1953 Waltham De Luxe Autochron "25" Jewels 35mm

Regular price
£650.00
Sale price
£650.00
Regular price
A 1953 Waltham De Luxe Autochron “25”, a wonderfully characterful 35mm automatic that captures the elegance of early 1950s watchmaking. Its stainless steel case features beautifully twisted lugs and frames a distinctive sector-style dial with shimmering faceted tombstone indexes, Dauphine hands, and a framed date display with cyclops magnification. Inside beats the 25-jewel automatic ETA Calibre 1258, produced for only a short period between 1953 and 1955. Complete with its rare signed crown, original Waltham buckle, and Waltham box, this is a charming and unusual vintage piece with fantastic period details.

Read more...
View additional images

More Information

Description

Here we have a 1953 Waltham De Luxe Autochron "25" Jewels 35mm round stainless steel case that curves over your wrist with tapered twisted lugs. A lug-to-lug length of 42.5mm and a case thickness of 10.5mm ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side is a rare signed crown. A smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above a sector-style dial. An outer minute track surrounds the applied facet-polished tombstone indexes, marking the hours, as you rotate your wrist, they shimmer in the light. At 3 o'clock a framed date window with cyclops magnification, elegant steel Dauphine hands, and a tapered, sweeping second hand. At noon, we have the Waltham motif “De Luxe” underneath, and at 6 o’clock, Autochron “25” Jewels complete this sophisticated timepiece. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the Waltham motif engraved and the serial number inside an automatic ETA Cal. 1258, 25 Jjewels, beating at a leisurely 18,000 beats per hour. This quality movement was produced from 1953 to 1955. It comes paired with a 19mm leather strap and original Waltham pin buckle and Waltham box.

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Waltham box. It comes with a 19mm leather strap and original Waltham pin buckle. It is from Circa. 1953 and is in wonderful vintage condition, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

Personal Note

This one is particularly special to me, having spent some time in my own personal collection. It's a beautiful example of a watch you simply don't see very often, and one I've thoroughly enjoyed owning in the past. What makes it even more appealing is the collection of original details that have survived with it. The rare signed crown, original Waltham buckle and Waltham box all add enormously to the charm and make this feel like a properly complete vintage package. For me, great vintage is incredibly hard to beat. The proportions, the dial, those wonderful twisted lugs and all the little period details come together beautifully. This is exactly the sort of watch that reminds me why I fell in love with vintage watches in the first place. Hurry and add this gem to your collection today before I keep it!

Specification

Reference : W.L.P. 133 / 1258
Movement : Automatic ETA Cal. 1258
Age : Circa. 1953
Year : 1953
Case Size : 35mm
Case Thickness : 10.5mm
Lug to Lug : 42.5mm
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : Box
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

About Waltham

In 1850, Aaron Dennison founded Waltham, a company that completely transformed watchmaking by introducing the American Watchmaking System. This innovative system was based on the concept of interchangeable parts, which had never been employed before in watchmaking. Waltham's precision machinery ensured that each component was identical, making the assembly and mass production of reliable watches more efficient. Waltham's success grew with the release of the Model 1857, the first American-made pocket watch to achieve practical success. This was a turning point for the company, manufacturing a range of pocket watches, including high-end, elaborately decorated movements like the "Vanguard." Thanks to its reputation for precision, Waltham became the preferred choice for the American railroad system. Its dependable timepieces ensured strict schedules were maintained, contributing to national growth and synchronisation. Despite facing significant challenges, Waltham persevered and became a crucial supplier for the US military during World War II. Their factories produced pocket compasses, timepieces for soldiers, and timing devices for weaponry. In January 1958, an agreement was reached between the Axler-led Waltham Watch Co. and the Chicago-based Hallmark Watch Co. They moved their operations from Massachusetts to Chicago. In the summer of 1962, Waltham opened a new factory in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. In 1968, it was announced that Waltham would be acquired by a Swiss group headed by the Invicta Watch Co. During the 1970s, Waltham was merged into an association with other Swiss makers of inexpensive watches, the Société des Garde-Temps SA (SGT). However, due to the quartz crisis, SGT ceased operations in 1981.

Description

Here we have a 1953 Waltham De Luxe Autochron "25" Jewels 35mm round stainless steel case that curves over your wrist with tapered twisted lugs. A lug-to-lug length of 42.5mm and a case thickness of 10.5mm ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side is a rare signed crown. A smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above a sector-style dial. An outer minute track surrounds the applied facet-polished tombstone indexes, marking the hours, as you rotate your wrist, they shimmer in the light. At 3 o'clock a framed date window with cyclops magnification, elegant steel Dauphine hands, and a tapered, sweeping second hand. At noon, we have the Waltham motif “De Luxe” underneath, and at 6 o’clock, Autochron “25” Jewels complete this sophisticated timepiece. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the Waltham motif engraved and the serial number inside an automatic ETA Cal. 1258, 25 Jjewels, beating at a leisurely 18,000 beats per hour. This quality movement was produced from 1953 to 1955. It comes paired with a 19mm leather strap and original Waltham pin buckle and Waltham box.

Points of Mention

Personal Note

Specification

The Brand

Enquire or Book an Appointment

Would you like to discover further details about this watch, or perhaps arrange an appointment to view and try it on? Complete this form and a member of our team will get back to you shortly.

By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy Policy.

You May Also Like