiki, early cal 83 IWC , Sub 5513, Universal Polerouter and early Navitimer (sorry for one +)
 
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