Cruvon's Vintage Watch Collection Showcase

Cruvon shares his 'newbie' vintage watch collection, offering a detailed look at six diverse timepieces acquired over the past year. His post provides historical context and personal insights into each watch, ranging from a rare Breitling Navitimer to a unique Pierre Cardin Jaeger Espace. This curated selection showcases significant eras in watchmaking, from space exploration to aviation and diving heritage.

Hi guys, am new here and this is surely an interesting place so  thought will share some of my vintages I have collected over the last year with you.

L to R

1) 2010 50th Anniversary Accutron Spaceview (Not strictly vintage) commemorating 50 years of the tuning fork movement excusively handmade by Bulova in 1000 pieces replicating their 1960 Alpha Spaceview with the tuning fork movement that they rebuilt from scratch. These movements had very rich space history, used as timing instruments in flight instrumentation in all space mission during the 60's-70's US space run.


2) 1975 100th Anniversary Swiss made tuning fork Spaceview commemorating the founder of Bulova. None would have thought electronic watches survive this long but these tuning fork movements from the 60's are still being serviced and run today. They had a very rich space history as described above. The strange case design is because the case was made to resemble a tuning fork. These Anniversary Accutrons were made for only a year and are very rare in Stainless steel and as Swiss made ones. This one is in NOS condition.

3) 1971 Pierre Cardin Jaeger Espace Craterdrome exclusively designed by Pierre Cardin himself, made for about 2 years and sold exclusively at Pierre Cardins Espace boutiques in Paris. The design was inspired by space travel and the moon landings so is in the shape of the moons crater. Sports a Jaeger Le Coultre movement inside. Found this as NOS.

4) 1955 Breitling 1st generation all black Valjoux 72 pre 806 AOPA Navitimer. These are the rarest of Navitimers sporting radium lume and made between 1954 and 1955 exclusively for AOPA members as a flying instrument/computer to be used by member pilots(AOPA are still around today www.aopa.org ). These are identified by their Valjoux 72 movement and no 806 reference number written on their caseback. They fall within a certain well documented serial number range. They also have tell tale markings on their movements to ascertain originality. The later 1st generation all black dial Navitimers have Venus movements and 806 inscribed on their casebacks. While many think the Navitimer dials seem crowded, not many possibly know that that's because it sports a slide rule and can be used for multiplication, division, calculating ground speed, miles per minute, rate of descent or climb, distance in climb or descent and for nautical and statute mile conversion all in one, is a fabulous feat of engineering complications!

5) 1946 Breitling Triple date Valjoux 72C Datora in 18k rose gold. Were usually found with Venus movements but very few with Valjoux 72C movements. Has very unique and beautiful stick hands and gold markers set on a creamy satin"ish dial with no lume, so that possibly helped it survive all these decades, plus the square pushers, was a barn find! This one was to satisfy my craving for a Rolex triple date and think it does that in spades, love it!

6) Rolex Mark 6 red submariner, is also my birth year sub!

Overall a good vintagey year for me encompassing timepieces with rich Space, Fashion, Aviation, the era of Complications and Diving heritage. Hope you enjoy the pics!