Many ladies' wristwatches are kind of ho-hum, but not this Swiss Credos beauty! Its styling is evocative of the era of "Big Fin" automobiles and dramatic styling circa mid-1950s. It is executed in 18k solid rose gold and is the only one of these that we have ever had. The case measures 19mm wide (not including the crown) by 41mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick (including the crystal). The 17 jewel movement is in fantastic condition and our head watchmaker has it setting, winding, and keeping time just as it should.
Make sure you take a gander at the "Zoom-In" views to see the spectacular lugs on this one. They sweep your eye away from the main body of the watch with three elongated lobes on either end. These lobes form the curved lug body which is drilled to contain the thick rope cord band that gives it the ultimate vintage look. Everything about this watch is wonderful... from the design, to the performance of its movement! If this one appeals to you, grab it up... you will probably never see another as they are scarce! Our one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
The A. Wittnauer Co. was the exclusive sales agent for Longines starting in 1880, initiating a marriage that would stand the test of 114 years. In 1936, the Wittnauer family sold their interests and the brand was renamed the Longines-Wittnauer Co., a name that became so burnished in the public lexicon, that most people assume Longines and Wittnauer watches are one and the same. In fact, they produced different movements that were very individual to their brand. Wittnauer was a Swiss company that made very nice watches, and this one is exceptionally nice as it is a dress watch in a 14K solid gold case that measures 21 mm wide (without the crown), by 32 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick (including the crystal).
The band ends are hidden under a beautifully curved pair of lugs and the silvered dial displays stylized and elongated applied "arrowhead" gold markers with double arrows at the 3 and the 9. To make it even more spectacular, Wittnauer has outfitted it with a two facet crystal, with the peak running across the center. You can detect the demising line looking straight down in the photos or it is more easily seen with the side view. It has a seventeen jewel movement that is in excellent running condition and is representative of watches made in the late 1940s. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence!
Omega is one of our favorite brands, having produced the high-quality timepieces that endure the test of time. Oversize Omegas, like this one, are very desirable and we constantly look for great examples for our customers who prefer this more 'modern' size. It was a model made for the South American market and, therefore, is a size rarely seen in North America where 34mm was frequently the largest size worn. This Omega "Jumbo" measures 38mm in diameter (not including the crown) by 44mm lug to lug, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). The thin profile means that while this watch has a great presence on the wrist, it also easily slips under a shirt cuff.
It sports an aged silvered dial that is still in great shape, despite showing some minor age spots. The "Omega" logo and name sits below the 12 o'clock position. The large seconds bit overlaps the "6" and takes up all the space in between the 6 o'clock position and the center of the dial--very large indeed! Its "record grooves" catch the light at different angles to the body of the dial, creating a two-tone effect. Rose gold painted Arabic numerals mark the even numbers, with arrow markers in the odd positions. Paired with the rose gold hands, the warmer tones are a nice contrast to the silvered dial.
The 15 jewel, manual wind movement is in great condition and is running like a top. Our head watchmaker has completely restored this beauty so that it is winding, setting, and keeping time just like it did back in the day, circa 1947. The stainless steel case assures you of many, many years of wear without looking worn. Why not own an interesting and historic Omega? It could be yours!
Slide chains used to be worn as necklaces by Victorian ladies to secure and display their pendant watches. Doubled over the neck, these chains were very long and featured a "slide" ornament that adapted the chain to their blouse's neckline. Given most women are no longer wearing slide chains, innovating jewelry makers preserved the beautiful slides and repurposed them in jewelry pieces like this bracelet!
The bracelet features 16 yellow gold-filled slides of various shapes and semi-precious gemstones, strung on 2 chains and spaced by round beads. The center slide is a beautiful marquise-shaped piece with a small sapphire, pearls, and foliate engravings. The other slides contain pearls, opals, diamonds, sapphire, and garnet gems. There are two small turquoise gems missing from 1 slide, but that does not detract from the beauty of the piece. Each slide is a unique shape and design, lending a lot of visual interest and speaking to its 130 year history. It is finished with a ring clasp, and the bracelet measures about 8" in length.
The previous owners of this piece had two very similar bracelets, and its sister was appraised in 2000. A copy of the appraisal is provided below, and while the description doesn't match this piece exactly, it gives you a sense of the construction and value. These beautiful pieces of jewelry are over 125 years old, and you will appreciate their craftsmanship on your wrist for years to come!
For those looking for a delicate gold ladies' watch with sophisticated personality, look no further! This Longines has subtle details that catch the eye, paired with a high-quality movement for a killer combination. Longines is a Swiss luxury brand with a nearly 200 year long history, and it's no wonder they're so well-loved when you look at this combination of style and watchmaking expertise.
Impressive for a 1950s ladies' watch, this piece features a fully-jeweled movement that could rival men's watches of the time, and a 36 hour power reserve for such a compact package! The Caliber 4LLV manual-wind movement has 17 jewels and beats at 19,800 bph for more accurate timekeeping. It is housed in a solid 14K yellow gold case that measures 14.7 mm wide (not including the crown), by 27 mm lug-to-lug, by 8 mm thick (including the crystal).
The dial is a beautiful lustrous pearl color which highlights the "waffle" grid texture on the dial. The applied gold markers at the cardinal points add another layer of interest with a pyramidal texture whose angles catch the light. The "Longines" brand name sits below the 12 o'clock position, and gold hands complete the look.
The sharp angled central lugs hold a black cord band -- a classic look of the time that can be sized to fit your wrist exactly. The cylindrical, domed crystal provides a nice contrast and offers subtle magnification, so despite it's petite size the time is still easy to read! This is beautiful, high-end watch that could be worn day-to-night, and will provide you with decades of service! Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will let you buy with confidence!
Universal Geneve SA is a Swiss luxury watch company that was founded in 1894 as Universal Watch. Since its inception, they have produced complete watches with in-house movements, and during the 20th century, distributed many notable and important timepieces. Along with neighboring Geneva companies Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux, Patek Philippe, and Rolex, Universal is internationally regarded for its style of craftsmanship and quality manufacturing. Universal was also the innovator of the first watch with chronograph functions, circa 1917. Needless to say, it is a wonderful company with a great product.
This particular example is a "Cioccolatone" model 10356, and is the only one, in 45 years, we've had the pleasure of owning! It is a rare design that features a square case with rounded corners, evoking the shape of a square of chocolate (hence the style's name), and only 500-1000 pieces are estimated to have been produced. The model was also made in a plain polish version, but here we have the spectacular (and rarer) engine-turned guilloche that adorns the corners. The 18K yellow gold case is paired with a matching gold dial, creating a monochromatic look as rich as its namesake! The case measures 30mm wide (not including the crown), by 42mm lug to lug, by 9.5mm thick (including the crystal).
The "circle in a square" bezel frames the dial beautifully, and has reeded indentations for the hour markers. Slightly wider indentations mark the cardinal points with the plain polish surface around the circle allowing them to stand out for ease of reading the time. The range of textures add a lot of depth to the overall look. Gold Dauphine hands and a central sweep second hand complete the look.
The dial features the "U in a Shield" logo at the 12 o'clock position, with the "Universal Geneve" words below. At the 6 o'clock position is the designation for the movement inside: "Automatic Microtor". The movement inside indeed has a micro-rotor mechanism for its automatic function, allowing this to be an incredibly compact and low-profile design. The Caliber 215 movement also has an impressive 28 jewels and 57 hour power reserve -- it's almost hard to believe it was only in production for 5 years!
We've paired it with a dark brown crocodile band to carry the warm tones and add a further sense of luxury to the piece. This is a very scarce and high end watch that can be yours. Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it, as we have only seen one in the history of our store.
Another fabulous entry in the pantheon of Bulova Accutron watches -- this is the "Deep Sea." We have only had three of these in our roughly 45 years in business, and its easy to see why collectors love it! Made in 1969, it is the epitome of a manly and progressive wristwatch that contained cutting edge technology of the time.
The story of the Accutron is that in the 1960s the US government wanted to keep this technology out of the hands of the Russians, so they asked Bulova to keep it secret, since we were using this very accurate timekeeper in our space program. The informational pamphlet that Bulova put out to introduce this new technology to jewelers and watchmakers has a space age, cutting edge look (for the day). In the pamphlet, it is explained that the minutes are parsed into 300 discrete segments, and the "ticking" is caused by the vibrations of a small tuning fork at the heart of the movement, powered by a battery and electric circuit. Bulova advertised it as the "Watch that Hums", as you can hear the vibration if you press the watch to your ear! This is an electro-mechanical movement, created before the invention of the now-ubiquitous quartz movements.
Heading into the '70s, the general public was very much into "tool" watches and Bulova made this very interesting dive watch to meet the demand. What's special about this one is the larger size of this "divers" case and black and red "Coke" bi-directional bezel for quick "time-remaining" reference and easy underwater reading. The case measures an impressive 40 mm in diameter, by 45 mm lug-to-lug, by 13 mm thick (including the crystal). The brushed stainless steel of the case and the chunky lugs speak to the style of the era and make it beefy enough to stand up to decades of use.
Like all Caliber 218 Accutrons, it is set by the crown at the 4 o'clock position and has a date feature at the 3 o'clock position. The original Accutron logo crown is rotated in its "home" position in order to quick set the date, then pulled out to set the time. A cyclops window on the underside of the crystal makes it easier to read the date, shown in red numbers on a white background, without creating a bump that sticks up from the surface.
The black matte dial provides excellent contrast to the lumed hour markers and hands, now at a great light shade of cream. The triangle marker at the 12 o'clock position matches the arrow marker of the rotating bezel. Crosshairs extend from the center to the triangle and rectangular markers at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Below the 12 o'clock position is the word "Accutron" in applied stainless steel lettering. Above the 6 o'clock position is the model designation: "Deep Sea 666 Feet" (earning this one its "Devil Diver" nickname!) Around the edge are white minute/second markings, making it easy to count the seconds with the "Tuning Fork" stainless steel seconds hand that exhibits the recognizable Accutron sweep motion. Please note that there is some dial damage along the outer edge minute track at the 1 and 6 o'clock positions, but it is not noticeable at first glance and does not detract from the overall appearance of the watch. A small chip in the bezel at the ~39 minute mark is also present, but primarily only visible from the side.
On its screw-down back is a light engraving with the initials "E. V. C.". Beneath that is the serial number and the designation "M9" indicating that this watch was made in 1969. Luckily, our watchmakers having it humming along just like it did when it came from the Bulova factory about 55 years ago! And it could be humming on your wrist! We warranty all of our watches for one year for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
Longines is a well-known Swiss luxury brand, with its watchmaking history dating back all the way to 1832. Founded by Auguste Agassiz in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, they started humbly but grew to establish a factory and mechanized production by 1852 when Ernest Francillon took over operations. Thus began the ability to produce high-precision movements and to ensure the brand's now well-earned reputation for quality.
By the late 1800s, Longines was innovating in order to keep up with their American watchmaking counterparts. They began producing their first in-house chronograph movements, which were adopted as the official time-keepers for competitive sporting events. This notoriety launched the brand into the upper tier of Swiss manufacturers known around the world. In the 1920s, Longines began producing wrist watches for nautical and aeronautical navigation, most famously collaborating with US Navy Officer P.V.H. Weems.
Here, we have an early Longines wrist watch from 1928, not produced for navigation, but for the well-dressed gentleman of the time. It is a spectacular, unusual example of an Art Deco gentleman's watch for a few reasons: its large rectangular size, its sterling silver case, the patina and style of the dial, and the quality of the movement.
To start with, this watch measures 28 mm in width (not including the crown), by 43 mm lug-to-lug, by 12 mm thick (at the center, including the crystal). At the time, manufacturers were wanting something more than a round wristwatch, but most didn't develop rectangular movements until the late 1930s to early 1940s. They realized that they could change the case shape and size by expanding the case outward while still housing a smaller round movement. This one is a giant watch for this time period, when most round men's watches were around 32 mm (or smaller in diameter), and rectangular pieces were often much narrower. It has quite the presence on the wrist, even today, with its slightly curved case and solid, wide lugs. A 22 mm strap is almost unheard of for vintage wristwatches, but we have this one fitted with a black leather feed-through style with red stitching for extra punch. The curved crystal with bevels along all four edges tops it off!
Next of note is the sterling silver case, as the 0.925 stamp and "Rampant Bear" hallmark on the inside of the case back indicate. Sterling cases are rare to find, as they were more expensive than their gold-filled counterparts and later fell out of favor for stainless steel or other metals. It is usually only found in older, high-end pieces from luxury brands, making for wonderful dress watches with a lot of warmth and shine. This watch truly speaks to its 1920s era.
Now onto the dial -- talk about Art Deco style! The ornate Arabic numerals have so much personality, and pair perfectly with the "Longines" logo of the time. The 12 and 6 are enlarged and sit alone, at the top and bottom, with the other numerals stacked along the sides. And, because this is such a large watch, the sub-seconds bit resides entirely above the 6 o'clock position, leaving the numerals and minute tracks uninterrupted. It bears the same rectangular shape as the case, reinforcing the geometric appeal of the piece. Blued steel leaf-shaped hands contrast beautifully against the warm cream patina of the dial. For a watch about 100 years old, the dial is not perfect, but it wears its age beautifully.
Last but certainly not least, is the movement, a Caliber 11.84N manual wind. This movement was used from 1899 onward, in both pocket and wrist watches that were stem wound and set. This was a high-quality movement from the time, featuring a bimetallic balance assembly, which creates stability in the watch's timing accuracy across fluctuating temperatures. In addition, the movement has 15 jewels and a healthy 34 hour power reserve.
A beautiful example of watchmaking history that is still ticking away today like it did when it first left the factory! Our one year warranty will just add to your confidence that this is a piece that will continue to provide excellent service for years to come.
Fields of flowers are depicted in glass micro mosaic on these fabulous tiered brass earrings! Larger purple flowers with individual petals are surrounded by tiny multi-color flowers in blue, yellow, red, white, and teal. Minuscule green leaves are nestled among the flowers in the oval setting and surrounded by a rim of black glass. A surprising yellow and red checkerboard surrounds the scene to accent the piece with some flair! Each mosaic is unique, and they form an interesting pair with enough detail to draw the eye!
The brass oval frames sit proud of the wider bezels that are adorned with a swirl and flower pattern. The ovals measure 1.1" tall by 0.9" wide, with the mosaic being 0.85" by 0.65" within. The earrings themselves are about 2.5" long to the bottom of the ear wire. The three tiered pieces are joined together with individual wires with brass balls, giving them a lot of movement and a delicate overall feel. The findings for pierced ears mean that they are easy to wear in the modern wardrobe!
Likely from the 1940's, these earrings are made with the intricate detailing that evokes the decadence of the Victorian period. The "Made in Italy" stamps on the backs confirm their origin, and they are presented within a white clamshell box with a "Ricordo di Roma" satin lining. These are exquisite pieces that would make a fabulous gift or treasured piece for anyone who appreciates fine detailing and European craftsmanship.
Six nephews joined their uncle Ramon Fernando Cuervo at his watchmaking shop in Havana circa 1882, first establishing the "Cuervo y Sobrinos" brand. It soon became a world standard for watchmakers from New York, to Rome, and Paris. Havana was the place to see and be seen in the 1940s and 50s. It was the lush watering hole and vacation spot for movie stars, artists, intellectuals, and bon vivants from all over the globe. For this well-heeled crowd, Cuervo y Sobrinos made their own "jeweler's contract" watches which housed movements from the most famous watchmaking brands in the world. Luminaries like Hemingway, Clark Gable, Einstein, Caruso, Churchill, Gable, and Neruda are but a few of the visitors Cuervo y Sobrinos boasted over the years. We have seen precious few of these watches coming out of South America and Cuba made by the brand, and this one is a chronograph to boot!
The silvered two-tone dial really makes its presence known as does the red central chronograph seconds hand. The silvered dial has a darker grey chapter ring, on which sit applied gold Arabic numerals. The numerals catch the light, creating a great contrast to the dial, and pair nicely with the gold tapered hands. Around the chapter ring lies the "railroad track" minute ring, and then the red tachymeter scale, gradated from 60-1000. The constant seconds and recorded minutes subsidiary dials sit at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, respectively. The dial is signed "Cuervo Y Sobrinos" under the twelve o'clock position and "Habana" just above the 6 o'clock position.
The stainless steel case measures 39 mm (not including the crown), by 50 mm lug to lug, by 16 mm thick (including the crystal). This is a good sized watch for its age! It bears the signature and logo of the brand on the case back and sports curved and stepped lugs that really make the overall look just spectacular. Rectangular pushers add to the style of the piece -- the top pusher starts the chronograph function, and the bottom pusher stops and resets the hands.
The movement is a 17 jewel Swiss beauty that is winding, setting and keeping time just as it did circa 1949. This is a fantastic and rare chronograph that can be yours! Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
This watch is what Gruen called an "Air Flight". It was originally made for Pan Am pilots to have a quick reference to a 24-hour day for flight time, or military time. We love these "jump hour" Gruens! When the hands reach 1 pm, all the numerals jump to a 24-hour format and then jump back again to a 12-hour format at 1 am -- see the video below to see what we mean! This is accomplished with a rotating disc underneath the main dial. The gold painted Arabic numerals appear in beveled diamond- and circle-shaped windows in the main dial.
And what a dial it is! A beautiful silvered dial in the center is a fabulous backdrop for the dauphine lume hands, with a dark gray painted outer circle that allows the numbers in the windows to really pop. The red central sweep second hand adds just a touch of color and makes it easy to read. "Gruen Precision" is written beneath the Gruen logo at the 12 o'clock position. "17 Jewels" is written at the 6 o'clock position with "Swiss Made" sitting at the very bottom. Faded plots of lume sit to the outside of the windows, within the outer minute/second track.
The 17 jewel, caliber N510SS movement is in excellent condition and is winding, setting, and keeping time like the fine timepiece it was designed to be! The mainspring has a 42 hour power reserve and is manually wound. Made in Switzerland, these Gruen watches have the "Precision" name as a testament to the quality of their production.
The beautiful movement is housed in a chrome body case with a stainless steel back for wearing longevity. It measures 35 mm wide (not including the crown), by 42 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal). The case does show wear, as many well-loved watches from this time period do. But, we think the quality of the movement and dial still make this a watch worthy of any wrist!
Circa 1960, this is a watch to make your heart sing. When the numerals change at 1 pm or 1 am, it is a real event that always has our customers exclaiming their delight. We buy every one of these that we can find in good condition because our clients just love the dial action and how nice these watches look on the wrist. We don't have these in stock very often and they usually find a good home within a few weeks. We would love to show it to you! Remember, all of our timepieces come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.
This is a fun example of Art Deco jewelry -- a stylized dragonfly (or other winged insect) with dramatic geometric lines and bright contrasting silver details against the black body. It is made from a black plastic material, with silver applied on the eyes, body, and carved "scale" details of the wings, creating eye-catching reflective surfaces. The attention to detail is spectacular, with textured eyes that mimic the real-life compound eyes of an insect, and alternating bands of texture across the body creating the impression of stripes.
The pin is a good size piece, about 80 mm long and 23 mm wide at the head, flaring to 46 mm wide at the wing tips. It is 5 mm thick, not including the applied brass pin back. A sliding closure mechanism on the pin ensure that it stays closed while you're wearing it. There are some minor scratches on the black surface, which is to be expected given its age, and we think they are less noticeable in person than in photos. We've never seen another one like it, so you will certainly stand out wearing it! A perfect piece for any Art Deco lover out there!