8 replies to this topic

[QuEEits]

I googled this and found a thread, but it was in 2011 and a few of the watches have increased in price since then. I wanted to buy a nice swiss made vintage chronograph for under 400. One thats working and hopefully wont need a whole lotta miantenance. Some of the watches I really like are the gallet, pierce, universal geneve, longines, even some bulova and benrus. But the chronograph watches seem to be way over my price range, does anyone know any solid chrono's for around 400? Or better yet is anyone selling a chrono vintage? And also if I post a photo of a watch would someone be able to tell if its all original or if its been tampered with.

[MJ1958]

Maybe look at the movement instead of the name on the dial. I'd suggest a Landeron 149 (or its earlier variations), a Venus 188, and of course the Valjoux 7730/ 7733 and the 3 subdial variant the 7736. There are several other calibers in this class, but I'm most familiar with these

[NJeshid]

Oh, and yes. Please post watches you are curious about, we'd enjoy offering suggestions

[watchkeeper-]

Welcolme to the addictive world of vintage chronographs....Like all mechanicals they need to be maintained and serviced at interval...When I buy a vintage chrono I factor in 400AUD for a service making this an expensive hobby. I know opinions differ and some don't bother to service unless something is wrong but If you bought bought a great vintage car I doubt you would drive it unless it was mechanically sound...Same applies. Unserviced movements like unserviced cars end up costing more in the long run. Not that familiar with Benrus and Bulova but Gallet, Longines and UG in reasonable condition are not seen in this price point. Pierce can be had fairly modestly but as my watchmaker says their in house movements (forget caliber but later 17 jewel) are not as robust (some lighter grade materials - his words not mine before the retorts - and I have to admit my very good condition recently serviced Pierce is rather temperamental compared to my other chronos....) - as some of the bigger ebauche makers of the time. However it is a great chrono with big vintage appeal and presence. This conversation has been had before and i know some suggested Seiko as as start and I know that's where I started and they are undervalued and under appreciated making them cheap (relatively speaking ) for what you get....I know you said Swiss. Unfortunately at that price point I have little suggestions and I think Dan above has given some sound advice - look for chronos from the seventies as they seem to be at a better price point with the later cam operated systems as opposed to column wheel movements which are highly sought due to the thought of superior engineering/function.... Try D'bay with a search like "vintage chronograph" and go to you price point using the sort/parameters. Post here for an opinion.... Good luck....

[ilewLL]

Vintage Baume Mercier Chronograph Classic Dial 34 6mm Case Fully Restored | eBay RARE Vintage Breitling Watch Co Wristwatch Chronograph Year 1930's 2 Registers | eBay What about these two?

[Alex]

In my opinion, both are nice, but in different ways. Both are set to go much higher than they are at the moment. Decide your limits now, before you get the thrill of the hunt into your blood. The B&M; has a nicely restored dial. This negatively affects the ultimate value to collectors. The movement is a classic Landeron, and looks ok. Do a hunt through "Completed listings" on eBay and see what the market thinks it's worth. Odd that there are no bids, eh? The case on the Breitling is well worn and the movement looks filthy. It would need a service and, as jackruff said, service costs are high for any chrono, typically around USD $200-300. When someone says that the "chronograph sweep stops sometimes…" you're looking at a strip down. But it's a nice watch and although all the pictures are out-of-focus, I might watch that, myself. But the price will rise and there is simply no way you can avoid a service. I have no affiliation to this guy, but have bought stuff from him in the past. He's always been very honest with me and while his prices aren't the lowest, his eBay site is a good point of research for chronograph prices and so on. Like all good dealers, he will do a deal. My Local Time.

[FeyM]

Well, in case of the Baume & Mercier, it all depends on how you feel about redials. Doesn't look bad to me, but truth be told, I don't have anything to compare it to. Given that the prices of mechanical chronographs are high these days, it might not be that bad for the price, if it is entirely OK- and I don't want to pretend that I'm certain that it is. The Breitling... I think it's a fake. The movement is a Venus 170 or a calibre related to it, entirely unsigned, in a horrible shape, and the Breitling font on the dial is just...horrible. Well, it didn't start off as a fake, just became one when someone decided to put "Breitling" on the dial.

[Debbie]

Sounds like your Spider senses are tingling. Out-of-focus is always tricky, either sweetly naive or cynically deceiving. I suspect that the Breitling may be, as you say, a dog. Signed/unsigned bridges/cocks on chronographs? Well, there sure is no shortage of fake signed Breitling cocks out there, so I'm not sure how much credit I'd be willing to give all of the so-called Breitlings out there.

[BuLlEt]

Man it sounds like you guys know your stuff, it seems like there isnt much to pick from when your budget is 400, I was even looking at the non chronopgrah military watches like the benrus and the bulova. I really like the khaki field automatic as well. Lets say I doubled my money, and I had 800. What would I be abe to buy with that much? A gellet? Maybe a longines? but even then i think it wouldnt be enough