Nostalgia Machines Part 2: 11 Vintage Reissues Between $1,000 and $3,000

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to look at 10 great vintage reissues for under $1,000. This week, we come to Part 2 of our series, this time exploring the mid-range price within the trend between $1,000 and $3,000. If part 1 was characterized by interesting designs, but with often more obscure source material, it’s at this mid-range price point that we begin to see some of the most popular vintage designs now offered within a reissue format. It’s also the first time we get to see watches from some of the brands leading the trend, most notably Longines and Tudor, among some more luxury-focused offerings from Hamilton, Seiko, and DOXA, when compared to their models in the sub-$1,000 price point we looked at in Part 1.

Without further ado, lets jump in!

Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin– $1,095 to $1,495

First on our list is a reissue that any vintage enthusiast will be well aware of in the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin. The modern watch is a direct and faithful reissue of the vintage Sea Wolf skin diver first manufactured by the brand in its namesake 1953 at the start of the hobby diving trend. Today, these historic models are still some of the most affordable vintage divers on the market available, frequently being found for below $1,000. Though if you want a watch that holds almost all the same design elements in a sturdier modern package and with a few more color options, then the contemporary Seawolf is for you.

Prices for the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf 53 Skin begin at $1,095 and can go up to about $1,495 depending on the specific edition and choice of bracelet. Zodiac

Laco Paderborn – $1,190

Flieger watches are some of the most popular vintage-style watches in the market today, with few more faithful to the original World War II B-Uhr, “Type B” design than those produced by German watchmaker Laco. The modern Paderborn features a scaled-down-but-still-large 42-mm case as compared to its historic forebearer, with its dial being nearly identical in style with its highly legible black and white colorway, distinct 12 o’clock triangle, outer 60-minute ring, and inner 12 hour ring. The model also comes equipped with a flieger-style, onion crown and on a vintage-style leather strap. Its primary update, besides the high quality finishing the modern Laco brand is known for, is in its automatic movement which offers a degree of modern convenience for many wearers. Laco

Seiko Prospex SPB143  – $1,200

Third on our list is likely the most recent addition to the market in the Seiko Prospex SPB143. The new watch came as part of a trio release by the Japanese brand, each honoring the original Seiko diver— the 6217-8001, also known as the 62MAS. The release was quickly welcomed by enthusiasts, being the first entry-level offering by the brand recalling this original 62MAS design, with it featuring relatively minor aesthetic updates in a slightly larger case and bezel, alongside updated modern proportions and finishing on the dial. It isn’t exactly a 100% reissue (and was actually presented by the brand as a reinterpretation), but it’s close enough (and price-friendly enough) to the vintage design that it is more than worth mentioning. Seiko Prospex

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date – $1,600+

The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date is a fantastic time and date model based upon an early pilot’s watch first produced by the brand in 1938, and best known for its big crown from which the modern reissue draws its name.  The modern series is available in either a bronze, steel, or two-tone case with a variety of dial color options like black, green, blue, and red. Yet for the various colorways, each holds the same basic design, with an outer coin-edged bezel, analog date indicator, vintage railroad-style minute ring, and Arabic numerals, and two historic cathedral-style hands slowly passing over the face with each passing minute. Oris

DOXA SUB 300T – $1,850+

The modern DOXA SUB 300T is difficult to dub as a vintage reissue, because while the modern watch clearly channels the aesthetic of the original 1969 SUB 300T Conquistador it’s based upon, the series is one of the least changed collections in the contemporary market since its initial debut over fifty years ago. Nonetheless, the modern edition continues to carry on the legacy of the OG diver, differing only by offering a few new colorways, an updated movement and bracelet, and few less obvious upgrades in materials and finishing. The watch still brings together a helium-release valve, a unidirectional rotating bezel, and super-luminous dial all within a sturdy barrel-shaped and 1200 meter water resistant case, altogether making it worthy of serious consideration for both vintage-inclined consumers and modern professional divers, alike. DOXA

Rado Hyperchrome Captain Cook – $1,950 to $2,600

Next, we move to one of the more attention-grabbing watches from Swiss brand Rado in the Hyperchrome Captain Cook. The collection, which first debuted in 2017 as a limited-edition run, is a group of watches inspired by the original Captain Cook diver produced in relatively small quantities from 1962 to 1968. Today, the collection still includes a few interesting and faithful reissues featuring brown sunray dials and sub-40-mm sizing, alongside plenty of more modern-focused variations including blue, green, and matte black dial options, as well as multiple bronze-cased models, all of which are typically sized at a more contemporary 42mm. Rado

Longines Heritage Classic “Sector” Dial – $2,150

Few brands are as talked about in the context of vintage reissues as much as the Swiss manufacturer Longines. The brand has a massive selection in their Heritage collection, which they’ve been steadily unveiling over the past decade. Most of which are highly faithful to the historic designs they are based upon, though include modern automatic movements and slightly larger case sizes.

One of the brand’s most recent releases is the Heritage Classic “Sector” Dial, an interesting time-only, 38.5mm steel model based upon a popular style of watch they produced in the early half of the twentieth century. A finely manufactured timepiece, it features a sturdy Longines L893.5 movement (ETA A31.501) with a solid 64-hour power reserve, and a distinct vintage-style sector dial that is sure to catch more than a few eyes on the wrist. Longines

Hanhart Pioneer MK1 – $2,160

Hanhart is another enthusiast favorite, and one of their more interesting offerings is their distinct mono-pusher chronograph, the Pioneer MK1. The modern reissue is based on a mono-pusher developed for the German military during and after World War II dubbed the Caliber 40. The flieger-style case is somewhat similar to the Laco we mentioned above with flat, slender lugs, but features a rotating coin-edge bezel. Then, of course, is the watch’s most prominent trait in its red-tipped chronograph mono-pusher, which stops, starts and resets the customized movement within. The mono-pusher is not only an uncommon complication in watches today, but almost unheard at $2,160. Hanhart

Hamilton Intra-Matic 68 Auto Chrono – $2,195

Few vintage Hamilton watches are as beloved by collectors as the Chronograph A, first released by the brand in 1968, and its follow-up in the Caliber 11-powered Chrono-matic released a year later. However, with prices for these vintage models skyrocketing in the past few years (probably in no small part due to the attention paid to it by many on Worn & Wound’s team), the modern brand has been able to capitalize upon that appreciation with a vintage reissue in the Intra-Matic 68 Auto Chrono. While about 4-mm larger than the historical versions and lacking that beloved left side crown seen in the Caliber 11 models, the modern watch is nonetheless a worthy homage for those both new and longtime fans of the panda style dial. Further, last year the brand released another blue dial version of the watch, showing they likely will continue their expansion of the series for at least a few more years to come. Hamilton

Junghans Meister Pilot – $2,465

In part 1 of our series, we had the opportunity to take a look at Junghans’ Max Bill Hand-Winding, and while that’s a great vintage reissue in its own right, it’s when we start getting over the $1,000 price mark that we begin to see some of the German brand’s best work. Leading their vintage-inspired collections is the Meister Pilot, a chronograph with an assortment of fascinating features that recall those used on the vintage model it’s based upon built for the West German military in the 1950s. Most noticeable is its unique dodecagonal bi-directional bezel meant to assist in rotation while wearing thick gloves, alongside highly legible curved dial, sunken registers, and sword and syringe style hour and minute hands. Junghans Meister Pilot

Tudor Heritage Ranger – $3,000

To close Nostalgia Machines Part 2, we come to the first entry by another leading brand in the vintage-inspired trend in the Tudor Heritage Ranger. The Heritage Ranger is certainly not the most popular watch in Tudor’s modern offerings, but it nonetheless holds a relevance that makes it worth mentioning, especially when almost all other Tudor (and sister-brand Rolex) watches that engage with the trend are priced beyond many enthusiasts’ budgets. The modern Ranger is 41-mm, uses a modern Tudor-style oyster case, and features a simple, highly legible dial. It’s about 7-mm larger and a bit less curvy than its vintage counterpart, making it more of a reinterpretation than a reissue, but with a vintage Tudor Rose, Explorer-style dial configuration, and oyster-style bracelet, the modern Heritage Ranger is likely to satisfy a vintage-style Tudor inclined craving for the modern cost-effective enthusiast. Tudor

That’s it for part 2! Check back to Worn & Wound in a few weeks for our third and final chapter in this series where we’ll make our first entry into the luxury market of vintage reissues!