Vintage Waltham Self-Winding Automatic 17J Silver Blue Dial Date 35mm 70s Watch

About this watch

A vintage Waltham automatic with a strong 1970s look: a gold-tone case with sweeping, horn-shaped lugs and a fluted (coin-edge) bezel framing a silver-blue brushed dial. The dial has applied gold-tone double baton markers at 12, 3 (date), 6 and 9, gold-tone hour markers on a dark chapter ring, gold-tone dauphine-style hands and a slim central seconds hand. It is signed with the red Waltham crown logo, "Waltham 17 Jewels" and "Self-Winding Shockresistant", with a date window at 3 o'clock. Inside is a Waltham Watch Co. automatic movement signed "Seventeen 17 Jewels, Waltham Watch Co., Unadjusted, Japan" with the calibre mark S-36C. The steel caseback is signed Waltham, "Antimagnetic, Shockresistant, Waterproof" and "Base metal bezel, St. steel back"; inside it is stamped "Case Hong Kong" with case number B-278B. It is fitted with a gold-tone Speidel expanding bracelet.

Brand heritage

The Waltham Watch Company, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, was one of the great American watchmakers of the 19th and 20th centuries and a pioneer of making watches with interchangeable, machine-made parts. After American production ended, the Waltham name continued on wristwatches made with movements and cases sourced abroad, such as this self-winding model with a Japanese movement and a Hong Kong case.

Why this one is special

• Signed Waltham dial, movement, caseback and inner caseback
• Self-winding (automatic) 17-jewel movement with quick-to-read date at 3 o'clock
• Distinctive 1970s case with horn-shaped lugs and a fluted gold-tone bezel
• Silver-blue brushed dial with applied gold-tone markers and dark chapter ring
• Comfortable Speidel expanding bracelet, no buckle to adjust

Specifications

• Brand / Model: Waltham Self-Winding 17 Jewels, date
• Case number: B-278B (stamped inside the caseback)
• Movement: Waltham Watch Co. automatic, 17 jewels, calibre S-36C, made in Japan, date
• Case size: 35 mm (excluding crown)
• Case: gold-tone base metal case and fluted bezel, stainless steel snap-on caseback, case made in Hong Kong
• Dial: silver-blue brushed, applied gold-tone baton markers, date at 3 o'clock, signed "Waltham 17 Jewels - Self-Winding Shockresistant"
• Bracelet: gold-tone Speidel expanding bracelet with stainless steel bottom caps
• Era: 1970s

Condition

Vintage pre-owned condition with signs of wear that match its age. The gold-tone plating shows wear and marks, most visibly on the back of the lugs and case edges; the bezel and top of the case present well. The caseback has light scratches. The crystal and dial look clean in the photos. The bracelet shows normal wear. Please check all photos carefully, as they are part of the description.
Working at time of listing.

What's included

The watch on a Speidel expanding bracelet, and a green presentation box (the logo inside the lid is worn; not confirmed as an original Waltham box). No papers.

Shipping & Returns

Free shipping with DHL from Cairo, Egypt.
30-day returns, buyer pays return shipping.

Ref: H890