What are your oldest watches?

A place to show and discuss your vintage watches
Soulspawn
Expert
Expert
Posts: 245
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:14 pm
CW-watches: 0
Location: Perth, Western Australia

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Soulspawn »

Image

My omega speedmaster mark ii dates back to the 1970s and is my first foray into the vintage world.

Strangely enough, out of all my watches it has the most futuristic looking case. A watch way ahead of its time in my humble opinion.

She's a real beauty and I'm playing around with the idea of sending her for a full re-polish at watchco to get that sunburst case back to its original glory.
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35166
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

The oldest watch I have is a Roidor from the early 1950s that was given to my Grandfather for 25 years service with The Distillers Company.

Image

It runs quite well but is rather stiff to wind; I keep meaning to treat it to a service.

My own personal oldest watch is a Seiko digital quartz chrono alarm calendar from the early 1970s.

Image

Guy
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33800
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Some fine old watches appearing here. I can't believe that I have the oldest wristwatch AND the oldest pocket watch. Wristwatch, perhaps, but surely someone can beat 1883 for a PW?
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
Kip
The Administrator
The Administrator
Posts: 35175
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
CW-watches: 150
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
LE-five: yes
LE-six: yes
LESeven: yes
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Kip »

I don't know for certain if this is older, but it is circa 1880 I am sure.
This has been on my to do list for quite some time. I am pretty certain it has a broken balance pivot. It is a Swiss movement KWKS. I really think this has some serious potential to be a real beauty when cleaned up just a bit.
These are my photos of the condition I received it in.

Image
Image
Image
Kip

"Asylum Administrator"


Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33800
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

I would happily concede the palm to that one, Kip...what a gorgeous dial! :thumbup:
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
Kip
The Administrator
The Administrator
Posts: 35175
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
CW-watches: 150
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
LE-five: yes
LE-six: yes
LESeven: yes
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Kip »

Thank you. The dial is beautiful. That is what attracted me to it in the first place.

It hardly shows any wear at all. It will hopefully cleanup whenever I get to it, but it will be a very delicate process.
Kip

"Asylum Administrator"


Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33800
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Cotton buds and patience!
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
TomDavoren
Senior
Senior
Posts: 110
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:55 am
CW-watches: 0
Location: Kansas

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by TomDavoren »

My Omega Geneve is from '61. Hand wound and runs like a dream. Inspired to wear it today, for the first time in a while, after perusing the vintage forum :)

Image
Not changed my signature in ages!

Omega Geneve (1961)
Zenith Surf (1971)
CW C11 MSL (2015)
Tag F1 Chronotimer (2011)
Tag Aquaracer Chronotimer (2011)
Seiko Samurai Save the Ocean (2018)
Seiko Pressage SRPG07 (2021)
ludfan
Junior
Junior
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:13 am

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by ludfan »

Serlo wrote:My Omega pocket watch has turned 100 this year...

Image

It was awarded to someone who had been working in a the emperor Friedrich mines and has been treasured ever since... Two world wars...

Image

However, I was once told that my no name pocket watch is older than that. Some specialists have dated this watch (the one in the left corner) before 1900. I had it revised and it came back to me looking like new. Actually I was a bit disappointed because I liked the way the silver had put on a patina.

Image

Andreas

Does this use the Labrador movement? If so, I've the same, albeit without such wonderful provenance, and in a U.S. (Fahys) case, dating from 1908.
User avatar
st-rider
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3086
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:04 pm
CW-watches: 12
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
Location: nr York, UK

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by st-rider »

Just seen this thread.
My oldest is from my Grandfather.
So relatively new, estimate 1930s.

Image

Image

Apology for poor quality pics.
Alex

Caitlin: "What did Ducky look like when he was younger?"
Gibbs: "Illya Kuryakin" :D
User avatar
rgb
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2103
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 1:33 am
CW-watches: 3
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: What are your oldest watches?

Post by rgb »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: My own personal oldest watch is a Seiko digital quartz chrono alarm calendar from the early 1970s.

Image

Guy
Heh! When I saw this thread I was just thinking of running up to my watch box to take a pix of my old Seiko digital from 1975 - looks exactly like yours other than it is black(ish) on the face. I was told when I bought it from an AD back then that it was the first digital watch Seiko was releasing in Canada, and it had literally *just* come out. [That could have been BS, but I like the story so never questioned it.]
Rolex Explorer II | Tudor BBR | Tudor North Flag | Omega Seamaster Pro 300M | Speedmaster 3513.30 | TAG Kirium F1 | Chr.Ward C9 GMT | C10 Mk1 | C65 LE | Oris Player's 7410 |
WR: 7.25"

Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post