Vintage 1950s Delbana 15J Manual Wind Small Seconds Patina Dial 37mm Swiss Watch

About this watch

A large-for-its-era 1950s Delbana with oversized Arabic numerals, slender dark hands and a small-seconds register at 6 o'clock. The warm ivory dial, signed "Delbana", "15 Jewels" and "Antimagnetic", has developed an even, characterful vintage patina.

The round 37mm steel-tone case has a snap-on stainless steel back and is fitted with a period-style expanding metal bracelet. Inside is a Swiss hand-wound movement signed Delbana and marked 15 Rubis, shown in the photographs.

Brand heritage

Delbana was founded in 1931 in Grenchen, Switzerland, by Goliardo Della Balda, a watchmaker originally from San Marino; the name is a contraction of his surname. By the 1950s the company was producing over 100,000 watches a year and exporting solid, well-priced Swiss watches worldwide. Delbana later merged with Wega in 1976, and in 2001 joined Delma and moved to Lengnau, where the name continues today.

Why this one is special

• Generous 37mm size, noticeably larger than most 1950s Delbana watches (typically 33–35mm)
• Signed Delbana 15-jewel Swiss manual-wind movement
• Classic sub-seconds layout with big Arabic numerals
• Warm, evenly aged ivory patina dial

Specifications

• Brand: Delbana
• Era: 1950s
• Movement: Swiss manual wind, signed Delbana, 15 jewels (15 Rubis)
• Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds at 6
• Dial: ivory with patina, Arabic numerals, signed Delbana / 15 Jewels / Antimagnetic
• Case: steel-tone, round, approx. 37 mm, stainless steel snap back
• Bracelet: period-style expanding metal bracelet

Condition

Vintage pre-owned condition. The dial shows pronounced age-related patina and marks. The case back, crystal and expanding bracelet show normal scratches and wear from use. The box shows age and storage wear. Service history is unknown and no guarantee of accuracy, power reserve or water resistance is offered. Please check all photos carefully as they are part of the description.
Working at time of listing.

What's included

The watch and a Delbana-branded presentation box (not claimed as the original box issued with this watch). No papers.

Shipping & Returns

Ships from Cairo, Egypt. Please see the shipping and returns details in this listing.