You've got yourself a fine collection of post-WWII wristwatches. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for those produced from the 1950s through the 1970s.
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Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.
- Thread starter Chamorro
- Start date
Truly a classic manual wind, sweep second timepiece representative of the genre of casual post-WW2 wristwatches. The most complicated version of the Zenith Sporto came with a date function. Some of today's "sport watches" make me shudder, with their illegibly busy dials.
Does your specimen sport the Sporto engraving on the caseback?
Does your specimen sport the Sporto engraving on the caseback?
Aside from the serial nr, the caseback is blank. I think they did the engraving only on select pieces
Yahoody
One Too Many
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That's a good looking classic alarm watch.
Is your specimen gold-filled or solid?
Is the steel version scarce?
Gold plated, alas. The steel versions are rarer for sale, and typically more expensive since they're all steel. Though Vulcain seems to vary widely in price, apparently random. Vintage Vulcains haven't exploded yet like Tudor, Omega or even Longines now has.
Besides that, there are some steel ones here and there, but not always in good condition, that plays a role too.
Besides that, there are some steel ones here and there, but not always in good condition, that plays a role too.
Any Vulcain Cricket is a nice find, I've yet to come across one in the wild.
Wouldn't mind stumbling across one in steel, solid 18K gold would be quite the haul although the pricing I've seen listed for 18K versions in good shape exceeds one thou US.
There is a good condition steel version now (mid to late 1950s) for 1000 euros, from a seller on Chrono24. The prices on there are usually high anyway, and the seller is a store, so it's not an accurate reflection of 2nd hand value, but I can't find any other round, steel example in this condition anywhere online or local.
At those prices I may as well consider getting a more modern one, for example a Classic 1951 limited edition they made a few years back (see photo below). At 38mm much better to wear than the 42mm giants they make today. Though some of those current models have guilloche dials to die for... Really pretty pieces.
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M Hatman
I'll Lock Up
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Illinois marketed this "Star" case to Aviators (The Skyway)
Rail-men (The Off Duty)
Bus drivers (Motor Coach/Greyhound)
The only difference was the dial.
Here is an Off Duty:
NOW.....I REALLY like that!!!!!
M
I wonder what the Bus drivers (Motor Coach/Greyhound) looks like?Illinois marketed this "Star" case to Aviators (The Skyway)
Rail-men (The Off Duty)
Bus drivers (Motor Coach/Greyhound)
The only difference was the dial.
Here is an Off Duty:
M Hatman
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
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Here is a picture of my Benrus step case......it is at the "doctor's" for cleaning and a new band. Early 1930's.
M
M
Great question Viclip. The Motorcoach and the Greyhound have the exact same porcelain dial.
The Greyhound dial says "Illinois Greyhound" and the Motorcoach, "Illinois"
They were both lost to history and only very recently identified from original lost factory records.
There are 3 known Greyhounds (I have 2 of them) and 2 known Motorcoach (I have 1 of them)
My friend Fred Friedberg is coming out with a 5 volume book on Illinois in the next few months and
when it is made public, I will show those rarities here for all to enjoy. They have never been seen by the public.
Anyway, here is the only known "Off-Duty" with a Red 12.
The Greyhound dial says "Illinois Greyhound" and the Motorcoach, "Illinois"
They were both lost to history and only very recently identified from original lost factory records.
There are 3 known Greyhounds (I have 2 of them) and 2 known Motorcoach (I have 1 of them)
My friend Fred Friedberg is coming out with a 5 volume book on Illinois in the next few months and
when it is made public, I will show those rarities here for all to enjoy. They have never been seen by the public.
Anyway, here is the only known "Off-Duty" with a Red 12.
This is fascinating to me,Great question Viclip. The Motorcoach and the Greyhound have the exact same porcelain dial.
The Greyhound dial says "Illinois Greyhound" and the Motorcoach, "Illinois"
They were both lost to history and only very recently identified from original lost factory records.
There are 3 known Greyhounds (I have 2 of them) and 2 known Motorcoach (I have 1 of them)
My friend Fred Friedberg is coming out with a 5 volume book on Illinois in the next few months and
when it is made public, I will show those rarities here for all to enjoy. They have never been seen by the public.
Anyway, here is the only known "Off-Duty" with a Red 12.
Very nice red 12 Off-Duty, it's a real treat to view such a rarity.
Can't wait to see those other rare timepieces you mentioned !
