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Vintage Watch Thread (Pre-1990's watches only)

Mark from Plano

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View attachment 1732681
Longines from the roaring twenties. Seriously considering buying this even though I am not a watch guy. Seller wants approx 320 USD, what do you guys think?

For me it would come down to how much you trust the seller vis-a-vis the condition of the movement. I think the watch looks fantastic in the picture, but replacing antique watch parts can get expensive. I’ve made enough mistakes buying pieces of crap watches that I couldn’t wear long. I don’t need to do it anymore.JMHO
 

ter1413

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View attachment 1732681
Longines from the roaring twenties. Seriously considering buying this even though I am not a watch guy. Seller wants approx 320 USD, what do you guys think?



I am not crazy about it.
(The price doesn't bother me.)
 

Zerase

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For me it would come down to how much you trust the seller vis-a-vis the condition of the movement. I think the watch looks fantastic in the picture, but replacing antique watch parts can get expensive. I’ve made enough mistakes buying pieces of crap watches that I couldn’t wear long. I don’t need to do it anymore.JMHO
It is from Alexander Marchesan's vintage shop in Stockholm, Sweden. I know he knows his thing about all things clothing but not sure about watches. He estimated it being from the 1920's but wasn't sure. He did not tell me about the dials being repainted, so I guess he lacks knowledge in this particular field. He really seems like a decent guy that just loves all things vintage. He winds up the watches every day and told me that it works just fine.
 

cchen

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Can you get a picture of the movement? With the serial number, Longines can you tell exactly when the watch was invoiced and to which country and importer.

With an original dial $320 would be cheap. With this dial, it's unfortunately not worth that at all. If you like it and the price works for you, that's all that really matters.
 

Zerase

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Can you get a picture of the movement? With the serial number, Longines can you tell exactly when the watch was invoiced and to which country and importer.

With an original dial $320 would be cheap. With this dial, it's unfortunately not worth that at all. If you like it and the price works for you, that's all that really matters.
Sadly this is the only picture I took when I visited Stockholm. I guess I could ask him for more pictures. I really don't need it, but I thought it looked pretty good on my wrist...
 

Huntsman

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So this is a dumb question, but: For vintage manual wind watches, how do you wind them? Some people have told me back and forth, some people have said CW when looking at the crown. My Baltics are CW when looking at the crown. But old Valjoux and ETA movements? Longines? Dunno.

Thanks,
Huntsman
 

mebiuspower

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So this is a dumb question, but: For vintage manual wind watches, how do you wind them? Some people have told me back and forth, some people have said CW when looking at the crown. My Baltics are CW when looking at the crown. But old Valjoux and ETA movements? Longines? Dunno.

Thanks,
Huntsman

Going back and forth is not going to hurt a manual watch movement designed for manual wind.
 

madhat

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I wind clockwise, back and forth.
F298D63A-7BC7-4542-B92B-8BDC0ACDBBC6.jpeg
 

Huntsman

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Thanks, all. I think I will stick with CW. Madhat, that is a sweet IWC, but isn't "clockwise, back and forth" non-sequitur? That is, back and forth implies clockwise and counterclockwise movements?

Anyway, and old Longines today. The motion of the blued second hand is really lovely.

DSC_8499 (2).JPG
 

madhat

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Thanks, all. I think I will stick with CW. Madhat, that is a sweet IWC, but isn't "clockwise, back and forth" non-sequitur? That is, back and forth implies clockwise and counterclockwise movements?

Anyway, and old Longines today. The motion of the blued second hand is really lovely.

View attachment 1733903
(I managed to leave off the “not” portion of the back and forth)
 

Huntsman

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(I managed to leave off the “not” portion of the back and forth)

Hahaha, that makes complete sense. I was quite confused.
 

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