Another Glashutte spezichron

A more recent acquisition for my vintage watch collection is another Glashutte spezichron. I think this was my 6th or 7th vintage Glashutte not counting one that acquired for spare parts to repair my diver. That one was sold as a defective unit so it wasn't running in the first place when I bought it. My repair guy kept it as a future source of parts if one of my Glashuttes with the same movement needs repairs.

The cream dial is set on a cushion case. The watch has both day and date features.

Side view showing the crown and giving some emphasis on the raised hour markers.

The other side view

Case back showing the watch to be of stainless steel, shock and water resistant. It also states the watch to be Made in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Note, too, the lug size for this piece.

The obligatory wrist shot

Close-up of the cream dial showing it to be in great condition

This watch is powered by a GUB Cal. 11-27 running at 28,800 A/h with a potential power reserve of 37h. Its the same caliber movement as my two spezichron divers.

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GED, an interesting vintage watch from Germany

A recent addition to my collection of German vintage watches is a watch issued by the GED. GED stood for Gewerkschaft Eisenbahner Deutschland (Union of Railroad workers in Germany) so this might have been some sort of standard issue for their members or officers or a retirement watch.

The dial is simple with raised hour markers and no date or day features

Side view showing the crown and the relatively pristine condition of the watch

The other side view

Case back

Here's the obligatory wrist shot

Wrist shot of the watch after I unboxed it and tried it on the first time. The watch came with stretchable, flexible stainless steel band, which was obviously not its original and for me looked a little weird.

Here's a wrist shot the first time I used it after changing the strap.

I have compared the watch against my more dependable and accurate watches (e.g., my Bulova moonwatch and my computer clock) and it does not lose or gain significant time over 24 hours. I have timed it to last 41 hours on a full wind. That's not bad for a watch that, based on the looks of it, was probably issued in the 1970s (1978 according to the previous owner).

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Exquisit vintage watch

My collection of German-made watches includes this piece from the 1950s. It is literally Exquisit and features a unique set of lugs.

This watch has a simple dial with no day or date complications. What is apparently outstanding are the lugs.

Side view showing the crown

The other side view

Case back showing its characteristics including it being waterproof and automatic. I have yet to find out what 'super-safe' means.

A closer look at the dial

Wrist shot

Here's a stock photo of the movement, which is a PUW570 running at 18,000 beats per hour with a potential of 40hours. The movement dates the watch to the 1950s with the previous owner claiming this to be made around 1957.

This one's another reliable watch for everyday use. Unfortunately, being part of a collection means it is used only once in a while and not part of my regular rotation. Still, this one's a keeper for now if only because of the lugs.

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Vintage Anker automatic watch with Cal. 222 movement

I am in a sort of a catch-up mode in terms of documenting the watches in my collection. A relatively new acquisition and supposedly a replacement for an older Anker that I decided to part with recently is this automatic from the same company.

The watch with what appears as a mother of pearl finish for the dial. It also has a date feature.

Side view showing the crown and a better appreciation of the dial.

The other side view adding more emphasis to the dial's texture.

Here's a look at the Cal. 222 (also Forster Cal. 222) automatic movement that runs on 21,600 beats per hour lasting a maximum 38h.

The watch the first time I wore it on my wrist

This watch is a dependable one as it keeps time and the power reserve doesn't run out overnight. It is definitely something I will retain in my collection for now. I have other Ankers but this one stands out from the others.

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Vintage Kienzle watch

Another German-made watch in my collection is this Kienzle that looks like my old Junghans Max Bill design. Only, you can see the numbers on the 12, 3, 6 and 9 hour markers.

Simple white dial with just the slightest hint of patina with no day or date features.

Side view showing the crown

The other side view

Case back showing some specs including the watch being anti-magnetic, waterproof and of stainless steel

Close-up of the dial showing the watch's claim to be waterproof and shockproof as well as Made in Germany

Watch movement, which is signed.

Here's a wrist shot of the watch.

I've recorded the watch to last about 42 hours. Again that's not bad for an old watch from ca. 1965.

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Vintage Anker manual wind watch

I have this vintage Anker watch from the 1950s (the previous owner claimed it to be from 1955). It is

German-made and one of those produced in the old German Democratic Republic or East Germany. These were very good quality watches and I am not surprised it is still in very good condition as shown in the following photos including one of the movement.

Watch dial showing no day or date complications

Side view showing the crown

The other side view

Watch case back

Photo of the movement, which I have yet to identify

This is actually one of the watches I could spare from my collection. Don't get me wrong as it is a good watch and still reliable after I timed it to run for more than 42 hours on a full wind, and it gained only a few seconds over this period. I hope it finds a new owner who would be able to use it more than me.

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Vintage UMF Ruhla from 1958

The old Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and German German Democratic Republic (East Germany) produced a lot of high quality watches. Many are from familiar brands like Glashutte and Junghans. But there are others like Anker, Stowa, Ruhla and Kienzle. Many of these are now collectible and maybe won’t hurt your pockets like the Glashutte and Junghans watches. Here is a very good example of those watches - a UMF Ruhla from the 1950s.

Simple dial becomes a little complex due to the hour markers. There are not day or date features on this watch. But the logo indicates this model as pre-1958, when Ruhla changed its logo.

Side view showing the crown

The other side view

Case back stating this to be stainless steel and waterproof (in German)

This is a Ruhla Cal. M2C 29-12 that runs at 18,000 beats per hour and lasts 39h on a full wind.

The watch the first time I tried it on

The watch keeps good time (not fast, not slow) and I've timed it to last an average of about 38 hours on a full wind. I have been using it more regularly than others in my collection the past couple of weeks to make sure it still runs well. 

More on my other German-made watches soon!

[Note: I sold this watch last year. I wanted to keep it but I thought it would be in better hands (wrists?) with a person who would use it regularly.]

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Junghans vintage watch with Cal. 687 movement

My watch collection includes several German brand watches. I have written about the Glashuttes, the Laco, the Anker and the Pallas. This time, I write about another watch that is also quite collectible - Junghans. This is a 17-jewel manual wind watch I acquired only this year.

This watch has a simple dial - no day or date feature. It says Made in Germany at the bottom of the dial.

Side view showing the crown

The other side view. You can notice that the strap had been 'customized' so it would fit the 17mm lugs for this watch. Cutting off part of the leather can be tricky as the strap might become loose if more material than what was intended were removed.

A very clean case back showing the watch to be of stainless steel, shockproof and water-protected. I assume this Junghans was a model intended for the international market as, unlike the Glashutte watches I previously featured, the features are in English (instead of in German).

Here is a wrist shot of the watch

The watch runs on a Junghans Cal. 687 movement running at 18,000 bph with an original power reserve of 45h. This was a photo I took with the old strap still on the watch.

I have worn the watch several times and it runs very well. Each time, it has functioned for more than 40 hours while gaining only a few second over that period. Not bad for a watch that was probably made between 1963-1969, which makes this 50 or more years old.

Note: I said goodbye to this watch a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, another collector got it so I know its in good hands (wrist?) rather than it being peddled for profit [June 12, 2019].

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