Five Best Vintage Watches for under or around £600/$1000

Five Best Vintage Watches for under or around £600/$1000

If you’re in the market for a great looking vintage watch that doesn’t cost the earth, here are five stand-out watches that you should definitely take a look at.

 

1. Omega Seamaster De Ville

Price: £500/$850 upwards

 

This beautifully understated watch born in 1960 shows what can be achieved through simplicity. Built with a water resistant monocoque case, the watch remains thin and elegant and with off white dial contrasted with a black strap it makes it a perfect gentleman’s dress watch. Removed of any numbering, the dial shows off the simplicity of the De Ville, unconcerned about frivolities. What I love about the De Ville, is that it looks great and undeniably cool, all without looking as if it’s trying – as testament to this, it was worn by Sean Connery in the James Bond movie, “From Russia with Love”. One point of consideration when buying (manually wound at this price point) is to beware of cheaper priced watches often around the £300/$500 mark.

 2. Tissot Seastar Navigator Chronograph Valjoux 7734

Price: £600/$1000 upwards

 

Compared to previous watches mentioned I think this 1970's Chronograph is somewhat of an overlooked classic. The grey case and dial with blue and red features, for me are the highlight of this watch, combined with a brown leather strap creates the perfect period look or by adding a NATO strap creates a casual sports look. Both the dial and hands contain tritium, a continuously glowing gas and even after 40 years the examples I’ve seen still continue to glow brightly. 

3. Seiko ‘Pepsi’ chronograph: Model 6139-6002

Price: £250/$400 upwards

There is something about vintage Seiko chronographs that I really admire and the ‘Pepsi’ chronograph produced between 1969 until around 1979 is possibly my favourite of all. The 6139 was also Seiko’s first automatic chronograph movement, which for me adds a little extra uniqueness to this particular model.  It has a single register chronograph with a 30 minute counter, coloured the same vibrant gold as the dial, as well as this, it has a quickset date-day display. Distinctive and bold, this watch is instantly recognisable and a timeless classic. 

4. Vulcain Triple Date Moon Phase

Price: £650/$1090 upwards

Probably the hardest of all the watches I have mentioned in this list to find, the Triple Date Moon Phase is a seriously cool vintage watch. As a result of being produced in the 1940’s, if you can get your hands on this watch you will be holding a piece of horological history. The case and dial are both a beautiful gold colour that perfectly complements the rose gold numbers and dart indexes, paired with a black leather strap and the Vulcain will really turn heads. However, the subsidiary moon phase dial is what makes this watch; it creates a balance between the dial and day-month indicators that is the epitome of refined elegance, the second hand is also replaced by a half-moon date pointer.

5. Longine Flagship

Price: £600/$1000

Last on my list is another simply styled dress watch, similar to the Omega aesthetically in many ways. Thin and sporting the silver case against a black strap makes this watch a really subtly classic watch, everything a vintage dress watch brings to mind. Roman numeral indexes surround the dial with a tasteful amount of contrast, without any further indications or minute markings. The Flagship is definitely a vintage watch to be celebrated and shown off in a more formal setting when less is more.