Vintage Chronographs: Collector's Comparison Guide

Eric67 · 2025-07-03T19:37:24Z

Explore the vintage chronograph battle: Mathey Tissot Type XX, Tudor 7169, and Omega Speedmaster 145.012. Collectors discuss design, challenges, and which icon to choose.

Eric67, a long-time member of the WatchProSite community, recently sparked a lively discussion by presenting three highly coveted vintage chronographs from his personal wishlist: the Mathey Tissot Type XX, Tudor 7169, and Omega Speedmaster 145.012. His post invites fellow collectors to weigh in on which of these iconic timepieces they would choose, prompting a fascinating exploration of design, wearability, and the challenges of vintage watch collecting. This article synthesizes the community's diverse perspectives, offering valuable insights for anyone considering these horological treasures.

Key Points from the Discussion

The Mathey Tissot Type XX, while appealing on paper with its blend of sporty and dressy elements like rose gold and faceted lugs, can feel contradictory in person, and some find the movement's decoration overly ornate.
Collecting vintage watches often comes with challenges such as encountering 'pieced together' watches, unoriginal parts, dial and hand issues, and difficulty finding competent watchmakers or scrupulous dealers.
The Tudor 7169 and Omega Speedmaster 145.012 are both highly regarded, with the Tudor often praised for its original design, and the no-date Speedmaster being a strong contender.
The Mathey Tissot Type XX is considered by some to be the most aesthetically pleasing of the three chronographs.
Trying on a watch is crucial, but difficult for collectors in remote areas, leading to reliance on online information and potentially misjudging a watch's appeal based on condition rather than inherent design.
Some vintage references, like certain Mathey Tissot Type XX variations, are exceedingly difficult to find on the market.

The Discussion

amanico

Jul 3, 2025

Agree on the first two, but why not a straight lugs Speedie?

Eric67

Jul 3, 2025

I think I prefer the lyre lugs 🤔

amanico

Jul 4, 2025

In this case, this is the one to get... Unless you catch THE Alaska Project.

But unfindable:

Eric67

Jul 4, 2025

Fantastic the Alaska

But as you said unfindable. And I don't want to know the price

amanico

Jul 4, 2025

The reedtion from the early 2000's is high in price, but the vintage is totally crazy. Less than ten were made... ;)

orahu

Jul 3, 2025

The Tissot or Omega for me.

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