Special watch for a Dad's birthday

NyOmnishambles

Hi

I was looking to see if I could manage to acquire a nice watch for my Dad's birthday, he is going to be 70 in a little while and deserves something special

I have around €400 to spend which I know in watch terms is peanuts
I was originally hoping to be able to get him a watch from the year of his birth but I reckon I have no chance

So I was looking at something within 40-50 years ago, the timeframe from when he got married to when I arrived

Does anyone have any suggestions as to sites I could use to search for

A quick google led me to something like this but I am sure I can do better
http://www.chrono24.com/omega/seamaster-vintage-automatic-swiss-wristwatch-cal471-20j--id5251850.htm

He is a hard working decent man so it doesn't need to be anything like a Rolex (though I am sure he would be amazed if one could be acquired) so I reckon an Omega could be a runner, any advice, suggestions, tips?

Thanks in advance

Wibbs

What's his year of birth if you don't mind me asking?

The watch in that link I'd avoid if I were you NY. It hails from India, which pretty much guarantees the dial has been redone/replaced, as has the seconds hands and I'm not so sure about the rest. It also means the climate can play havoc with the movements and that one looks dirty enough.

NyOmnishambles

Wibbs wrote: »

What's his year of birth if you don't mind me asking?

The watch in that link I'd avoid if I were you NY. It hails from India, which pretty much guarantees the dial has been redone/replaced, as has the seconds hands and I'm not so sure about the rest. It also means the climate can play havoc with the movements and that one looks dirty enough.

He was born in 1948 so will be 70 in January
Whilst it is a nice idea to get one from when he was born I am not sure what sort of quality/quantity there might be in comparison to something within the 50 year age bracket

Thanks for the advice
I was just using that as an example of the sort of thing I think I could get
I will look more locally so

Any suggestions on brands/models to look at?

Wibbs

Longines, Rotary, Seiko, Hamilton(and a couple of the other American brands) spring to mind. Others will doubtless have more suggestions. Omega tend to have a collectors premium and similar if not better quality can oft be had for less.

Watches within the 50 year bracket also tend to be larger, which is more the style today, so there's that too. Maybe even something unusual like a Bulova Tuning fork watch from the 1960's? Runs off a battery, but not like a quartz, they gently hum and the seconds hands are very smooth in operation. A pretty decent one could be had within that budget.

NyOmnishambles

Wibbs wrote: »

Longines, Rotary, Seiko, Hamilton(and a couple of the other American brands) spring to mind. Others will doubtless have more suggestions. Omega tend to have a collectors premium and similar if not better quality can oft be had for less.

Watches within the 50 year bracket also tend to be larger, which is more the style today, so there's that too.

Thanks, as expected, most informative
It might sound daft but I think a recognisable name might be important for this types of present
You guys here will have an encyclopedic knowledge but I want to hand him something he will know is quality as well

Maybe even something unusual like a Bulova Tuning fork watch from the 1960's? Runs off a battery, but not like a quartz, they gently hum and the seconds hands are very smooth in operation. A pretty decent one could be had within that budget.

Could you link me to one of those?
Sounds interesting

Wibbs

Here's one from 1971. The beauty about that particular seller is that he's of long standing and services the watches. Very few dealers do this.

And here's a Longines that works along the same principle, but with a higher quality movement for 400 quid.

Lorddrakul

Wibbs wrote: »

Longines, Rotary, Seiko, Hamilton(and a couple of the other American brands) spring to mind. Others will doubtless have more suggestions. Omega tend to have a collectors premium and similar if not better quality can oft be had for less.

Watches within the 50 year bracket also tend to be larger, which is more the style today, so there's that too. Maybe even something unusual like a Bulova Tuning fork watch from the 1960's? Runs off a battery, but not like a quartz, they gently hum and the seconds hands are very smooth in operation. A pretty decent one could be had within that budget.

There is a nice Accutron on Adverts at the minute.

http://www.adverts.ie/vintage/bulova-accutron-gold-filled-tuning-fork-vintage-gents-electric-watch/11899239

Sell the band to reduce the cost, as the watch is lovely, but the band is hideous.

Wibbs

Not a bad one, but Id avoid any gold plated/filled watches myself as they can show wear quite quickly. The band is sooooo 70's I kinda like it then again there's no accounting for my taste.

Deep Thought

Lorddrakul wrote: »

There is a nice Accutron on Adverts at the minute.

http://www.adverts.ie/vintage/bulova-accutron-gold-filled-tuning-fork-vintage-gents-electric-watch/11899239

Sell the band to reduce the cost, as the watch is lovely, but the band is hideous.

similar on the bay for 169 and its on a blue NATO, looks nice

But the first one Wibbs linked to in stunning...

NyOmnishambles

Thanks for the suggestions
Some thinking to be done

Wibbs wrote: »

Here's one from 1971. The beauty about that particular seller is that he's of long standing and services the watches. Very few dealers do this.

That is very appealing, the year of manufacture would be of significance as well, deffo one to keep in mind

blindsider

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Omega-Seamaster-Jubilee-Champagne-Solid-18k-Gold-Quartz-Date-Gents-Dress-Watch-/391885934018?hash=item5b3e38cdc2:g:MgUAAOSwjwtZud3L

Omega from what looks like a decent seller. Closse to your €-range. May not have the pedigree of some watches, but it's still an Omega, and it looks nice (to me anyway.)

Wibbs

True B, but it's 18kt gold and with five days to go at auction. That's going to hit twice that current price IMHO. I'd say more for the gold content, maybe the name, as it's quite "modern" and with a modern quartz movement which collectors tend to avoid, except for a few rare models.

NyOmnishambles

Wibbs wrote: »

Here's one from 1971. The beauty about that particular seller is that he's of long standing and services the watches. Very few dealers do this.

Had a good rummage around today and Wibbs I couldn't find better than this suggestions
it fits the bill perfectly from it being interesting, the time period and it looking nice

So it has now been purchased

I will update with photos when it arrives

delighted

Wibbs

Nice one! They're a very cool watch with an interesting history and very "space age". The Omega Speedmaster may have been the "moon watch", but the mission critical timers on the Apollo spacecraft that got them there were Accutrons. Here's one fitted to an earlier Gemini mission



Oh and they were favoured by the astronauts and NASA test pilots too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2ZFsqw9QHg

Lorddrakul

Very true, the early Accutrons performed well in the extreme cockpit environments.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/bulovas-accutron-astronaut-the-watch-chosen-by-the-cia-for-pilots-of-the-fastest-plane-ever-made

Even in the Blackbird.

NyOmnishambles

The watch arrived, I am delighted with it

I don't have pics of it yet but it is exactly as described and pictured ion the Ad, it has a small scratch on the rear casing but the front of the timepiece is perfect, there is small scratch on the strap but again no big deal as this can easily be replaced but it adds an air of wear to an old watch which is fine

I was in the US recently and picked up one of these
https://intl.bulova.com/collections/mens-watches/products/98a179

Coincidental that it is the same brand but nice to be able to say to Dad that I have one as well

NyOmnishambles

A couple of pics attached with it in the new watch box for presentation

Wibbs

Very nice condition. Well may he wear. Very cool watches IMHO. Futurist and of their time(60's/Space race), but IMHO the good ones are still elegant. Incredible bits of technology too and a major leap forward in the science of the personal timepiece. The silky smooth running seconds hand is impressive and makes any others look positively twitchy. The quiet hum from the movement is very cool too. Liking the new watch box. Nice touch.

Deep Thought

just a quick one

Saw a lot of Accutron from Bulgaria ( same as the above watch)

Is Bulgaria ok - Watch wise

Wibbs

That particular seller is anyway. Very good rep and good watches(with services) at decent prices too.