3 Vintage Driving Watches You Can Buy Right Now
I’m not sure if it’s purely coincidental, but some of the best watches I’ve found over the years have emerged during the changing of seasons. Maybe it’s got something to do with the effects of changing weather on human emotions, or I’m just wildly overthinking the collecting of wristwatches. Regardless, winter is coming to a close, and right on cue, I’ve found some seriously enticing pieces yet again.
Omega Seamaster Chronograph
To start off the week, I thought I’d throw you a bit of a curveball. Here’s a rare variant of an earlier Seamaster chronograph, but unlike the more bland, monochromatic 321-powered Seamasters of the time, this piece features a louder reverse-panda dial, which is accented nicely by an orangish-red chronograph hand.
For a while, the authenticity of this variant was questioned by some due to its avant-garde aesthetic, but thanks to the power of online forum communities, a consensus was reached within the Omega collecting crowd, and it has since been deemed kosher. This example is also being offered with a box and signed buckle.
Zenith 146 HP Chronograph
Knowing the number of wonderful vintage chronograph designs that came as a result of attempting a watch’s production in precious metals, modern watches in gold have never done it for me. In my eyes, they just don’t stack up to the simpler and more concise designs of yesteryear. Need proof? Check this out. It’s an outstanding example of Zenith’s famed 146 HP-powered chronograph, offered in bold, 18k yellow gold.
One thoughtful detail that I was pleased to find while assessing this piece was the gold, albeit plated, period-correct Zenith-branded buckle. Whether it’s original to the watch itself I can’t speak to, but I can say that it’s a nice touch that adds a dash of uniformity to its on the wrist experience.
Heuer Carrera Fisher 2447 D
Next up, we’ve got a vintage Heuer Carrera, but as you’ll see, it’s by no means an ordinary Carrera. This example is separated from the rest by the decimal scale which traces the dial’s metallic outer rim, and the “FISHER” signature found just above the chronograph’s hour-counting register. Some will mistakenly assume that this is the name of a jeweler, when in fact, Fisher was a scientific firm known for supplying laboratories with technical equipment, including Heuer wristwatches. As you’d imagine, the collective presence of these six simple letters drastically impacts the value of this watch.
As an added bonus, you could say that this piece served as a direct inspiration for one of TAG Heuer’s Carrera reissue pieces. Just take a look at the 1996 re-edition of the 1964 Heuer Carrera—you’ll surely notice the resemblance.
Fisher-Branded Heuer Stopwatch
Just in case that last Carrera wasn’t enough to satisfy your hunger for Fisher-branded Heuer’s, I’ve found a little something extra. What you’re looking at is an all-original example of a Fisher-retailed vintage Heuer Stopwatch dating back to the mid-1960s. It’s clean and complete to boot—just as you’d want it.
Included with the sale is the original box and set of papers, along with both of the original stickers that you’ll find still attached to the watch’s caseback. Whether a stopwatch is really something you need in your life is for you to decide, but you can’t deny just how exciting this rare and complete piece is.
