eBay Finds: Diver Chronographs, Full Kits, & NOS Goodness

eBay Finds is back! This bi-monthly installment will feature a selection of watches currently listed on eBay that have caught the eye of editor Christoph McNeil (@vintagediver). If you come across any hidden gems on the ‘Bay drop us a note at [email protected] for potential inclusion!

Vintage Omega Seamaster Jumbo

Going to start this week off with a bang with this stellar vintage Omega Seamaster! This circa late 1950’s reference 2975-1 SC is simply gorgeous and not one you see too often. Seller calls it ‘jumbo’ in the title but it’s just under 35mm wide, which is a classic Seamaster size. The unpolished steel case has tapered lugs rather than the ‘fat lugs’ style, but honestly I love this case/lug style. The caseback is fantastic with the oversized and deeply engraved Hippocampus logo, which is really uncommon. The original dial has a nice, fairly even patina, and killer applied steel arrow markers. The steel dauphine hands have some oxidation on them, but overall the whole watch is a beauty. Correct crown with deep grooves. The caliber 500 automatic movement is clean and seller states it runs well. If you’re pining for a vintage Seamaster, check this one out!

View auction here.

Vintage Baylor Dive Chronograph

Next up we have a nice vintage Baylor chronograph diver. I have no idea why the seller has the workd ‘Heuer’ in the title other than clickbait. The steel skindiver style case measures 37.5mm wide and looks unpolished but does exhibit light wear. The caseback has an amateur engraved name, but it does add to the vintage charm in my opinion. Really nice matte black dial with two chronograph subdials, and perfectly aged lume. The oversized stick hands have large lume plots as well, and the sweep second hand has a great lollipop lume filled tip. The bidirectional divers elapsed time bezel shows some wear, but that is to be expected and this watch seems like it was definitely worn, albeit reasonably carefully. The Landeron L149 manual wind chronograph movement is clean and the seller states it was recently serviced, for what that’s worth. This is a solid vintage chrono that should not stress your wallet too much.

View auction here.

Longines Wittnauer

Here’s a super cool and stylin’ vintage Wittnauer dress watch. The small square case with fancy lugs is solid 14k yellow gold and in great condition. The silver dial is simple with nice sunken gold markers and simple, slim hands. The bracelet looks original to me, or at the very lease period-correct and perfectly aligned style wise. It has leather and gold colored metal cuff like parts near the lugs and a stretchy part in the back. It seriously goes perfectly with the case and lugs. What is really nice about this piece is that not only does it come with the box and little booklet, it also has some provenance in a photo and note from the original owner. Apparently it was a gift for saving someone’s life on a train! It is stories like these that make vintage watches so cool!

View auction here.

Vintage Gold Bulova

Time for a little classy bling! This vintage 1957 (see the “L7” date code on the caseback) Bulova 23 jewel dress watch is a real beauty. The gold plated case has a very Art Deco design, with a stepped bezel and fluted lugs, and a cool recessed crown. The case looks unpolished, and has a stainless steel screwdown back. The champagne dial is perfect, with a stylish crosshair design and alternating applied gold arrows and Arabic numerals. Delicate dauphine hands complete the look. The Bulova 23 jewel movement is a really under-appreciated one, but they are well made and highly robust and reliable. No movement pictures, but the seller states the watch runs and keeps time.

View auction here.

Wittnauer Professional Chronograph

Here is an interesting one. Great vintage Wittnauer Professional chronograph, with loads of character. The seller states it was his grandfather’s daily wearer, and it definitely shows. However, this looks to be an unmolested survivor! The large stainless steel case shows wear, but is unpolished and the patina it has accrued looks awesome to me. I’ve had one of these in the past and they are great watches, and the case is about 38mm if memory serves. The acrylic crystal is heavily scratched, but underneath that there is a beautiful black dial with perfectly patina’d lume. The crystal should be easy enough to polish to showcase that killer dial. The bezel shows some wear, but that is consistent with the overall look. The crown is original and signed with the “W” logo, as is the bracelet, which is rare to find. Great piece for the right collector!

View auction here.

Bulova Caravelle

To close out this week we have this very cool and unusual vintage Caravelle. The steel case is clean and simple, but with a cross-hatch engraved bezel that gives it a sparkly look. The textured dial has a really nice, even patina and amazing radial Art Deco Arabic numerals. The crown is signed with the Caravelle “C” logo as it should. The caseback has the “N5” date code making this piece from 1965. The manual wind 17 jewel movement is clean and the seller states the watch runs and keeps good time. This is a pretty cool watch, and one I haven’t seen before.

View auction here.