Noob! Looking for vintage watch for himself

fits

Hoping you can help me out here. I have read some of the threads but really don't know where to start. I want to get a nice vintage man's watch. Battery powered preferred as he has a couple of watches (including an unbelievably ugly suunto) so wouldn't be wearing it all the time. Leather strap would be fine.

I had a look at some from the 70s or so. And I think that's the kind of thing I would be looking for. Looks good with a (grooms) suit.

Budget 300-400 euro.

I like the look of this one, but its an automatic and I don't think that will suit
http://www.thevintagewatch.net/product/omega-automatic-geneve-original-stainless-steel-bracelet

Suggestions welcome!

Wibbs

That's a nice Omega Fits, though IMH a little overpriced and vintage Omega's tend to be overpriced anyway. If it's going to be battery powered that basically leaves us with two choices, tuning fork watches and quartz. Quite the selection out there from the 60's, 70's and 80's. The 60's examples tend to be on the small side for modern tastes, the 70's are much closer to modern sizing.

For a taste along those lines here are a few Omega f300 tuning fork watches.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/RARE-SERVICED-OMEGA-DE-VILLE-F300-GOLD-PLATED-CHRONOMETER-TUNING-FORK-MENS-WATCH-/351240681680?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item51c79378d0

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Omega-F300-Constellation-Chronometer-198-0075-/131362728636?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item1e95d42abc

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/SERVICED-OMEGA-F300-GOLD-PLATED-ELECTRONIC-CHRONOMETER-TUNING-FORK-MENS-WATCH-/351236585859?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item51c754f983

Great movements, very accurate, robust and with the recognisable name and a chunk of change cheaper than similar mechanicals of the period. The other cool thing about these watches is that they don't tick, they hum. And the seconds hand doesn't tick along, but glides. Very cool to watch. IMH these are still undervalued.

You also have the earlier quartz stuff, but they IMH are more for real collectors/nutters. Finding working ones can be hard and it's nearly a given you would have a spare movement for the day when the original fails. Me I'd stick with the tuning forks

Moving into the 80's you'd have more choice in quartz that won't be nearly as much an issue to repair. Quite the number of the big brands had some nice examples in quartz at that time(before the marketing depts convinced buyers that "automatic" was better with more "soul"). Styling can be a but dated though and not in a good way. The 1970's may have been the decade that style forgot, but in one respect they got it right with watches. I can dig a little deeper for you to find some examples if you like what you see so far.

fits

Cheers Wibbs, I like the look of the second one best although not overly keen on the buffalo strap. (but that can be changed). And yes I'd want a reliable working watch to be honest. Tuning fork watch sounds good.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Omega-F300-Constellation-Chronometer-198-0075-/131362728636?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item1e95d42abc#viTabs_0

Would you buy on ebay? Do I need to check for papers? Or that movement and case numbers match?

Another complication is that I am in Finland (not helsinki) right now, back in Ireland in just over two weeks, and would like to get this by Christmas if possible. Would consider Russian watches also since I'm in this part of the world, and other makes too.

Wibbs

Gotcha. I woud say that delving into the vintage market is usually not something to be rushed TBH, though I do understand your need for the chrimbo pressie. As for ebay, I have bought on ebay since the early 2000 and with pretty much never a problem. Dealers are fine, but throw on a dealer price with it and in many cases if not most have sourced their inventory from ebay and the like. OK you have some comeback but in many cases I'm not so sure that's worth the extra cash. Put it another way a service with an actual specialist for one of those tuning forks is usually going to run under the hundred quid mark.

Case numbers and movement matches are something to look out for alright, but generally in the case of this type of watch you're usually alright. They're not so sought after by the collectors, would be near impossible to reproduce fake. so it's much less of an issue.

Russian watches are going to be mechanical/automatics. Yes there are some battery driven ones but they're flaky as hell and not very stylish nor well made, so I'd personally avoid.

One ebay seller of various tuning fork watches and makes up two of the above links is this guy . These come serviced and the guy knows his stuff on that score. Most of his stock you'll get for around and under the 200 quid mark.

Another chap well worth considering is a specialist watchmaker of such watches and he has a for sale section.. His service work is true quality with many many folks who would back that up(inc me) and you can be sure the watches he has for sale are tip top and his prices are very reasonable. Most dealers would add a fair percentage on top of that for much lesser pieces. He's also in the UK so you'd likely get the watch well in time for Christmas. Me I'd really have a look at what he's offering.

A few that stand out for me would be this, thishttp://electric-watches.co.uk/shop/for-sale-kienzle-swissonic/ and especially this. That one is a serious classic IMHO.

fits

Thanks again. Some research to do for sure. And yeah, I wont rush the decision.