Your top 5 Vintage Non-Omega Watches

[STANDY]

Nupero

I like turtles...

Plenty here like turtles
https://omegaforums.net/threads/turtle-tuesday.18023/


(A chance to show @styggpyggeno1 bale of turtles)https://omegaforums.net/threads/turtle-tuesday.18023/

 

[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

 

[DaveK]

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

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

 

[Dsloan]

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

 

[Scarecrow Boat]

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

 

[krogerfoot]

If making yourself miserable is as important for you as it is for me, Gallet is certainly a choice.

Edited: May 13, 2024

 

[Pascal S]

Lemania case reference 867-64 from 1964 (duh!) powered by an automatic calibre 3615


Lemania case reference 936-65 from... 1965 (surprise!) powered by a manual wind calibre 3000

 

[Zman4eva]

Any love for calendar complications? Triple date moonphase were pretty common.

Many are under $1,500.

 

[DaveK]

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

Nice! How is parts availability for servicing these?

 

[CBM1590]

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

Seems the floor is now solidly in the mid to upper 2’s. Beauty of a watch!

 

[reverbtime]

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

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]

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.

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]

Rolex 16740 Fat Lady
Rolex Daytona 6263
Rolex Submariner 5513
Rolex Milgauss 1019
Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700

 

[Dan S]

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 .

 

[CBM1590]

Dan S

I prefer the 36mm models also. You can hunt down some interesting obscure references .

Never thought of myself as a Rolex owner. You guys are convincing me otherwise.

 

[Dan S]

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]

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:

Edited: May 14, 2024

 

[KaiseRRuby]

Except Omega i like Tissot. I have this one:



I also have this one with the bakkelite bezel incoming, thats the one Roger Moore wears in 'To live and let Die'.

 

[Fallout Boy]

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 +)

 

[jantjewgm]

My #1