This stunning Breitling Premier 797 postwar chronograph is in completely original mint condition and in a very scarce stainless steel Breitling case with exaggerated bent-knee lugs. Factory original finish silvered bi-compax dial with just enough faint patina and age to verify it's originality under magnification. Signed Breitling Premier and Swiss Made with tachymeter around outer dial. Original blued steel hands show a couple of spots of age under magnification. Spectacular solid stainless steel case with very scarce and unusual spider or bent-knee style lugs in fabulous condition with no engraving, scratches, wear or damage. 36.4mm x 47mm. Crisp original flat stainless steel pushers and crown. Inside is the original 17 jewel Venus cal. 175 movement signed Breitling Premier that is bright and clean and freshly serviced, keeping good time. Fitted with a new brown padded leather strap that looks great on this very scarce and collectable Breitling Premier 797.

Early and rare, this Gallet two button chronograph has the very collectable regulator dial and an early 15 jewel movement and was a special purpose chronograph. The large sweep hand in the center of the factory original silvered dial is on a 1/100 minute register, with 30 minute elapsed time sub dial at 6:00 and real-time dial at 12:00. This was a specialty chronograph and useful for scientific and industrial applications to measure events to the fraction of a MINUTE, so an event may take say, 2.75 minutes instead of the customary 2 minutes 45 seconds. 34mm stainless steel snap back case signed by Gallet with original oval pushers and crown, all in excellent condition with no damage or personalization and only light use showing. Inside beats a Gallet 15 jewel movement that is running properly with all functions working as they should and keeping good time. New black croc grain leather strap.

Investment grade Stauffer (IWC forerunner) high grade Swiss flip top early men's wrist watch in pristine as-new condition. Swiss made hallmark solid 15Kt solid yellow gold 35mm triple hinged case with wire lugs is signed CN for Charles Nicolet, who were the early case makers for IWC. This is not an adapted pocket watch but a factory original very early purpose made men's wrist or "trench" watch of the highest quality. The heavy gold hunter case cover has a small window at the center making it possible to read the time without opening the case to reveal the dial and giving much more dust, water and damage protection to the watch. Black enameled Roman Numerals with minutes track are mint with no enamel loss or damage. Oversized push button onion crown flips the front cover open to reveal the full porcelain dial with no cracks or hairlines. Top grade SS & Co (Stauffer) Swiss made gilded pin set movement that is as crisp and clean as the day it left the factory, is freshly serviced and winds, sets and runs like new. The back is clean and free of any dents, scratches or personalization. Inside is a solid 15Kt cuvette with the original owners inscription & is dated 1914. Both crystals are original and perfect. Fitted with a new Hirsch brown leather 12mm strap. Made very early in WWI and one of the earliest factory men's wrist watches, this was a very high quality and expensive item in it's day. Very rare and beautiful and virtually unworn mint condition.

Interestingly, the inscription is apparently from one lady to another and the watch was evidently not gifted to a man, although it is definitely a large sized man's watch. The inscription is very touching and intriguing and was given for "very loving services" in her "time of weakness." dated in Edinburgh (Scotland), Feb. 1914.

Item #S579786 $4,250.00 More Photos

Excellent "BlackJack Pershing" model of the very collectable Elgin star dial series that were introduced toward the end of WW1 and came in three case variations to honor the commanders of the French; Marshall Foch, the English; Lord Kitchener, and the Americans; Gen. Pershing. The full sized sterling silver cushion case measures 31mm x 38mm with oversized military winding crown and early 16mm spring bar lugs. This case is just beautiful with no scratches or damage and the whole watch appears to be in near mint condition. The black porcelain dial with sub seconds at 6:00 is mint with no cracks, chips or hairlines. Original hands set and military crown. The movement is a high grade 15 jewel with micro-metric regulator and dates to 1910. This movement is unusual for a military watch of the time as most were cheaper 7 jewel movements and this indicates the original purchaser wanted the very best watch he could get. The movement is crisp and clean, freshly serviced and keeping good time. Fitted with a new black genuine lizard 16mm strap (not pictured.)

Very scarce and all original Leonidas (by Heuer) one button chronograph with the highly collectable regulator dial from the mid to late 1930's. Pristine factory original silvered dial is untouched and in mint condition showing very light aging. Sunken constant time dial at 12:00. Blue telemeter scale and black Arabic numerals for chrono seconds around the outside of dial and blue tachymeter snail scale at center. Signed Chronographe Leonidas Swiss Made. Sunken accumulated 30 minute chrono dial at 6:00. Original blued steel hands are mint. Stainless steel snap back case with chromed bezel is excellent and measures 33mm x 40mm x 10mm. The crisp and clean 15 jewel Swiss movement is unsigned, guaranteed original to the watch and is identical to the Heuer model of this watch. This movement is running well, keeping good time and all chronograph functions are operating properly with hands snapping back to zero smartly. Fitted with a new alligator print black leather 14mm strap.

Completely factory original large Gruen Guild in outstanding condition from the 'Jazz Age' c.1925. Large 31mm x 39mm white gold filled classic cushion case with 17mm springbar lugs and snap back is really excellent with no scratches, damage, dents or personalization. Original crown and clear mineral crystal. Factory original silvered dial with luminous (long expired now) numerals and single sunk sub seconds at 6:00. Original hands still have their original luminous paint in tact. Dial is minty and clean with no distractions or problems. Running on it's original Gruen Guild 15 jewel high quality Swiss movement that is clean and keeping good time. Fitted with a new 17mm black leather reptile pattern strap.

High grade Stauffer and Son early Borgel hermetic cased trench watch. This was an early attempt to keep moisture and dirt out of the new wristwatches in the trenches of WW1. The sterling silver case is made in two parts with no removeable back. The movement is attached to the screw-on bezel and is removed by pulling the spring loaded crown out to unscrew and remove the movement. 33mm x 38mm with 12mm wire lugs. Original white porcelain dial with single sunk sub seconds and the original luminous paint still in tact on dial and hands. No cracks or hairlines. Inside beats the original high grade Swiss 15 jewel pin set movement by Stauffer and Sons that is crisp and clean and keeping good time. This would have been an expensive high end military watch in its day and has survived in remarkable condition. Fitted with a new black pigskin strap.

Item #SB590461 $975.00 More Photos

This early Tavannes wristwatch is quality throughout. Made for the English market, with a large 34mm solid 9 karat gold case with screw-on back and bezel, which was much harder to produce than the snap on backs and bezels and was very effective at keeping dust and moisture out of the movement. Original solid gold 12mm wire lugs are clean and straight with no repairs. Original solid white gold contrasting crown shows use and is spring-loaded, needing to be pushed IN to wind. Engraved on the back; "Novices Cup 1920" and hallmarked inside back for London, 1917. Original glass crystal with a couple light scratches, very hard to see. Original white porcelain dial is excellent and does have a half-moon hairline at 4:00 which you really have to be looking for to see. Original blued steel hands. Inside is the original, high grade, 16 jewel Tavannes movement adjusted to 4 positions with jewels set in screwed chattons. Working perfectly. This early men's wrist watch is built to the standards of the finest pocket watches of the time and would have been quite expensive. This watch was worn and lovingly cared for by it's original owner, clearly a prized possession. Fitted with a new brown padded leather Hirsch Wild Boar strap in men's length.

Tavannes (or Cyma) was one of the finest Swiss watches made at this time, and were as good as, or better than any Rolex, Longines, or Illinois of the day. They are very high quality early Swiss watches and one of our favorites.

All factory original Tudor Rolex small rose Prince OysterDate automatic c. 1963. 34mm x 41mm Rolex Oyster case ref. #7974 in solid surgical stainless steel with original screw down crown. Near Mint original and gorgeous matt black dial with applied stainless steel large rose logo, hour batons and hands. Dial is immaculate but for a few flakes of paint under the bezel at 3:00 is not visible when worn. Movement is immaculate high-grade 25-jewel full-rotor automatic Tudor-signed movement that is freshly serviced and keeping good time. Original scratch resistant crystal is scratch free and clear. Rolex signed watches have a movement designed and manufactured in-house by Rolex where as the Tudor line has an ETA ebauche which is a basic movement frame by ETA which is then completed and finished and regulated to Rolex specifications at the Rolex factory by Rolex. The Tudor line was created by Hans Wilsdorf at the end of WW2 when he saw a market for a more modestly priced Rolex and for the buyer who wanted a dependable waterproof Rolex quality watch but who didn't want to flaunt their Rolex or pay twice the price for the Rolex logo on the dial. Fitted with a new black alligator grain padded leather strap. Very collectable Rolex Tudor and perfect for everyday wear.

This is an accurately restored example of a men’s Elgin military style sterling silver cased watch that bridges the gap between the wire lug W.W.I era and the art deco watches that would dominate the market by the end of the 1920s. While it looks similar to a watch from the Great War it was made in 1923 and it has two distinct differences from earlier models. First is that the dial is enamel finished over metal, not porcelain enamel and second is that it was designed for a strap/band that uses spring bars, not a fold-over strap for solid wire lugs. Full sized sterling silver cushion case measures 32mm x 38mm snap back with original oversized military style crown. The case is superb with no scratches, damage or personalization. White enameled metal dial has been meticulously restored to its factory original appearance. It is complete with a 60 minute outer track border, aged brown (to mimic radium but safe) Arabic numerals, original blue steel spade style hands and a recessed sub-seconds dial with 60 second outer chapter. Signed ELGIN USA below the 12. New old stock flawless glass crystal. Inside we find a clean, Fifteen Jewel manual wind movement (Caliber 464, 3/0 Size) signed ELGIN, U.S.A - 15 JEWELS with serial number #26,527,174 which dates the watch to 1923. It has been freshly serviced by us and is running strong and keeping good time. Fitted with a new 16mm tan genuine pigskin strap in men's length and the original sterling silver buckle. Be sure to save that if you switch straps.

Item # E555408 $825.00 More Photos

This is a special sportsman’s chronograph commissioned and signed by L.L.Bean from the 1980’s. Charcoal black dial with gold sub dials for constant seconds, elapsed minutes and elapsed hours. Day and date at 3:00. Domed sapphire crystal is virtually scratch proof and has minimal reflection due to it’s convex curvature. Uni-directional ratcheted bezel with gold trim. All surgical stainless steel case and bracelet in a special finish that is non-reflective and very tough. Men's length original stainless steel bracelet with now stretch or wear. L.L.Bean wanted a sportsman’s chronograph that would be tough, reliable, waterproof and shockproof, great looking, and as non-reflective as possible to avoid spooking game. This is a nice big watch at 38.5mmx45mmx13mm. Overall mint condition with only a couple of small tool marks on the back, the watch has just been serviced.

Very cool and one of the earliest waterproof rectangular or tank shaped cases we've seen. The movement sits in a solid block of stainless steel which is inserted up into the stainless steel case and seals against the crystal with two screws from the back. From the looks of the clean factory original dial and the crisp clean original Kelbert movement inside, it was a sound design. Nice big 28mm x 36mm tank all stainless steel case is is superb condition with no scratches or damage. Factory original dial in a pale honey tone with gold leaf trim and Roman numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 with the original hands in blued steel. The original luminous material is an exact color match between the dial and minutes hand but for some reason the hour hand fill has yellowed over time. The dial is signed Kelbert Waterproof Antimagnetic Shockabsorber. Original crystal is clean and clear. Kelbert signed 17 jewel manual wind movement is clean and corrosion free and is keeping good time. This is a very high quality military watch and we were told by the estate that it was worn through WW2 by a U.S. Naval Officer. Fitted with a new brown lizard-calf 18mm strap. Very cool.