Univers Watch De Luxe mechanical watch

Today's watch is an old one, and looks to be one of the oldest wrist watches I've blogged so far.

This watch is an analogue model called the Univers Watch De Luxe (with the unusual spelling). It is a mechanical model with a 2 hand main dial and a small dial for the seconds hand above the 6 o'clock marker. The movement is a hand wound sweep hand movement, with a high frequency (either 14,400 or 18,000 beats per hour (bph)), and so the seconds hand is very smooth.

The design looks to me to be from an older period than the other mechanical watches I've blogged. The 60s and 70s Mechanical models all seem to have a robust and solid feeling construction with shiny faces and thick glass. This watch has a more delicate feel, and the shape, simplicity of design, and even colour make it feel more like something my grandfather would wear than my father.

On the movement inside one of these watches online , the watch stated that this is by Eastsun Timepiece Co. From a register of watch trade names, I've found that this company is a Chinese company which was established in 1953. This therefore sets a limit on how early the watch can be, but the design makes me think it is a 1950s model. Inside this particular watch, the movement actually says Everest, and it is a 10 jewel movement. I've not found anything about Everest which would like to this watch, so I'll assume the date is still late 90s.

The back doesn't give much more info apart from the stainless steel back and serial number, but spells the name 'Universe'.

C Citizen Phynox rectangular watch

Today is probably the oldest Citizen watch I've blogged so far.

This watch is one of a Citizen range called Phynox. The Phynox range seems to have been released in the 1950s, and ran into the 60s. I've not been able to find out more about the history of the range, but there are a few other watches that are for sale from the time period, and they all seem to be hand wind mechanical models.

This watch uses a Citizen mechanical movement. It doesn't have a listed number of jewels on the case or on the movement itself, but the movement was adjustable if running fast or slow. The watch has a 2 hand main dial, but has a secondary dial for the seconds at the 6 o'clock position.

The dial is a rectangular design in gold, with a C symbol above the Citizen name and the Phynox name above the rectangular seconds dial. It comes with a matching gold coloured metal chain strap (part number 1BGF).

There are a few pieces of information on the watches back. It mentions 20 microns C.G.P (which I think relates to the gold plating), and there is the word star in a box too.

Ingersoll Triumph Pocket Watch

I didn't actually wear a watch today, but had the time in my pocket instead. But instead of using my mobile (as lots of people use as an excuse for not using watches), I decided on a pocket watch.

Today's pocket watch is from the 1950s. It was made by the British watch maker Ingersoll. The brand started in 1982 in America, but the London based arm of the business was spun off into Ingersoll Ltd in 1922. From 1946 until 1969, the watches were made under a joint venture called the Anglo-Celtic Company Ltd.

This model appears to be an Ingersoll Triumph pocket watch, but doesn't have the Triumph name on the face (-it has the same design as other Triumph model photos, and most of the watches between '46 and '69 were under the Ingersoll Triumph name).

The watch has a two hand dial with separate seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position. Turning the crown winds the watch, and to set the time, you need to push in (and hold) the crown while turning it. Inside the watch there is an adjustment lever to change the speed if it is running fast or slow. It is quite a loud mechanism, and the second hand moves twice per second. There is no model number, but inside the back a number 69 is etched.