Luxury 1950s style exudes from this gorgeous Croton ladies dress watch, perfect for an evening event or wowing at a cocktail party. Not only is the watch case executed in 14k white gold and inset with diamonds, but it is on a matching bracelet that turns it into an incredible piece of jewelry. Croton was a brand first established in Italy in 1878 that strove to combine Italian artistry and fashion with the quality of Swiss craftsmanship. This watch is one such example of their work!
The watch itself is a typical ladies size from the '50s, residing in a case that measures 14 mm wide (not including the crown), 8 mm thick (including the crystal), and with a dial approximately 13 mm tall. But even with its dainty size, the silver stick hands are easy to read against the silvered dial. The shape of the dial is unusual, with straight sides but curved edges top and bottom that lead the eye into the pyramids of diamonds that bracket it. Small square applied hour markers gracefully curve down the sides of the dial, split by the elongated rectangular markers placed in a vertical line at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. Just the brand name "Croton" is written in the center of the dial, with the "Swiss" designation tucked at the bottom.
The movement at the heart of the piece is a Swiss AS Cal. 609, 17 jewel manual wind movement that was produced in the 1950s. The movement has been fully serviced, and we provide a one year warranty so you can be assured of its excellent condition.
But the case and bracelet, oh my! The 14k white gold case has 6 diamonds arranged in a pyramid forming both the top and bottom "lugs", which extends the total "lug to lug" case length to 37 mm. These diamonds are held in prong settings and curve gently to follow the curve of the wrist and blend elegantly into the teardrop shaped links of the bracelet. Eight teardrop links form each side of the bracelet, each also set with its own diamond. When clasped (and including the watch), the piece's length is approximately 6.25". The case back and underside of the clasp are both marked with a 14K stamp. A safety chain gives you peace of mind, but can also be unfastened in order to lie the piece flat.
It is not often we see ladies' watches as chic and timeless as this one. Hurry in if you need a little sparkle in your life...we have only one!
If you haven't heard of Baume & Mercier, a quick check of Wikipedia will tell you:
"Baume & Mercier was founded as "Frères Baume" in 1830 by brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume, whom opened the watch dealership in Les Bois, a village in the Swiss Jura. The Swiss watch manufacturer expanded internationally by establishing a branch in London in 1921 under the name "Baume Brothers", which led to expansion throughout the British Empire. By the late 19th century, the company had an established international reputation and its timepieces had set accuracy records and won a number of timekeeping competitions. In 1918, company director William Baume partnered with Paul Mercier to found "Baume & Mercier" in Geneva. The firm became specialized in manufacturing wristwatches, particularly unconventionally "shaped" models that did not possess the traditional round form. In 1919, Baume & Mercier was awarded the Geneva Seal, the highest international distinction of the time for watchmaking excellence. During the Roaring Twenties, the brand embraced women's emancipation. In the 1940s, Baume & Mercier launched a number of modern watch collections, most notably the 2 Register Chronograph. Early examples of this model with the double case backs are rare and highly sought after, often fetching more than double the price of a later model. In the 1970s, Baume & Mercier introduced shaped timepieces such as the Galaxie and Stardust models. In 1973, Baume & Mercier presented the Riviera, one of the world's first steel sports watches."
Today they are part of the Richemont Group.
We here at Father Time always keep an eye peeled for nice examples of their manufacture and when we find a nice one we grab it! Such is the case with this very interesting Baume & Mercier military watch made circa 1942. It is in the excellent condition for a military piece and we think it has seldomly been worn since. The movement was in such great condition that the only thing we had to do to restore it to perfect functioning condition was to clean and oil the watch. It has a stainless steel case back with a base metal case that shows just some spots of wear around the bezel. A solid lug speaks to its military design that prioritized durability and could easily be worn on a NATO or feed-through strap as well. Here, it is fitted with a leather band with a rivet to secure it.
It measures 32.5 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 39 mm lug to lug, by 8.5 mm thick (including the crystal).
What makes this watch so interesting from a vintage collector's perspective, is the wonderful patina on the dial. The lume has mellowed to a perfect coffee color in the skeletonized hands and in the hour marker plots. The slate-colored dial is in great condition and the 15 jewel manual wind movement is spotless. What a great watch...don't miss it!
For a woman who appreciates Mid-Century style, this engagement and wedding ring set makes the perfect pairing! The original owner told us that they were first purchased in 1955 and still kept in their original heart ring box. Both rings are executed in 14k white gold and sparkle with vintage style.
The engagement ring features an approximately 1/4 carat diamond at the center in a square floral-style illusion setting and is adorned with 3 smaller diamonds on each side of the center stone.
The wedding band contains 10 smaller diamonds ringed around a central polished line of gold. It perfectly matches the engagement ring and nestles alongside it so they could be worn apart or affixed together.
The insides of both are stamped "14K PAT F-L-2" and are approximately size 6.5, but could easily be resized.
Sssinuous and ssscaly...this snake pin is sure to entrance anyone who looks upon it! Made from sterling silver and studded with marcasites from head to tail, this very large brooch demands attention. It measures approximately 5 5/8" from tongue to tail and curves about 1 1/4" across. Each marcasite sits within a scale on top of the snake's body and the silver is rilled along the sides for the snake's belly. A curved tongue reaches up out of the mouth to complete the lifelike form. The body is a curved, convex shape and about 5 mm thick not including the pin back. The sterling 925 mark can be found stamped on the underside of the tail.
This is a piece that will slither into your heart with its Art Deco personity and superior craftsmanship. Don't let him get away!
Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced their first automatic watch in 1946, well after some of their Swiss contemporaries. But, in 1951 they reinvented the watch with the creation of the "Futurematic". It is a watch meant to draw attention and sit comfortably among the cutting edge mid-century modern designs, after many years of WWII utilitarianism. This approach towards innovative design extends into the internal mechanisms of this unique movement, as well.
The first thing to note is the absence of a crown. That means it cannot be wound manually, but instead is wound automatically while being worn using its specially engineered bumper automatic oscillating weight. On the dial, the register in the 9 o'clock position is a power reserve indicator. It tells you how much power is in the mainspring: when the hand is in the red section, the watch is wound down with its special 6 hour power reserve; when the hand rotates clockwise into the silver section, it will keep time well and continue to wind as you wear it; when it reaches the black section, it is nearing fully wound and will lock out its automatic rotor to prevent "over-winding". If worn on a daily basis, you'll never have to worry about winding the watch. If you only wear it occasionally, you should don the watch or gently shake the oscillating weight of the bumper automatic until the indicator hand clears the red section and then re-set the time. Once the spring is fully wound, there is a latching device engineered into the movement that halts the oscillation of the winding weight until the power wanes once more. Then, it is automatically released.
On the back of the watch is a sliding button that has a serrated edge, that very helpfully says "SLIDE - DO NOT LIFT". Instead of pulling out a crown, you slide the button toward the center of the case to engage the setting mechanism so that you can then rotate it to move the hands. It also has a "hacking seconds" feature so that you can restart the hands very accurately by sliding the button back to its original position. The running seconds bit in the 3 o'clock position shows the watch ticking and visually balances the Power Reserve bit on the other side.
The Dauphine hands stand out nicely against the silvered dial. A thick gold band divides the center of the dial from the hour markers, interrupted only by the 2 subsidiary dials with their "record grooves" texture. The hour markers are applied gold pyramids that stand out from the thin black line minute markers at the outside. An extended double marker denotes the 12 o'clock position while a single one denotes the 6. The only other marking is just the name "LeCoultre Futurematic" at the top.
The yellow gold-filled case is in great condition and an example of the mid-century modern style of the time. Its sharp, curved lugs evoke a Cadillac's fins and accentuate the streamlined look of the crown-less case. It measures 35 mm in diameter, by 45 mm lug to lug, by 12 mm thick (including the crystal).
This Ref. E501 model contains a 17 jewel Caliber 497 movement that is in excellent condition and a marvel of engineering. The balance wheel is a two-spoke Glucydur with a Nivarox spiral hairspring, and Kif (shock absorbing) jewel springs. This balance assembly is larger than in their first automatic movement, resulting in improved accuracy. This model was produced from 1951-1958 so this watch dates back to somewhere in this time frame.
This is a very classy and elegant timepiece that marks an important milestone in watchmaking. This is a very unusual watch that will be the pride of your collection and the overall effect on the wrist is very handsome. Our warranty will ensure that you will wear this watch for years of trouble-free service!
Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced their first automatic watch in 1946, well after some of their Swiss contemporaries. But, in 1951 they reinvented the watch with the creation of the "Futurematic". It is a watch meant to draw attention and sit comfortably among the cutting edge mid-century modern designs, after many years of WWII utilitarianism. This approach towards innovative design extends into the internal mechanisms of this unique movement, as well.
The first thing to note is the absence of a crown. That means it cannot be wound manually, but instead is wound automatically while being worn using its specially engineered bumper automatic oscillating weight. On the dial, the register in the 9 o'clock position is a power reserve indicator. It tells you how much power is in the mainspring: when the hand is in the red section, the watch is wound down with its special 6 hour power reserve; when the hand rotates clockwise into the black section, it will keep time well and continue to wind as you wear it; when it reaches the gold section, it is nearing fully wound and will lock out its automatic rotor to prevent "over-winding". If worn on a daily basis, you'll never have to worry about winding the watch. If you only wear it occasionally, you should don the watch or gently shake the oscillating weight of the bumper automatic until the indicator hand clears the red section and then re-set the time. Once the spring is fully wound, there is a latching device engineered into the movement that halts the oscillation of the winding weight until the power wanes once more. Then, it is automatically released.
On the back of the watch is a sliding button that has a serrated edge, that very helpfully says "SLIDE - DO NOT LIFT". Instead of pulling out a crown, you slide the button toward the center of the case to engage the setting mechanism so that you can then rotate it to move the hands. It also has a "hacking seconds" feature so that you can restart the hands very accurately by sliding the button back to its original position. The running seconds bit in the 3 o'clock position shows the watch ticking and visually balances the Power Reserve bit on the other side.
The Dauphine hands stand out nicely against the black gloss dial. A thick gold band divides the center of the dial from the hour markers, interrupted only by the 2 subsidiary dials with their "record grooves" texture. The hour markers are applied gold pyramids with nicely aged lume behind them to complete the arrow shape. An extended double marker denotes the 12 o'clock position while a single one denotes the 6. The only other marking is just the name "LeCoultre Futurematic" at the top.
The yellow gold-filled case is in great condition and an example of the mid-century modern style of the time. Its sharp, curved lugs evoke a Cadillac's fins and accentuate the streamlined look of the crown-less case. It measures 35 mm in diameter, by 45 mm lug to lug, by 12 mm thick (including the crystal).
This Ref. E501 model contains a 17 jewel Caliber 497 movement that is in excellent condition and a marvel of engineering. The balance wheel is a two-spoke Glucydur with a Nivarox spiral hairspring, and Kif (shock absorbing) jewel springs. This balance assembly is larger than in their first automatic movement, resulting in improved accuracy. This model was produced from 1951-1958 so this watch dates back to somewhere in this time frame.
This is a very classy and elegant timepiece that marks an important milestone in watchmaking. We have fitted it with a black strap to match the black dial, and which gives it a more formal tone. This is a very unusual watch that will be the pride of your collection and the overall effect on the wrist is very handsome. Our warranty will ensure that you will wear this watch for years of trouble-free service!
Here is a watch with some history! An Omega "Jumbo", circa 1944, that features a fabulous military-style dial with a distinguished patina. In its stainless steel case (Ref. 2325/5), it carries a Caliber 30 T2 SC movement, variations of which were produced from 1939 to 1963. Many of those movements were used by the British Military and US Army during WWII, adding to its renown. (See Omega's archives here for one such example in a similar style with the 30 T2 SC movement.)
The dial on this particular Omega "Jumbo" is a spectacular example of the style of the era. A matte silvered dial provides a clean look, highlighting the radially positioned Arabic numerals on a reflective silver ring. It's a stunning, subtle two-tone effect that allows the well-aged radium lume on the numerals and hands to stand out. A "railway" minute track sits around the outside, while crosshairs divide the dial through the center. The blued-steel central sweep second hand completes the look. Just the Omega logo and name adorn the dial below the 12 o'clock position.
The Caliber 30T2SC movement is marked with a 10.1 million serial number, dating it to 1944. After 1949, Omega began standardizing their caliber numbering and changed to the better recognized 3 digit scheme, with this movement becoming Cal. 280. It is a 16 jewel, manual wind movement with a 44 hour power reserve and central sweep second function (the SC denoting 'Seconds Central'). It has been fully serviced and is warrantied for 1 year for parts and labor.
The case size is also impressive, hence its "Jumbo" nickname. It measures 37.3 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 45 mm lug to lug, by 9.8 mm thick (including the crystal). Typical men's watches of the time measured 33-34 mm, so this is a fabulous example of a vintage piece that fits in well with modern tastes. It also retains its original stainless steel crown with unique curved shape. We have it paired with a simple black band, but as a bonus, it also comes with an original Omega stainless steel buckle (16mm).
Omega Jumbos are getting harder to come by, and this is a wonderful piece that will give you excellent service for years to come. Our one year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it!
Longines is a well-known Swiss luxury brand, with its watchmaking history dating back all the way to 1832. Founded by Auguste Agassiz in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, they started humbly but grew to establish a factory and mechanized production by 1852 when Ernest Francillon took over operations. Thus began the ability to produce high-precision movements and to ensure the brand's now well-earned reputation for quality.
By the late 1800s, Longines was innovating in order to keep up with their American watchmaking counterparts. They began producing their first in-house chronograph movements, which were adopted as the official time-keepers for competitive sporting events. This notoriety launched the brand into the upper tier of Swiss manufacturers known around the world. In the 1920s, Longines began producing wrist watches for nautical and aeronautical navigation, most famously collaborating with US Navy Officer P.V.H. Weems.
Here, we have an early Longines wrist watch from 1928, not produced for navigation, but for the well-dressed gentleman of the time. It is a spectacular, unusual example of an Art Deco gentleman's watch for a few reasons: its large rectangular size, its sterling silver case, the patina and style of the dial, and the quality of the movement.
To start with, this watch measures 28 mm in width (not including the crown), by 43 mm lug-to-lug, by 12 mm thick (at the center, including the crystal). At the time, manufacturers were wanting something more than a round wristwatch, but most didn't develop rectangular movements until the late 1930s to early 1940s. They realized that they could change the case shape and size by expanding the case outward while still housing a smaller round movement. This one is a giant watch for this time period, when most round men's watches were around 32 mm (or smaller in diameter), and rectangular pieces were often much narrower. It has quite the presence on the wrist, even today, with its slightly curved case and solid, wide lugs. A 22 mm strap is almost unheard of for vintage wristwatches, but we have this one fitted with a black leather feed-through style with red stitching for extra punch. The curved crystal with bevels along all four edges tops it off!
Next of note is the sterling silver case, as the 0.925 stamp and "Rampant Bear" hallmark on the inside of the case back indicate. Sterling cases are rare to find, as they were more expensive than their gold-filled counterparts and later fell out of favor for stainless steel or other metals. It is usually only found in older, high-end pieces from luxury brands, making for wonderful dress watches with a lot of warmth and shine. This watch truly speaks to its 1920s era.
Now onto the dial -- talk about Art Deco style! The ornate Arabic numerals have so much personality, and pair perfectly with the "Longines" logo of the time. The 12 and 6 are enlarged and sit alone, at the top and bottom, with the other numerals stacked along the sides. And, because this is such a large watch, the sub-seconds bit resides entirely above the 6 o'clock position, leaving the numerals and minute tracks uninterrupted. It bears the same rectangular shape as the case, reinforcing the geometric appeal of the piece. Blued steel leaf-shaped hands contrast beautifully against the warm cream patina of the dial. For a watch about 100 years old, the dial is not perfect, but it wears its age beautifully.
Last but certainly not least, is the movement, a Caliber 11.84N manual wind. This movement was used from 1899 onward, in both pocket and wrist watches that were stem wound and set. This was a high-quality movement from the time, featuring a bimetallic balance assembly, which creates stability in the watch's timing accuracy across fluctuating temperatures. In addition, the movement has 15 jewels and a healthy 34 hour power reserve.
A beautiful example of watchmaking history that is still ticking away today like it did when it first left the factory! Our one year warranty will just add to your confidence that this is a piece that will continue to provide excellent service for years to come.
Fields of flowers are depicted in glass micro mosaic on these fabulous tiered brass earrings! Larger purple flowers with individual petals are surrounded by tiny multi-color flowers in blue, yellow, red, white, and teal. Minuscule green leaves are nestled among the flowers in the oval setting and surrounded by a rim of black glass. A surprising yellow and red checkerboard surrounds the scene to accent the piece with some flair! Each mosaic is unique, and they form an interesting pair with enough detail to draw the eye!
The brass oval frames sit proud of the wider bezels that are adorned with a swirl and flower pattern. The ovals measure 1.1" tall by 0.9" wide, with the mosaic being 0.85" by 0.65" within. The earrings themselves are about 2.5" long to the bottom of the ear wire. The three tiered pieces are joined together with individual wires with brass balls, giving them a lot of movement and a delicate overall feel. The findings for pierced ears mean that they are easy to wear in the modern wardrobe!
Likely from the 1940's, these earrings are made with the intricate detailing that evokes the decadence of the Victorian period. The "Made in Italy" stamps on the backs confirm their origin, and they are presented within a white clamshell box with a "Ricordo di Roma" satin lining. These are exquisite pieces that would make a fabulous gift or treasured piece for anyone who appreciates fine detailing and European craftsmanship.
This watch is what Gruen called an "Air Flight". It was originally made for Pan Am pilots to have a quick reference to a 24-hour day for flight time, or military time. We love these "jump hour" Gruens! When the hands reach 1 pm, all the numerals jump to a 24-hour format and then jump back again to a 12-hour format at 1 am -- see the video below to see what we mean! This is accomplished with a rotating disc underneath the main dial. The gold painted Arabic numerals appear in beveled diamond- and circle-shaped windows in the main dial.
And what a dial it is! A beautiful silvered dial in the center is a fabulous backdrop for the dauphine lume hands, with a dark gray painted outer circle that allows the numbers in the windows to really pop. The red central sweep second hand adds just a touch of color and makes it easy to read. "Gruen Precision" is written beneath the Gruen logo at the 12 o'clock position. "17 Jewels" is written at the 6 o'clock position with "Swiss Made" sitting at the very bottom. Faded plots of lume sit to the outside of the windows, within the outer minute/second track.
The 17 jewel, caliber N510SS movement is in excellent condition and is winding, setting, and keeping time like the fine timepiece it was designed to be! The mainspring has a 42 hour power reserve and is manually wound. Made in Switzerland, these Gruen watches have the "Precision" name as a testament to the quality of their production.
The beautiful movement is housed in a chrome body case with a stainless steel back for wearing longevity. It measures 35 mm wide (not including the crown), by 42 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal). The case does show wear, as many well-loved watches from this time period do. But, we think the quality of the movement and dial still make this a watch worthy of any wrist!
Circa 1960, this is a watch to make your heart sing. When the numerals change at 1 pm or 1 am, it is a real event that always has our customers exclaiming their delight. We buy every one of these that we can find in good condition because our clients just love the dial action and how nice these watches look on the wrist. We don't have these in stock very often and they usually find a good home within a few weeks. We would love to show it to you! Remember, all of our timepieces come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
A beautiful ring crafted with a wide band of 14K solid gold and adorned with an oval amethyst stone -- what's not to love? The band is comprised of 4 "ropes" of gold that sit side by side for the shank, but cross over one another to form the setting for the stone. The domed oval amethyst sits at an attractive angle, emphasized by the slanting lines of gold. The 14K stamp has been slightly worn over the years, but is still visible inside the band. The purple of the stone is more lively in person and hard to capture in photos!
The ring is roughly size 8 -- a generous size to find, especially in vintage pieces! The band measures 8 mm wide, and the ring measures 26 mm tall (including the stone) by 21 mm wide. It's a beautiful piece that probably comes from around the 50's, but it is a timeless style with just enough personality. Hurry and it can be yours!
This is a ladies watch like no other! Combing both a superb Omega movement with an unusual 18k gold case, this is a beautiful piece of jewelry as well as an excellent timepiece. This was a somewhat rare combination back in 1966! Notice the gracefully curved lugs that extend far past the head of the watch, as well as the lack of a crown, which allows the long lines to be uninterrupted. This is a "backwind" watch, where the crown resides on the beautifully engraved case back, but is still easy to access and wind.
Take careful note of the watch's size -- it measures only 14 mm in diameter, but 44 mm from end to end, measured straight across. The case is 6 mm thick, including the crown and crystal. The case is solid 18k gold, as stamped in the case back, providing a rich color that pops against the black lizard grain strap. It is quite the dainty watch, but the extended lugs do provide more presence on the wrist and the look of a bracelet.
The dial is silvered, with the Omega logo just below the 12 o'clock position, with "Omega" written above the 6. "Swiss Made" is the only other marking on the dial, at the very bottom, giving it a clean appearance. The hour markers are applied gold bars with black stripes at the cardinal points. The simple black hands make it easy to read the time and help carry the black color throughout. There is some wear or patina on the dial, which we would expect of a watch this age, but it does not detract from the overall look at all. To top it off, the diamond edge crystal adds just enough sparkle to draw the eye!
Within the tiny case resides a Caliber 640 movement, a manual wind, 17 jewel movement engineered specifically for this backwind arrangement! The caliber is marked on the rose gold-colored movement, along with the serial number in the 23 millions, dating it to 1966. We have it fully restored and ready to perform for you just like it did back in the 60's! Our 1-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
As the cherry on top, this watch has an original red Omega clamshell presentation box. We've only had 1 of these watches in our many years of collecting, but hurry and this one can be yours!