Watch Review Part 8 - 8 Exceptional Vintage Watches to Consider for Your Collection

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Timeless History channel. I'm Derek aka Sal, the Omega Enthusiast. I took a few months off from filming because my wife gave birth to our beautiful daughter. With that said, I'm happy to be back. But I won't be able to create content as frequently as I did before, at least for the time being. I've accumulated 8 more vintage timepieces to share before listing them for sale. This is watch review episode 8. So without further ado, let's get started. This first piece I would like to present is a Zenith watch with a small second feature. Dating back to 1945, this exceptional timepiece showcases a beautifully aged original tropical dial with captivating luminescent hour markers and a set of original syringe hands. The unpolished Calatrava case is made of stainless steel and measures 35mm in diameter, not including the original unsigned crown. It's important to note that the original crown of pre-1950s watches is typically unsigned, and the dial often does not have the Swiss made marking. What I find particularly appealing about collecting vintage Zenith watches is the ability to determine their production year based on their movement serial number, which is how I was able to date this watch. It features a manual wind movement, specifically the Zenith caliber 12-4P6, and has been serviced to ensure precise functioning. I paired the watch with a dark brown stitch strap to enhance the dial's patina. Additionally, I was captivated by the original box and guarantee document that accompanies this timepiece. The box resembles an actual book. I find it challenging to collect just one brand of vintage watches. While I enjoy collecting vintage Omega watches, I also appreciate owning pieces from Jaeger-LeCoultre. The watch I'm sharing next is a Jaeger-LeCoultre from the 1930s. It features a tank style design, which was quite popular during this period. While the timepiece is undeniably beautiful, I particularly love the shape of the side profile of the case. The original stainless steel case feels solid and well-crafted. Its dimension measures 22.5mm in width with a length of 36mm from lug to lug, excluding the original crown. For a tank style watch of this era, the Jaeger-LeCoultre is considered to be a decent size. Its original dial is genuinely mesmerizing and surely captivates attention. The watch is powered by a manual wind movement, specifically the Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 410, which is the same caliber used in its reversal references during that period. To complement this timepiece, I replaced the old strap with a 19mm wide light brown lizard grain leather strap. Watch number 3 is an early vintage Tissot model 6603, featuring a date function. This attractive piece dates back to 1947 as indicated by its movement serial number. Unlike modern calendar watches that use a calendar disc, this model has a date pointer hand that moves around the dial over 31 days. However, it's important to remember that since there are 3 hands stacked closely together, you'll need to ensure that the center bushing of the main plate is not worn. If it is worn, the hands may rub against each other or the date pointer could come into contact with the small second hand between the 13th and 18th, which could cause the watch to stop. This watch has a decent case size measuring 35.2mm in diameter, not including the crown. The stainless steel case is unpolished and remains in excellent original condition. The clean and nicely aged dial is truly a gem. As with every timepiece I own or sell, this watch has been serviced. It is powered by manual-wide movement, specifically the Tissot Caliber 27-6, which is a top quality movement. I don't know about you all, but one of the joys of collecting vintage watches for me is searching for modern luxury brands that have a rich history, while still being able to find their vintage pieces at an affordable price. A great example of this is a vintage E-Bell watch, like the one you see here, which dates back to the 1950s. It's a stunning timepiece and worth every penny for its quality. This watch features an automatic movement powered by the E-Bell Caliber 119. The lyotype lugs on this piece are quite similar to those found on a Universal Geneves Polaroid. I also appreciate the texture combination of the original dial on this watch. The case is gold plated with a stainless steel back, and it has a case diameter of 35.3mm, which is a decent size and should fit comfortably on most wrist sizes. I paired this piece with a beautiful alligator grain leather strap to enhance the luxurious appearance of the timepiece. Talking about Universal Geneve, the next piece to highlight is the Polaroider Deluxe model reference 10357-2. The unpolished case is made of a solid 18k gold and has a diameter of 34mm, excluding the crown. Universal Geneve has become one of the most collectible watch brands this year, especially after Breitling acquired them. It seems that every vintage watch collector suddenly wants to own one, resulting in a significant price increase for these watches. Consequently, some Polaroider models are no longer affordable for many collectors. When collecting a Universal Geneve watch, I always ensure that the crown is the correct original one. Replacing it can be very costly, and finding an authentic replacement is not easy, even if you have the money. This stunning piece, dating back to 1957, features a micro-rotor automatic movement powered by UG caliber 215. It's important to note that the number following the dash in the case model refers to a specific dial variation. There's a useful website available that showcases examples of all the various dials, and the corresponding cases to which they belong. Many of my long-time subscribers will remember that my very first vintage watch was a 1950s Meido Motifor, similar to the one featured here, but with a white dial. I've always appreciated and enjoyed collecting Meido watches, particularly models from the 1940s and 1950s. Additionally, Meido shares a similar crown design with some Patek Philips and Movado references. This particular piece showcases a beautifully aged black dial. Meido is a brand that is often underrated, undervalued, and underappreciated. They produce high-quality watches that are generally very attractive. I would recommend this brand to any watch collector. However, it's important to note that the Motifor model comes in various case sizes. My favorite are the 34mm Motifor, like the one shown in this video. This model is also powered by one of their most popular automatic movement, the Caliper 917P. This next watch is a vintage 1950s Movado sport watch, featuring a small second hand and sharing the same case dimensions and crown design as the Meido. Like E-Bell, which still produces luxury timepieces today, vintage Movado pieces from the 1940s and 1950s are relatively affordable and can be quite collectible. This specific model showcases a stunning factory original black texture dial. While some watch dials may have age-related blemishes, a well-preserved example like this one remains attractive. This Movado is powered by a manual wind Caliper 125 movement and is featured in a sturdy stainless steel case. I highly recommend this brand to any watch collectors as well. I didn't realize how interesting and visually appealing these UFO, or commonly known as Disco Valente, watches could be until I own one. This CIMA Type N Disco Valente is from the 1940s and is part of a group of watches including brands like Rolex, Omega, and Vacheron Constantin which created similar UFO style designs during that era. After owning this CIMA, I'm intrigued to seek out for the Omega version to add to my collection. Although it looks like a simple timepiece, it sits beautifully on any wrist size. I believe this is because it has a prominent case diameter of 39mm, with no lugs protruding. The case features Y-type lugs, meaning that only open-end or one-piece NATO style straps will fit. It is a manual wind watch powered by the BFF 234 Caliper. I hope you all enjoyed this episode. If you haven't yet watched the previous 7 review episodes, be sure to check them out in the channel's playlist. You might find something interesting to add to your watch collection. Please share this channel with your watch-loving friends, and let's grow our community together. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to watch my videos. I look forward to seeing you in the next episode.