Many manufacturers were involved in the war effort during WWII and, while Gruen did not have a military contract for watches, they did supply pilot's watches with 24-hour dials for Pan American World Airways. This production was initiated circa 1943. During the war, Pan Am stopped all commercial operations and flew only for the U.S. Military. They had overseas bases and a network of airports that was highly valued in the war effort. In the early 1940s, a wristwatch with a central sweep second hand was a rarity, and one with a 24 hour dial was also unusual, but Gruen's reasoning was that men were coming home from the war and they had been used to referencing the 24-hour day for military purposes. Pilots also were used to this form of reference so they decided to introduce this Pan Am model which has a central sweep second hand, Arabic numerals from 1 to 12, and an inner chapter ring that referenced hours 13 to 24. Air travel was not common at this time and it held a certain glamorous allure for the common man. Gruen decided to feature advertisements with photos of the Pan Am set against a background of the famous Pan Am Clipper which was a flying-boat type of aircraft. This was hot stuff back in the day. Many manufacturers used the appeal of the military timepiece to tickle the fancy of the American public and Gruen was no exception. They planned to carrot-dangle the unobtainable Pan Am while it was still something the public could not purchase, knowing that after the war there would be considerable demand once it was released to everyone.
It wasn't until October of 1945 that they finally offered the watch for public sale. Airline travel was just becoming something that was within the reach of those adventurous travelers and Gruen wanted to provide just the right accessory for that airline customer. They reasoned that once folks were used to using military time that this would be a no-brainer. Jewelers were advised to stock-up on these wonderful timepieces in order to meet the demand as "Johnny came marching home". Their prescience was rewarded with vigorous sales and this provides us today with watches, that once restored, can live on as a piece of history.
The watch we are presenting for your approval here is one that our watch makers have lovingly restored to fully functional condition. It is one of the early models, and we think, one of the most desirable configurations for any of the Pan Am Series. It is housed in a rose gold filled case that measures 32 mm in diameter (without the crown), by 39 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal).
It sports a stainless steel back, for wearing longevity, with a hypo-allergenic surface against the wrist. The 17 jewel movement is Gruen's legendary 420s that is ticking along just as it did when crossing the Atlantic during the war. Now, take a look at the wonderful, original dial, its condition speaks of what it has endured and yet still looks great today. Many of these dials have been refinished over their lifetime but not this one... it is all original. Don't miss it!
If you would like a really elegant, solid gold, dress watch then take a look at this spectacular Longines from the early 1950s. Longines was at the top of their game and was highly respected in the US, as well as the rest of the world. They have a sterling reputation for quality and excellence. The "Hourglass" shape of the case is stunning, as is the domed, highly curved crystal. The silvered dial has stylized Roman numerals at the cardinal positions, while the other chapters exhibit elongated "arrowhead" markers... all in gold. There is a seconds bit just above the six o'clock position, with a recess that mimics the overall shape of the case. The 17 jewel movement is running like it did decades ago. The 14k solid gold case measures 20-25mm wide (at its widest) by 39mm lug to lug, by 11mm thick (including the crystal). We have fitted it with a classy, black, patent leather band that completes the tuxedo look. You can't go wrong with this one because our one-year warranty for parts and labor, will allow you to buy with confidence. Don't miss it!
Orvin was a Swiss brand that was exclusive to the Sears retailer, starting in about 1951. The name comes from the Jura region of Switzerland, where there were many watch manufacturing concerns. We have had both gentlemen's and ladies' Orvin watches and they are very reliable performers.
This particular ladies' Orvin is a rounded diamond shape yellow gold-filled case with a stainless steel back for wearing longevity. It measures 16mm wide (without the crown), by 29mm lug to lug, by 8mm thick (including the crystal). It contains a Swiss 17 jewel movement in good condition that could last for generations to come! It is paired with a 10k gold-filled expansion bracelet for ease of wearing. Here is a great looking Orvin for very little dough and, with our one year warranty for parts and labor, it is an even better bargain.
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.
Gruen was the inventor and innovator of the watch called "Curvex" and they produced many different models of the "Curvex" for both men and women from the mid 1930s through the 1940s. The ladies' models are harder to find today, but just as interesting as the gentlemen's models. The "Curvex" models were not only visually appealing, but they were also ergonomic in shape. A little known fact is that the curved movement allowed Gruen to fill more of the curved case with the movement, as opposed to using a smaller flat movement. Many other companies attempted to create similar curved case watches, but could not duplicate the movement technology due to strict patent infringement laws. In the Gruen "Curvex", this made for a larger balance wheel, bigger mainspring, etc., which meant greater reliability for the wearer.
While the curve is not as dramatic in the ladies' version, it still carries Gruen's quality and attention to detail. This Ladies' watch is known as the "Curvex Duchess" model. It has a 14K yellow gold-filled case with a 17 jewel "Precision" manual-wind movement that our head watchmaker has lovingly restored to factory standards for timekeeping. It is winding, setting, and running with great ease.
The original dial has applied gold Arabic numerals and is cream colored with some patina. The overall effect does not detract, but beautifully shows the true vintage of the piece. The case measures 12 mm wide (not including the crown), by 38mm lug to lug, by 6.5mm thick in the center (including the crystal). It has a matching 12K yellow gold-filled bracelet that suits it to a "T". These are getting hard to find...so, don't miss it if you think this is the one for you!
There aren't many ladies' wristwatches that really fit the bill when it comes to Art Deco stainless steel watches... but this one does! It is a beautiful piece with a Swiss, 15 jewel movement and a stainless steel case that has a very dramatic lug design. The case measures 16mm wide (not including the crown), by 41mm lug to lug, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). The profile of the case, seen in the side-view photo, is quite impressive in its presentation and is highlighted by the very curved "Hi-Dome" crystal.
The sculpted lug design is to die for, as is the two-tone dial with its rose gold dial center and outer minute track centered by a silvered chapter square that displays the cardinal Arabic numerals with dots at the intervening chapters. Even the crown is special, with the shape of a derby hat. The black cord band suits it to a "T" and can be custom fit to your wrist quite easily. The movement is as clean as a whistle and running great! This is simply a wonderful ladies' art deco watch from the late 1930s that can be yours. Our famous one-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence... don't miss it!
Founded in 1923 in Bienne, Switzerland, the Optima Watch Company was dedicated to making all their movements in-house, with exacting precision and Swiss quality. This particular "Art Deco" Optima is a very elegant, ladies' dress watch, executed in a very fancy, engraved, 18K solid white gold case that measures 15 mm wide (not including the crown), by 24 mm lug to lug, by 7 mm thick (including the crystal). It boasts a sapphire cabochon crown, case corners with sapphire blue stones, four diamonds (set north and south and east and west), and a silvered, engraved dial accented with blued steel hands. The silvered dial is just spectacular, with its engraved design and arcaded chapters. The bezel is also beautifully engraved and this gives the watch a wonderful look. The movement is a 17 jewel mechanical marvel that is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it should. This is a scarce watch from a company that did not compromise and it can be yours!
It doesn't matter if you are Eloi or Morlock, this Hamilton "Flight II" will look great on your wrist. This reference to H.G. Wells' "Time Machine" does have its parallels with the passage of time and the ability to go back and re-live those forever-lost moments in time. Made over 60 years ago at the Hamilton Watch Factory in Lancaster, PA, this wonderful wristwatch was launched as one of Hamilton's avant-garde styling triumphs. The "Boomerang" motif was proof of their advanced styling, which was right in step with the automotive industry of that time. As a matter of fact, Hamilton had hired Richard Arbib from that industry to help bring the unusual shape to the Hamilton "Ventura" (the first electric watch). This "Flight II" is housed in a 10k gold-filled case that measures 28mm at its mid point (between the 9 & the 3), by 35mm at its extreme height, by 10mm thick (including the crystal). It is a manual wind caliber 770, 22 jewel movement that our head watchmaker has running like the day it was made. This is the nicest one of these scarce watches that we have owned in over 38 years. It sports a beautiful gold dial that has Arabic numerals at all the cardinal points with gold "pips" at all the other chapters. It also has the cross hair "gun sight" markings at the dial center. The finish is nothing short of spectacular. No one seems to know exactly how many of these watches were made or how many survive today, but I can tell you it is a fairly low number. When you take a look at the photo array, notice how crisp the cross-hatch texture is in the "Boomerang" shape at the top of the case and how it wraps all the way around the left side of the case. Many times this is where you will notice a great deal of wear...but not on this watch. We paired it with a textured expansion band that carries the motif all the way around your wrist. Our one-year warranty, for parts and labor, will allow you to put this watch on your wrist with complete confidence. We have only one... don't miss it!
Corum was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Gaston Ries and his nephew, René Bannwart in 1955. One year later, the first Corum watches were being produced. Corum's claim to fame came early on, when the company introduced a watch made out of a $20 gold coin, which was an instant best-seller. That's what we have here and what a striking watch it is. The 18k gold $20 gold coin that it is made from has a beauty all its own. It's what is commonly referred to as the "Double Eagle". The pencil-line thin black hands are in stark contrast to the elegant, slightly rose colored, gold coin surface that displays the wonderful engraving of a coin from 1891. The reign of the "Double Eagle" as the premiere U.S. gold coin ended when FDR issued an executive order in 1933 which required all Americans to turn in their gold coins and bullion. So that is why so few of these beauties survive. You can see "In God We Trust" in an arch just under the twelve o'clock position atop the American Eagle holding a serpent in its beak centered by a shield and the motto "E Pluribus Unum" in a flowing banner. When you flip the watch over you can see the beautiful "Liberty Head" that is surrounded by an array of 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies. You can't help but feel the pride of country in this piece. The case sides have the original "coin edge" from which we derive the term, and the bezel is notched at the hour intervals to make it easy to read. The crowning glory is the "Blue Cabochon Crown" opposite the 3 o'clock position. The movement is a battery operated, highly accurate, quartz mechanism that is virtually trouble-free. The case measures 37mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 44mm lug to lug, by 5mm thick (including the crystal). We have fitted it with a genuine croco 19mm band in the "Havana" color for a interesting look. What's not to like here? Our one-year warranty will allow you to purchase with complete confidence and then you can show off your lucky $20 gold piece!
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 in diameter (without the crown), by 32 mm lug to lug, by 9 mm thick. 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 that divides the dial East to West. You can detect the demising line looking straight down in the photos or it is more easily seen with the side view. We have fitted it with an 18mm, dark brown, croco grain band that suits it to a "T". 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!
Bulova was a watch company that was huge in the American market, from the early parts of the last century right through modern times. They advertised in all of the national media and made watches with Swiss movements that were real workhorses. Bulova was founded and incorporated as the J. Bulova Company in 1875 by Joseph Bulova (1851 - November 18, 1936), an immigrant from Bohemia. It was reincorporated under the name Bulova Watch Company in 1923, became part of the Loews Corporation in 1979 and was sold to Citizen at the end of 2007.
Bulova had a huge presence in the American watch market and it became the "Chevy" of the watch world. It was very reliable and affordable. By the early 1940s, when this watch was made, long rectangular watches were in great demand. This is a watch that will give you years of service with minimal fuss. The yellow gold-filled case measures 25 mm in width (without the crown), by 40 mm lug to lug, by 11 mm thick. It has a stainless steel back for wearing longevity and the Caliber 10A6, 15 jewel movement is setting, winding, and keeping time just as it did when it was new. We have fitted it with a dark brown, lizard band that really suits the watch, but we think it is the dial that will capture your heart. It is a rose gold beauty with applied gold Arabic numerals and a seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position that imitates the overall shape of the case (a very nice touch). The case back is stainless steel with a personalization reading, "To Jim From Royals SAC May 9th, 1941." It is very faint but still readable in good light. It is an iconic Bulova that can grace your wrist for not much moolah!
Our one-year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence!
The Wittnauer Co. had a longstanding relationship with Longines that endured until 1936. We think that the brand is one that is often overlooked, but this is a big mistake because they made very nice watches like the one we are offering here. The Wittnauer family sold their interests in 1936 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 no exception. It is a 17 jewel, round case with tapered lugs. The 10K solid gold case measures 31 mm in width (without the crown), by 36mm lug to lug, by 11 mm thick (including the crystal). It takes a 18 mm band and we have fitted it with a very nice black croco grain beauty. The dial is a "Pie Pan" shape with its original finish and great patina. It flares down at the chapters giving it two surfaces to catch the light at different angles. The Arabic numerals are applied gold that stand proud of the silvered dial surface. The gold dagger hands complete the look. Made in 1950, it exemplifies the age. Our watchmakers have it well within factory specs so that it winds, runs, and keeps time just as it did circa 1950. Our one-year warranty will assure you of years of reliable service.