The A. Wittnauer Co. was the exclusive sales agent for Longines, starting in 1880, initiating a marriage that would stand the test of 114 years. In 1936, the Wittnauer family sold their interests and the brand was renamed the Longines-Wittnauer Co., a name that became so burnished in the public lexicon that most people assume Longines and Wittnauer watches are one and the same. In fact, they produced different movements that were very individual to their brand. Wittnauer was a Swiss company that made very nice watches and this one is no exception. This particular model has what is termed a "Perpetual Calendar." It is an automatic (self-winding) seventeen jewel Japanese movement that is exceptionally large for its era. The stainless steel case measures 42 mm in diameter (not including the crowns), by 45 mm lug to lug, by 12 mm thick (including the crystal). This is quite the wrist candy during a time when most watches were under 36 mm. What makes it special is not only the size but the "calendar" feature that allows the wearer to rotate two discs underneath the main dial. The information on these discs show the dates and the years. By aligning them with the current year, day, and date, one can view all the correct data for that year and the next, etc. This interesting movement is housed in a great looking stainless steel case with a matching stainless steel band. The case back is a screw-down configuration that keeps out water and debris that the owner might encounter during daily wear. The dark blue dial just gleams and the day and date windows are easy to read at a glance. One of the unique features on this handsome watch is the push button on the case band at the 2 o'clock position. A simple push of the index finger will allow you to select the current date without the tedious task of having to revolve the hands in order to align the proper date. Our head watchmaker has it winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did 50 years ago. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
When I was a boy (before there was dirt), Thor Heyerdahl was a big deal. He was the "Indiana Jones" of his day and on April 28, 1947, Heyerdahl and five other adventurers, to prove a theory about the ability of the ancients to make extensive ocean going voyages (and to quiet his detractors), hand built a raft and sailed from Peru across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian island of Puka Puka. A voyage over 4300 miles of open ocean. He named this raft the "Kon-Tiki" and in the 1950s I was an eager reader of the book by the same name.
On that voyage, Heyerdahl and the crew wore Eterna wristwatches. In 1958, Eterna created the "Kon-Tiki" line in honor of Heyerdahl. It is a great Chronograph "tool watch," which is driven by a 17 jewel, automatic movement that features the trademark five ball-bearing rotor system for excellent timekeeping. The stainless steel case with the "Kon-Tiki" logo on the back, measures 39 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 44 mm lug to lug, by 13 mm thick (including the crystal).
This particular watch was made circa 1989, in the fine tradition of the "Kon-Tiki" line and it is in great condition. The black dial provides a good contrast for the hands to make it a very readable watch. You can see the "recorded minutes" subsidiary dial just below the 12 o'clock position, and the "recorded hours" sub dial at the 6 o'clock position, and the "Constant Seconds" sub dial at the 9 o'clock position. Along the dial edge of this Swiss beauty there is a "Tachymeter Scale" for calculating speed. The stainless steel bezel just gleams and the red sweep seconds hand ties it all together. The stainless steel link band is in great shape and looks fantastic.
What's not to like here? ... Nothing! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
Movado is a Swiss manufacturer known for its Museum Watch. Designed in 1947, by Bauhaus-influenced artist Nathan George Horwitt, the watch dial has a very simple design where the dial is defined by a solitary dot at 12, symbolizing the sun at high noon, but Movado also made some very nice watches that are of superior quality...this is one of those. It is a gentleman's wristwatch that is "chronometer" rated, indicating that it has passed rigid standards for accuracy. It is, in fact, at the pinnacle of mechanical watches in a world where few qualify for this mark.
Some Movado watch models have Esperanto names such as Bela ("beautiful"), Belamodo ("beautiful fashion"), Fiero ("pride"), Brila ("brilliant"), Linio ("line"), and Verto ("crown"). The company's name means "movement" in Esperanto.
This Movado has a 15 jewel movement in a sterling silver oversize case with a very nice silver grey dial that has stylized Art Deco, Arabic numerals that once glowed in the dark, along with the skeletonized blued steel hands. There is a perfectly square seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position completing the look. The "Chronometer" designation indicates that it had to pass very strict standards for timekeeping and that it was issued a certificate from COSC (an acronym) which stands for Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres — aka the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. Essentially, this body is responsible for certifying the precision and accuracy of high-precision wristwatches made in Switzerland, typically found on luxury watch brands. What it means to you is that this is a very reliable timepiece that will be a joy to own. The case, which measures 25 mm in width(not including the crown), by 36 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal), is a beauty to behold. To gild the lily, we have fitted it with a black genuine lizard band. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.
Paul Ditisheim was born in 1868 in La Chaux de Fonds, the historic birthplace of the watch-making industry. Paul, son of the famous Ditisheim family, funder and owner of Vulcain, the watch manufacture enjoyed by American presidents Eisenhower, Truman, Nixon, and Lyndon Johnson, was born into the small social circle of industrialist families that led the Swiss watch industry of the time. He studied at the Horological School of La Chaux-de-Fonds and received his diploma at the young age of 13. He was then trained in several of the major factories and then worked at his family's Vulcain manufacture until 1892 when he founded his own brands: Solvil (whose items were often signed Paul Ditisheim) and Titus (whose items were generally marked separately).
Paul Ditisheim was instrumental in developing the new generation of Chronometers, improving them greatly through his studies on the impact of atmospheric pressures and magnetic fields. He invented the affix balance. Thanks to his inventions, he was able to make the most precise chronometers ever made. By 1903, his watches were awarded by the Kew and Neuchatel Observatories contests. In 1912, he won the world's chronometric record of the Royal Kew Observatory. Needless to say he was a mastermind in the field of horology.
In 1930, he handed over the Solvil et Titus and Paul Ditisheim brands to wealthy Swiss entrepreneur Paul Bernard Vogel. Vogel, heir to a prestigious family of industrialists, and married to the heiress of the prominent Eberard family, was also a member of the Swiss watch industry elite. Vogel moved the company headquarters to Geneva and turned it into one of the largest and most successful brands of the age, expanding it all over the world. Ditisheim died in 1945, leaving a legacy of technical excellence and design that has renewed the reputation of "Swiss Made".
The watch we have on offer here is one of his very elegant "Diamond Dial" dress watches. It is in the style of the late 1930s "Curvex" models. The long rectangular Platinum Case hugs the wrist and really displays the "Diamond Dial" to its greatest advantage. This is the only Platinum Ditisheim that we have had the pleasure to offer after being in business for over 40 years. The case measures 19 mm in width (not including the crown), by a whopping 47 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick (including the crystal). It just gleams in our case, but once you put it on your wrist it really comes alive. This watch is the embodiment of elegance. The Arabic numerals at all the cardinal points are inlaid with diamonds as are the stylized hour markers at the other chapters. Our head watch maker couldn't help but tell me what an interesting watch he had just restored. It is a beautiful Art Deco work of "wrist art" that will give you years of service as your companion to all those black tie affairs. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it!
Mido was founded in 1918 by George G. Schaeren in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Mido comes from the Spanish phrase "Yo mido" meaning "I measure". In the 1920s, Mido introduced ladies' watches with color-enameled shaped cases and modern straps as well as timepieces for gentlemen in art deco style. Mido found a market in the flourishing automotive market by producing watches in the shape of radiator grills of a wide range of brands such as Buick, Bugatti, Fiat, Ford, Excelsior, Hispano-Suiza, etc.
In 1934, Mido launched the Multifort design, the first Mido to use a self-winding automatic movement. It was shock-resistant, anti-magnetic and water-resistant. In that same year Mido launched watches with unbreakable mainsprings. This was also the very first time that any watch manufacturer utilized this type of spring within the marketplace. During this time period, Mido used a robot as its ambassador as a symbol of progress and robustness. A comic strip from this era featured the Mido Robot and its adventures.
In 1945, Mido became the first manufacturer to introduce a central-read chronograph wherein the stopwatch function had all its hands arranged at the center. In 1954, the firm launched the world's most efficient winding mechanism. Mido released its Commander model in 1959, which utilized a one-piece case design. In 1967, Mido was distinguished as the maker of the world's thinnest ladies watch. In 1970, Mido launched the Aquadura Crown Sealing system, which makes use of an all-natural cork which is handled and formed to insure its water resistant qualities. This technique is utilized to seal the crown, the most susceptible place on a watch to water leakage.
During the nineties, the Mido World Timer was launched. This was a practical display that can show the local time anywhere on the planet. The user must bring the desired city to the 12 o’clock position and press the crown to check the local time. Mido is recognized as one of the top 10 producers of certified chrononmeters. With 61,358 automatic movements produced in 2013, Mido is currently ranked number four in the production of chronometers in the Swiss watch industry. Today, Mido is a part of the Swatch Group, headquartered in Le Locle, Switzerland. It also has a branch office in Shanghai, China.
The Mido we are presenting to you here is in such nice condition that it looks brand new even though it is from the 1960s. Our head watchmaker has it winding setting and keeping time just as it did over 60 years ago... yes it is a real killer and a watch that won't break the bank. When he handed me the watch after its testing period he could not resist telling me how nice it was and he especially drew my attention to the smooth stainless steel band and its wonderful tactile quality. It is a joy to put on your wrist. The case measures 36 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 37 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal). You will love this watch!
Gruen was a premier watch manufacturer and was perhaps one of the companies that you wanted to emulate if you were in the business of making wristwatches. Everything they put their hand to was first rate. They were the inventors of the "Curvex," a revolutionary curved watch from the late 1930s. Gruen held the patent on the curved movement, but they also made made fine timepieces that contained flat movements, as well. This Gruen is one of those. It has the slightly curved shape and gives the appearance of a curved watch, but with a flat movement. This is a very handsome Gruen that looks fabulous.
The yellow gold filled case with a stainless steel case back measures 22 mm in width (not including the crown), by 25 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick (including the crystal). It has a spectacular rose gold dial with yellow gold, applied, Arabic numerals that gives this watch great eye appeal and makes it a real winner! The movement is a 17 jewels workhorse that will give you a lifetime of service, if you take care of it. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will give you the peace of mind that this wonderful Gruen wristwatch will perform just as good as it did in 1945.
It was way back in 1886 that Edmond Mathey-Tissot began making complicated pocket watches in Les Ponts-de-Martel. He became known for watches of high quality, in some of the most complicated pocket watches made at that time, especially repeaters that chime the time on demand. He also began producing highly-rated chronometers and, during the Second Boer War, was a supplier to the military and that demanded his expansion of the manufacture. It is said that a Scottish nobleman ordered 2500 watches to give to every member of his son's regiment, with officers receiving solid gold repeaters and the other enlisted men receiving silver repeaters. Wow! What a gift!
In 1914, Mathey-Tissot was represented at the Kew Observatory Competition by six Observatory Chronometers capable of split-second timing, all six being rated 'Class A' with the comment "specially good." The same year, Mathey-Tissot gained the Grand Prix at the Swiss National Exhibition. During WWI, the company supplied the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with precision chronographs in large quantities, while General Pershing, commanding the U.S. Expeditionary Forces, chose the watch to award to members of his own staff. Both before and after WWII, the company continued to supply the U.S. Army and the Royal Navy. By 1937, the E. Mathey-Tissot & Co. was a protected trademark in the U.S.
So, as you can see, the company has an excellent pedigree and the watch we are offering here is the beneficiary of that long line of excellence. It is an 18K solid gold gentlemen's wristwatch that has 17 jewels, and which measures 33 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 40 mm lug to lug, by 8 mm thick (including the crystal). The silvered dial has a very nice patina and slender gold bar markers at the 12, 3, 6, and nine o'clock position, but what makes it spectacular are the "lightning bolt" gold markers at all the other chapters. It is simply fantastic. There is a large seconds bit at the six o'clock position that lets you know the watch is running smoothly. This is an 18K solid gold watch made during a time when most dress watches in America were only 14K. Our head watchmaker has it winding, setting and keeping time just as it did when it was new, back in 1960. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to wear this watch for years to come with complete confidence.
Rarely do we get a ladies vintage Rolex but, every once in a while, even a blind squirrel finds a nut - and what a nut it is! This is the elegant "Lady Princess" Rolex. It is executed in 18k solid white gold and displays some spectacular diamonds that grace the curved lugs. The 17 jewel movement is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did over 84 years ago, thanks to the expertise of our master watchmakers. The case measures 11 mm wide (not including the crown), by 38 mm lug to lug, by 6 mm thick (including the crystal). This gives it a very elegant proportion to match the beauty of the 18k case and fantastic rectangular movement. The lugs curve downward and contain the portal for the black, cord band that allows a perfect fit for the wearer. Make sure you zoom-in on the photos to see how the diamonds in the lugs shine... they are stunning. The watch is in excellent condition, was lovingly cared for over the years, and has all of its original parts. Yes, its pricey but, this is the pinnacle of a ladies Rolex, circa 1935... and it can be yours. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it... we have only one and are not likely to find another.
It was a very chauvinistic mindset to think that a lady wouldn't need to have her watch tell time as accurately as a gentleman's watch, but that was the conventional thinking (by men) back in the day. Bulova, however, didn't ascribe to that view as is evidenced by this very high-grade ladies' white gold wristwatch. It has a 23 jewel movement, which was their top grade and it is housed in a very nice 14k solid white gold case that measures 14 mm wide (not including the crown), by 26 mm lug to lug, by 7 mm thick (including the crystal).
Not only is it a high-grade watch, but it also has a very pleasant slight-hexagonal shape with beautiful central lugs. The silvered dial has a crosshatch pattern with some patina, but the eye is immediately drawn to the unusual texture! Adding to the interest of the dial are the applied chapter markers. They are all rectangular, but with wider ones at the cardinal positions and thinner in between. The articulated bracelet band is 10k white gold-filled with a safety chain for security in wearing. Made circa 1959, it has lived a life of complete pampering and, as a result, it is in fantastic original condition today. This may be the one for you... don't miss it. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with complete confidence.
The Hamilton Watch Company was founded in 1892, but they didn't produce their first watch until 1893. The first watch was designed by one of the companies founding members - H.J. Cain. Their pocket watches commanded immediate respect and became prominent timepieces for railroad engineers, as well as the general public. The "Broadway Limited" was introduced in their first year of business! These watches were so respected that they became the official watch of the American Expeditionary Forces world-wide! A special wristwatch version was made and supplied General Pershing and his men in WWI. Admiral Byrd relied on the same watch on both his Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. Auguste Piccard used a Hamilton timepiece on his balloon ascent into the stratosphere in the early 1930s. The first American to summit Mount Everest - Jim Whittaker - was wearing a Hamilton in 1963! Suffice it to say, Hamilton made the best American watches... bar none!
The "Dodson" was one of Hamilton's "Tubular Lug" models and one of the largest that they offered. The model was produced for 10 years between 1938 and 1948... a very long time for a watch model to persist. I think it was very popular... as they are today! This particular Hamilton "Dodson" was made circa 1939 and was one of 75,687 made in gold-filled. How many survive today is anyone's guess. This one has the 18K gold applied numerals as opposed to the more common black enamel numerals. It is a seventeen jewel Hamilton, grade 897-A, a 6/O size. The yellow gold filled case measures 27 mm at its widest (not including the crown), by 37 mm lug to lug, by 8 mm thick (including the crystal). The ivory colored dial displays a wonderful patina that it has earned over time. We have fitted it with a very nice, light brown, lizard strap so that it will grace your wrist with panache. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will assure you it is in great running condition, as are all of our timepieces.
Tissot has been a luxury brand since its founding in 1853 in Le Locle, Switzerland. They have been revered for their quality since day one and have been a brand that has stood the test of time. This watch is a really handsome Tissot for its era, circa 1965! Not only is it handsome, but it is also beautifully styled as is evidenced by the unusual date window at the 6 o'clock position. The silvered dial is a thing of beauty and the stainless steel case measures 34 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 40 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick (including the crystal). It is as smooth as a baby's behind. This Tissot has a 17 jewel movement that winds, sets, and performs like the day it was made. When you strap this one on your wrist it really becomes a handsome addition to a real male's wardrobe. Now take a look at the "Zoom-In" photos and notice how free of wear it is. This is not only a graceful watch, but very handsome one as well. Like all Father Time watches, it has been completely restored and is running just like new! Look at the case back - it's virtually devoid of wear! When you see a chewed up back on a watch you know what you'll find on the inside! Not this one! This one has been carefully worn and serviced over the years. With continued care and maintenance, you can have this elegant timepiece for generations to come. Our warranty ensures that the watch is just as we have represented it! We have only one...so don't miss it!
The year 1957 was a landmark year for design. This is when everything that came off the designer's drawing board was unusual and it seemed like every other product that came along was futuristic in design. Such was the Elgin "Direct Reading" Jump Hour. These were made in three different cases, although the 21 jewel. Cal. 719 movement was common to them all.
Elgin, the world's largest watch manufacturer, was on the cutting edge of innovative watch design. This was a time of exaggerated fins on automobiles and ducktail hairdos. So, Elgin designers wanted a watch that would take your imagination. They produced a series of what they called "Direct Readers". One was round and plain polish in what you might call a "Chevron" configuration, one was in a round dimpled case called the "Golf Ball", and this rectangular one, which later became "The Elvis". This was due to many photos of him wearing this ground-breaking, jump hour wristwatch. The condition of this particular watch is one of the nicest Elvis watches we have had in over 10 years. The yellow gold filled case measures 26 mm in width (not including the crown), by 36 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick. The surface of the watch has three planes that are slightly curved emphasizing the unique look. Our head watchmaker has it winding, setting, and jumping just as it did in 1957. When you peer through the triangular window, just below the watch center, you will see a large number (the hour) with a disc of smaller numbers underneath the hour. This is the "Wandering Minutes" track that rotates to indicate the passing of the minutes. When the 60-minute mark is reached the next hour "jumps" into the window for yet another hour on display. The crucial test of the proper service for one of these watches is the sharp jumping of the hour disc when the hour changes. Ours jumps to attention just like it should. This one is quite spiffy! If you are an Elvis fan or just want a watch that you won't see walking up and down the street, don't miss this one. It is special. Our one year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence.