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!
A beautiful ring crafted with a wide band of 14K solid gold and adorned with an oval amethyst stone -- what's not to love? The band is comprised of 4 "ropes" of gold that sit side by side for the shank, but cross over one another to form the setting for the stone. The domed oval amethyst sits at an attractive angle, emphasized by the slanting lines of gold. The 14K stamp has been slightly worn over the years, but is still visible inside the band. The purple of the stone is more lively in person and hard to capture in photos!
The ring is roughly size 8 -- a generous size to find, especially in vintage pieces! The band measures 8 mm wide, and the ring measures 26 mm tall (including the stone) by 21 mm wide. It's a beautiful piece that probably comes from around the 50's, but it is a timeless style with just enough personality. Hurry and it can be yours!
This is a ladies watch like no other! Combing both a superb Omega movement with an unusual 18k gold case, this is a beautiful piece of jewelry as well as an excellent timepiece. This was a somewhat rare combination back in 1966! Notice the gracefully curved lugs that extend far past the head of the watch, as well as the lack of a crown, which allows the long lines to be uninterrupted. This is a "backwind" watch, where the crown resides on the beautifully engraved case back, but is still easy to access and wind.
Take careful note of the watch's size -- it measures only 14 mm in diameter, but 44 mm from end to end, measured straight across. The case is 6 mm thick, including the crown and crystal. The case is solid 18k gold, as stamped in the case back, providing a rich color that pops against the black lizard grain strap. It is quite the dainty watch, but the extended lugs do provide more presence on the wrist and the look of a bracelet.
The dial is silvered, with the Omega logo just below the 12 o'clock position, with "Omega" written above the 6. "Swiss Made" is the only other marking on the dial, at the very bottom, giving it a clean appearance. The hour markers are applied gold bars with black stripes at the cardinal points. The simple black hands make it easy to read the time and help carry the black color throughout. There is some wear or patina on the dial, which we would expect of a watch this age, but it does not detract from the overall look at all. To top it off, the diamond edge crystal adds just enough sparkle to draw the eye!
Within the tiny case resides a Caliber 640 movement, a manual wind, 17 jewel movement engineered specifically for this backwind arrangement! The caliber is marked on the rose gold-colored movement, along with the serial number in the 23 millions, dating it to 1966. We have it fully restored and ready to perform for you just like it did back in the 60's! Our 1-year warranty will allow you to buy with confidence.
As the cherry on top, this watch has an original red Omega clamshell presentation box. We've only had 1 of these watches in our many years of collecting, but hurry and this one can be yours!
Tag Heuer Carrera watches debuted in 1963, and the classic racing style has never gone out of fashion. Here, we have a more modern iteration, but with beautiful features that any watch lover will appreciate. The "Carrera" model was named after the bruising Carrera Panamericana Mexico road race and it became a sought after watch for Tag Heuer and now a core brand offering.
The black dial and bezel combination are in pristine condition and allow the pops of red from the chronograph features to shine. Actuating the upper pusher starts the central red sweep second hand, which you can use to measure racing speed with the tachymetre scale around the bezel, gradated from 400 to 60. An inner angled ring also provides the seconds markings around the outer edge of the dial. The sub-dials at 12 and 6 are rimmed in silver, and feature their own red recording hands. The upper bit shows recorded minutes, with the lower one showing recorded hours. The lower pusher resets all the hands, and both pushers have a pleasing click action.
The sub-dial at the 9 o'clock position is the running seconds with a silver hand. At 3 o'clock is a date window, easily visible with a white background. Next to it is the "Carrera" model name with the Tag Heuer logo and "automatic" designation. The quick-set feature for the date makes this an easy watch to set and wear.
The stainless steel case measures 41 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 48 mm lug to lug, by 16 mm thick (including the crystal). It has a sapphire crystal and a sapphire display back that allows you to see the movement of the auto rotor making its rounds. On the back the company also boasts "Swiss Made Since 1860", a great heritage for swiss timepieces. The crown features the Tag Heuer "shield" logo and allows for manual winding as well as automatic. While there are case-opening scratches in the back, we don't think this detracts from the overall appearance of the watch when worn.
The 25 jewel automatic movement is Tag's Calibre 16 (ETA 7750), which makes it a great everyday watch that requires very little input from its owner. The 42 hour power reserve of the mainspring is also nice to have, giving you extra time in between wears. The CV2014 model is no longer in production, but the movement will give you like-new performance for years to come.
This watch also comes with a Tag Heuer service box and 1 additional link for the stainless steel bracelet.
If you love watches, you likely love the mechanical engineering and thoughtful design details that go into every timepiece. But, in this case, it's something that you can truly admire every day! A skeletonized watch, such as this Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic Skeleton, give you the perfect look at the components that comprise its beating heart to showcase the brand's technical prowess. You'll find skeleton watches in the collections produced by many high-end watch brands, but here you have one in near-mint condition with its original boxes, band, and buckle for a price that won't break the bank!
Hamilton was once the best watchmaker in America that led many technological advances in watchmaking while staying at the forefront of design and style. The brand has now been sold to a Swiss group, and is still producing high-quality watches that speak to its decades of history. The movement at the heart of this reference H42550 Jazzmaster Viewmatic is a caliber H-20-S, 25 jewel automatic with 42hr power reserve, central sweep seconds, and hacking feature. Through the "dial" in the 12 o'clock position you can see the oscillating balance wheel and hairspring with the pallet fork jewels moving in and out of the escape wheel just below. In the 5 o'clock position you can see the barrel that contains the mainspring, which of course engages with the winding gears in the 3 o'clock position.
From the back, the viewing window displays the auto rotor along with the regulator, and other drive train gears. Depending on the position of the auto rotor, you'll be able to see completely through the watch! The sapphire crystals that encase both the front and the back mean that you'll have superior durability and scratch resistance to boot.
The "dial" itself is comprised of an inner and outer ring in stainless steel. Minute/second hash marks are found along the outer rim with numerals in 5-second increments. Stainless steel arrow hour markers form a bridge to the clean inner ring. To give the dial even more depth, the charcoal gray ring is set beneath the stainless rings and actually forms the upper movement plate. "Hamilton" is written in the 12 o'clock position, with "Viewmaster" in the 6 o'clock position, and is repeated more subtly around the circle. Across the bridges on the front and back is a laser etched "H" pattern. The rubies set in the bridges give it the smallest pop of color.
The stainless steel case measures 40 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 47 mm lug-to-lug, by 11 mm thick (including the crystals). The lugs feature a brushed stainless finish while the bezel is a smooth polish. The "H" marked crown allows for easy manual winding to finish it off! With its original black crocodile grain band, Hamilton buckle, and display box, this is a package that can't be beat! The watch, of course, comes with our one year warranty for parts and labor so you can buy with confidence.
For vintage Rolex lovers out there -- this is one for you. Here we have an "Oyster Perpetual" that represents both the history of when the "Oyster" model was introduced in 1926 and the transition to the modern "Perpetual" watches that we still see today. The reference 6108 movement produced in the early 1950s is known as a "Semi-Bubbleback" model. At the time, Rolex was developing their "perpetual" or automatic movements while still maintaining their waterproof cases with the screw-down case back and crown. The stainless steel case measures 34 mm in diameter (not including the crown) by 40 mm lug-to-lug by 14 mm thick.
The movement within is a self-winding, or automatic, movement with 17 jewels. The serial number between the lugs is 826,XXX dating the movement to roughly 1952, but we also have the wonderful inscription on the case back of "P.O.V. 6-12-54", so we know exactly when this watch was purchased!
The dial shows this age with a creamy, even patina that looks distinguished behind the tapered hands and blued steel sweep second hand. The applied markers include the "Coronet" Rolex crown logo at the 12 o'clock position, with "3", "6", and "9" at the other cardinal points. Applied triangular markers denote the other hours. Beneath the Coronet is the applied "ROLEX" name with "Oyster Perpetual" written beneath. Above the 6 o'clock position, the dial is marked "Officially Certified Chronometer", as a testament to the excellent time keeping ability of the movement within. Beneath the 6 is the "Swiss" designation. Plots of radium lume are located on the outer edge of each hour marker, which now show the darkened color typically found in watches of this age. The hands are also filled with radium lume, but do have some missing areas present.
The original stainless steel Brevet crown shows the Coronet logo with "Super + Oyster Rolex" written around it. The U.S. made stainless steel Oyster rivet bracelet has a single fold-over clasp, and tapers from the 19 mm lugs to the 13 mm wide clasp. The bracelet fits up to an approximately 7.5" wrist with micro-adjustments available.
Benrus is often underestimated as a brand. They made really nice watches (as you can see here), but are often overlooked in favor of more expensive ones. We think this is a tragedy, because Benrus watches are great looking and well-made!
This particular Benrus has a highly engraved "clipped corner case", typical of the Art Deco period. The case is 18k solid white gold while the band is white gold-filled. The case measures 17 mm wide (not including the crown), by 32 mm lug-to-lug, by 8 mm thick (including the crystal). The crown is graced with a blue sapphire cabochon that really compliments the plume shape blued steel hands. The silvered dial is in great shape, with the proper patina we'd expect of a watch this age. It has an interesting engraved dial center that echos the case engraving.
The band is almost harder to find than the watch, but it really makes the look sing. It is an expansion band with a pierced floral motif on the links and that fits about a 6" wrist, with some additional expansion available. There is some brassing, which shows that it was worn and loved, but it doesn't detract from the overall effect. In my imagination, I can conjure a Flapper from the 1920's sporting this watch to pair with a fabulous dress. Our watchmakers have this 15 jewel beauty winding, setting, and keeping time just the way Benrus intended 100 years ago. For not much dough, this cool solid gold watch can reside on your wrist and be kept for generations to come. Remember, all of our watches come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor so that you can buy with confidence.
Gruen is one of our favorite brands here at Father Time and this watch is representative of why we are enamored of this company. First, the shape is a classic square with a slight beveled bezel at the corners. Secondly, the dial is the model of subtle design. It sports a beautiful silvered dial with a satin finish and a slightly-recessed seconds bit (at the six o'clock position) that has a "gun sight crosshair" configuration. There are elongated "parallelogram" applied hour markers in between the Arabic numerals at the cardinal points, all in a matching gold-tone. They are perfectly complimented by the "dagger" hands, for a clean look that is easy to read.
The yellow gold-plated case (with stainless steel back for wearing longevity) measures 28 mm wide (not including the crown), by 34 mm lug to lug, by 10 mm thick (including the crystal). The Cal. 415R, 17 jewel movement is winding, setting, and keeping time just as it did way back in 1969. It is a manual wind movement with a 41 hour power reserve. By this time, Gruen was manufacturing all of its watches in Switzerland, although its heritage as a great American watchmaker was still well known.
This "Precision" watch is a great timekeeper that you will be able to rely on every day. Here is a really nice example of Gruen's later production that won't break the bank. Our one-year warranty for parts and labor, will allow you to own it with confidence.
The Ball name is legendary in the Railroad lexicon of great watches and great American watchmakers. "Wear a Ball and Time Them All" was the tag line that Ball used for their Railroad pocket watches... and it stuck. As a matter of fact, when they were producing pocket watches, they were so dependable that the phrase "On the Ball" was coined as a reference to their accuracy.
When the pocket watch was in decline, there was still a need for very accurate timepieces and that is why a line of Ball Railroad wristwatches were developed. Their attributes are very similar to the Railroad pocket watches in that they had to be very readable and very accurate. This watch certainly fills the bill with its white enamel dial, black hands, red sweep second hand, and 25 jewel automatic movement. The bold Arabic numerals are also a feature that we saw on earlier pocket watches for ease of reading, along with the minute track along the outer edge of the dial. As an added reference, an inner track of red Arabic numerals specify the time according to the 24 hour clock -- a feature not commonly found on similarly styled pocket watches.
The script "RR" logo underneath the 12 o'clock position is now the Ball "railroad" logo. The "Official Standard" words above the 6 o'clock position speak to the history of when Webb C. Ball implemented the first widely accepted system for regulating timekeeping for the industry in 1891.
To speak to the watch's accuracy, notice the 25 jewel automatic movement that is running like the proverbial top. It is a high-grade Swiss movement that was adjusted in 5 positions to account for the physical variations the watch is likely to see throughout the day. It also has a "hacking seconds" feature to allow for precise time coordination. Its inner cover inside the case back also helps to seal the movement and protect it against particulates.
The handsome brushed stainless steel case measures 34 mm in diameter (without the crown), by 40 mm lug to lug, with a thickness of 11 mm. Its "cushion case" style certainly speaks to its 70's origins while still maintaining modern appeal. We have fitted it with an 18 mm stitched and padded black shark skin band for wearing longevity.
With our one year warranty for parts and labor you can buy with confidence and this cool "Ball Trainmaster" can be yours!
Gruen was a premier watch manufacturer and was, perhaps, one of the companies that you wanted to emulate if you were in the business of making wristwatches. Everything they put their hand to was first-rate. They were the inventors of the "Curvex," a revolutionary, curved watch from the late 1930s. Gruen held the patent on the curved movement, but they also made fine timepieces that contained flat movements.
This Gruen is their Doctor's Watch that has the same movement that Rolex used in their Doctor's Watch. Gruen had a factory in Switzerland in conjunction with Rolex where this watch came to life way back in 1938. This factory made movements for both brands. This tells you something about their quality and strict standards. This 10k yellow gold-filled case is in great condition showing only the most minor handling wear. It measures 21 mm in width (not including the crown), by 44 mm from lug to lug, by 9 mm thick (including the crystal)... a nice size for a vintage watch! This is a very handsome Gruen that looks fabulous. The seventeen jewel, Swiss movement is in fantastic condition and our head watchmaker has it setting, winding, and keeping time just as it did when new, over 85 years ago.
It has a spectacular matte, white dial with contrasting gold Arabic Numerals that give this watch great eye appeal and makes the time easy to read. Also, notice the enlarged seconds bit at the 6 o'clock position: it was so the doctor could take a pulse easily. We have had a few of these watches in our 44 years in the business, but not one as nice as this one. Don't miss it! Our one-year warranty for parts and labor, will give you the peace of mind that this wonderful Gruen wristwatch will perform the job for you while it looks great on your wrist!
During WW2, there was a great need for tool watches that met the rigors of harsh environments, both on land and in water. To meet this need the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ships (BUSHIPS) opened up a contract bidding process that would require a particular manufacturer to produce a "dive" watch. There were three manufacturers that answered the call: Elgin, Bulova, and Hamilton. These three were already producing the A-11 watches that were employed by the military. Now the conundrum was how to make it waterproof. They cleverly met this challenge by fusing the bezel and crystal to the case and by adding a screw-down "cap" to cover the crown. This not only protected the crown, but it also sealed it against water. This became known as the "Canteen". It was used by the UDT teams during WW2 and by Navy personnel in the Korean and Vietnam wars. It became the first ever "Diver's Watch" that was mass produced. This became the foundation of all future dive watches.
The one we have on offer here is in wonderful condition and is running like the proverbial top. The stainless steel case measures 32 mm in diameter (not including the crown), by 40 mm from lug to lug, by 15 mm thick (including the crystal). It houses the original 17 jewel Elgin movement that is in great condition. The manufacturers were not allow to have prominent markings on the dials so they blacked out the company name and the watch designation. If you hold the watch to the light at just the right angle you can read "ELGIN" just below the 12 and "USN BUSHIPS" just above the 6.
The case back also has the "USN BUSHIPS" marking. Once the case back is removed you will see an inner pressure dome that protects from water ingress. You will also see how pristine the movement is. This watch was destined for the Korean war but bears none of the wear, or damage, we normally see on these watches. It is almost like it has been preserved in like new condition for your wrist. We have only one so don't miss it. Our one year warranty for parts and labor will allow you to buy with confidence.
These are near impossible to find now in the correct case, with the correct movement! Because the original configuration is so desirable we are seeing a lot of pretenders coming into the market. This one is all original and has all the proper markings to make it a true Omega "Ranchero". And what a desirable timepiece it is! As you may know, we here at Father Time are high on Omega wristwatches and are especially pumped by this current addition to our inventory....the Omega "Ranchero". This is a watch to conjure with! Take a look at the "Zoom-In" photos to really appreciate this killer wristwatch.
The stainless steel case, measuring 44mm lug to lug, by 12 mm thick (including the crystals), by 36mm in diameter not including the crown, is in very nice condition and it has the proper "Waterproof" markings and reference number. It sports a very nice "distressed" leather band which has an original Omega Logo buckle. The professionally refinished dial has the look of aged tobacco and, contrasted against the flat black dial surface, the markings have a creamy appearance which makes the "Arrowhead" hour hand look even cooler.
Just beneath the 12 is the Greek letter symbol that is the Omega logo and, of course, the Omega name. Underneath the name is the "Ranchero" designation in a neat script and beneath that you can see the "30mm", 17 jewel, movement designation. The hour markers are a great looking coffee color and are interspersed with thin minute hash marks. At the 12, 3, and 9 while Arabic numerals call out the quarter hours. Just above the 6 o'clock position is the sunken seconds bit that mimics the case shape. The movement is clean and functioning perfectly and bears the proper Cal. 267 designation. All these details are spectacular but it is the overall mystique of this "Ranchero" that calls to the prospective owner. Whomever ultimately wears this handsome watch WILL be noticed for their great taste and their understanding of fine timepieces. Remember all of our timepieces come with our famous one year warranty for parts and labor so that you may buy with confidence.