Comments:
Who else has so called "Salazar marks" on their vintage watch cases? Here we see it on my 145.022-71 .....
....... Speedmaster with a "No NASA" case back.
The "Salazar marks" were stamps, embossed into watch cases on watches imported into Portugal during the Salazar regime as prove that import duties had been paid.
Cheers, HSTE
Well, I guess they are special in the sense that there are not too many around anymore these days since ...
.... the application of these marks stopped more than 40 years ago and since the market (Portugal) seems not to have absorbed massive quantities of imported watches. So, in short, this is just a somewhat rare oddity.
Cheers, HSTE
Cheers, HSTE
That would be really interesting to know how many of them were stamped
Best wishes
Alkiro
Alkiro
I've seen one, very recently, in a watch shop. Omega manual winding Chronometer from the 40's. I will try to take some pictures. [nt]
No message body
I have one...
This JLC Snowdrop E 877 I found NOS in Portugal.
At first I thought the mark was a dent in the case but at closer examination I saw it was a stamp!
Interesting detail which helps us place the watch original market.
Best
Blomman
Mmm I did not know this particular feature. It would be interesting to know how many of them have been produced.
Best.
Perhaps they weren’t “produced” but marked later by customs
If so even the manufacturer might not know how many the distributor declared ( or brought in, which is not the same thing )
Cazalea
)Cazalea
That's it! They did not leave Omega this way, they were "stamped" by customs, hence...
.... I am sure that one would have to consult the customs files in Portugal rather than the Omega archives.
Cheers, HSTE
Cheers, HSTE
Fascinating!
Thank you for that bit of information! Being of Portuguese descent this is fascinating...I have never heard of this but given the Salazar stories I've heard from my parents and grandparents this is not surprising for that era. My grandfather was a barber and he had a clandestine radio in his barber shop because he didn't want to pay the "radio tax" if you ever come across another piece with this distinction please let me know!! All the best!! Tavio
if you ever come across another piece with this distinction please let me know!! All the best!! Tavio
Some more information on these stamps or hallmarks used in Portugal
can be found and was published on the IWC collectors forum and these hallmarks were already used from 1938 onwards on all imported watches.
`Importing the Ref 325s into Portugal Watches imported into Portugal from 1938 to 1985 were stamped with a distinctive hallmark (marca de contraste or just c ontraste) depending on the case metal. The law regulating the hallmarks actually dates from 1932 but it was only fully implemented in 1938. These hallmarks were applied manually , via a stamp (punção), during the impor-t ation process, at one of the regional Assay Offices (Con-t rastarias), which operated at the National Mint`
written by Antonio Gomes for the IWC forum , http://www.iwcforum.com/IWC.pdf
Tony C has (or had) one, and shared it here . . .
. . . a few years ago. Not a Speedmaster; if memory serves correct, it was a precious metal dress watch.
Art
Art