Affordable vintage/neo-vintage collection
Been collecting watches for about a year, thought I’d share my collection as a vintage watch fan and novice watch repairer.
Cyma watersport cal. R458: Received this for my birthday this year, dates from the 1950s. Love the gilt hands and indices.
Bulova lone eagle II cal. 10AN: My most recent purchase and my oldest watch. Made to commemorate Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic in 1927. This one dates from 1930. I’d been on the hunt for an art deco tonneau watch for a while and couldn’t pass up the chance to buy one in such good condition at a very affordable price. Everything is original except for the lume.
Seiko 5 cal. 7009: My first mechanical watch and only automatic. Dates from the 1990s. Currently my daily driver, stopped ticking a while back and a did a full service on it. Quite proud as it’s the only automatic I’ve serviced and the day-date function added complexity and frustration.
Bemar cal. AS 1130: bought for £20 as a non-runner, the first watch I successfully repaired. Dates from the 1950s. Planned on selling it but decided to keep it because of that lovely sunburst dial. It’s a microbrand that seems to have gone under post-quartz crisis. Not much info online.
Seiko chronograph cal. 7T24: Bullhead Seiko chronograph dating from the 1990s. I believe this specific model (7T24- A00B) is pretty hard to come by. Quartz but I love the minimal look for a chronograph
Grandad’s skagen: Not much to say about this one, it’s not vintage and it’s not special. But it was my Grandad’s and I think it looks fresh. Nothing wrong with cheap quartz if the design is good.
Not looking to expand at the moment, but I think I’d make my next purchase something with a bit of colour. I’ve been interested in getting one of the original tuning fork accutrons, but I’ve heard they’re a nightmare to source parts for. Would like to add a bit of diversity anyhow, possibly a field/pilots watch or even a diver (though I’m still coming around on divers).