Best buy for the year 2024

There are many great reasons to buy a vintage watch. Every watch has its own story. Over the  years, with every scratch, dent and aging of the dial and case, they have become unique timepieces of their own. These watches you are looking at now, once brought a lot of joy to their first owner with the purchase years ago. And now many years later this vintage watches will continue to bring the same joy to my life.  

Every year, I shall do a summary of the watches that I have traded away plus those newly acquired. For the year 2024, it has been an interesting journey and eventful years where I reinforced my Rolex Bubbleback series; finetuned my Non Rolex watches plus managed to build a small unique collections of Vacheron & Constantin watches & Mainland Chinese watches & also vintage chronograph watches.

For 2025, I shall definitely slow down the growth of number of watches. Instead, I shall continue to focus on my core collections.

The Rolex 1016 has been fully restored with an new old stock dial.

Rolex Bubbleback ref 2940 from 1946 with a nice history and all original conditions 

Finally added a Rolex ref  4645 square Bubbleback in my collection

Rolex Bubbleback with subsidiuary seconds ref 2764 from 1942

Left: Vacheron & Constantin ref 6694 with Batman lugs and nice gold caliber 1072 automatic rotor. It fits my requirement of having the gold rotor, screw back case and big watch.

Center :Vacheron & Constantin Ref 4996 (Special Gift from JJ)

Right : First automatic bumper movement Vacheron & Constantin

Tudor Big Rose Tudor 7926

Nivada Grenchen depthomatic diver automatic ref. 104 in Tropical white diala dn black dial

White lacquered dial Red flag watches 

Rolex 18k yellow gold ref 6305 Big Bubbleback

海鸥八一钢铁長城表

Vintage 37mm Universal Geneve 18k rose gold watch made for Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia

1920s Cushion shape Vintage Chronografo Escasany Single button chronograph 

New old stock bevelled edge lugs 1920s Early “anonymous” or “sterile” enamel dial chronograph using Valjoux 22 caliber. 

Bovet Mono Rattrapante Chronograph Watch Valjoux 84

Bovet second generation Mono Rattrapante Chronograph Valjoux 84 in 38mm

Traded/Sold Watches:

1. Jan 14 : Sold Vintage Mickey Mouse Watch

2. Jan 22 : Sold Big Bubbleback 5075

3. Feb 26 : Sold spare CWC Military

4. March 25 : Sold Ernie watch

5. May 9 : Sold JLC new old stock steel auto date

6. May 9  : Sold Seiko slim watch

7. May 11 : Sold Silvana steel watch 

8. May 15 : Traded Avia jumping seconds plus telephone dial watch for a Longines Tonneau watch

9. May 29 : Traded a Roger Debuis ashtray for a 1972 Nixon watch

10. May 23 : Zenith square automatic date

11. May 25 : Traded Eska for a Seiko 6138-0040 bullhead 

12. May 27 : Sold a spare Rado Lapis dial watch  

13. May 31 : Traded Omega constellation plus cash top up for a Rolex Bubbleback 

14. June 13 : Seiko Bullhead 6138-0040 

15. June 19 : IWC steel with bracelet

16. June 28 : Omega Constellation 168.005 for VC 4996

17. June 28 : Rolex Bubbleback ref 2940 for VC 4996

18. August 17 : Rolex Bubbleback 5015 Scientific dial

19. August 26 : Tissot Worldtimer

20. September 13 : PP 

21. September 24 : Vintage Citizen watch

22. October 29 : Spare Red flag watch

23. November 5 : Sold Nivada worldtime watch

24. November.5 : Traded Rolex 6082 handwind for a Rolex 6305 Big Bubblebacxk.

25. December 2 : Traded an Orient diver watch for a Chronografo Escasany Single button chronograph.

26. December 10 : Traded a bi-colour 6305 for an 18k gold 6305 Big Bubbleback

Wish Lists 2025:

1. Rolex 1807 or 18078 

2. Rolex 1607

3. Rolex Lapis dial/ Tiger Eye

4. Rolex 5030

JAEGER-LECOULTRE MEMOVOX ALARM VINTAGE WATCH E872

JAEGER-LECOULTRE MEMOVOX ALARM VINTAGE WATCH E872

Jaeger LeCoultre, Memovox HPG, ref. E872, a stainless steel watch, no. 1268xxx, circa 1960s, automatic high-beat alarm movement, calibre 916. It has a rare blue dial with blue central alarm indicator, facetted silver hour markers, hour and minute hands with luminous inserts, central seconds hand with square luminous insert, date aperture to 6 o'clock, screw down case back, case, dial, crowns and movement signed, diameter 38mm x 45mm.

In 1969 Jaeger-LeCoultre developed the improved calibre 916, known as the 'Speedbeat' due to its higher frequency. The movement also allowed complete rotation of the winding rotor, doing away with the 'bumper' action. In the dials had an additional 'HPG' logo standing for 'High Precision Guarantee'

It was retail at US$160 in 1970. The equivalent of 160 USD on 09 September 1970 is 1 295.2 USD on 29 December 2024 (

Early gold capped Tudor Prince Oysterdate small rose

This is an early gold capped Tudor Prince Oysterdate small rose 

Q4 Oct - Dec 2024 Review

We are now at Q4 of the year 2024. For Q4, I have started to consolidate some Mainland Chinese watches with special design and historical importance and further consolidated my Rolex collection plus I have expanded my vintage chronograph series.

Collecting the Chinese mechanical watches is no easy tasks as there are many fakes and replicas. There are also many with mixed old and new parts. There are many collectors who asked me why collect Chinese watches? The reason is simple. Firstly, I am an overseas Chinese and I am naturally attracted in made in Chinese watches. Secondly, there are only four major watch manufacturing countries namely the Swiss & German, Japanese and the Chinese who really produce watches from start to finish. 

In early 2000s, when I was actively colllecting Japanese Seiko watches, the same question was asked as to why I collect Japanese Seiko. As a watch collector where funds are limited, one will need to have the foresight to see what will be the next phase and the next big things. Collecting these Chinese watches are inexpensive now but give it another 5-10 years, it will be an expensive exercise.

Oct 4 : 孔雀

Oct 4 : 南宁桂花表

Oct 8, Rolex semi Bubbleback ref 6085

白漆系列 White lacuered dials series

充满70年代辽宁手表厂色彩的集合

紅汉字系列

小紅旗系列

Rolex 18k yellow gold ref 6305 from 1953

Seagull 八一钢铁長城表

白漆紅旗表

Vintage 37mm Universal Geneve 18k rose gold watch made for Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia

North Korean Moranbong watch

1920s Cushion shape Vintage Chronografo Escasany Single button chronograph 

New old stock bevelled edge lugs 37mm 1920s Early “anonymous” or “sterile” enamel dial chronograph using Valjoux 22 caliber. 

Bovet first generation Mono Rattrapante Chronograph Valjoux 84 in 36mm

This is a barn find Bovet second generation Mono Rattrapante Chronograph Valjoux 84 in 38mm. This will be an interesting restoration project.

Traded/Sold Watches:

1. Jan 14 : Sold Vintage Mickey Mouse Watch

2. Jan 22 : Sold Big Bubbleback 5075

3. Feb 26 : Sold spare CWC Military

4. March 25 : Sold Ernie watch

5. May 9 : Sold JLC new old stock steel auto date

6. May 9  : Sold Seiko slim watch

7. May 11 : Sold Silvana steel watch 

8. May 15 : Traded Avila jumping seconds plus telephone dial watch for a Longines Tonneau watch

9. May 29 : Traded a Roger Debuis ashtray for a 1972 Nixon watch

10. May 23 : Zenith square automatic date

11. May 25 : Traded Eska for a Seiko 6138-0040 bullhead 

12. May 27 : Sold a spare Rado Lapis dial watch  

13. May 31 : Traded Omega constellation plus cash top up for a Rolex Bubbleback 

14. June 13 : Seiko Bullhead 6138-0040 

15. June 19 : IWC steel with bracelet

16. June 28 : Omega Constellation 168.005 for VC 4996

17. June 28 : Rolex Bubbleback ref 2940 for VC 4996

18. August 17 : Rolex Bubbleback 5015 Scientific dial

19. August 26 : Tissot Worldtimer

20. September 13 : Patek Philippe

21. September 24 : Vintage Citizen Watch

22. October 29 : Spare Red flag Watch

23. November 5 : Sold Nivada worldtime watch

24. November.5 : Traded Rolex 6082 handwind for a Rolex 6305 Big Bubblebacxk.

25. December 2 : Traded an Orient diver watch for a One button chronograph.

26. Dec 10 : Traded bi colour 6305 for 18k 6305

Revival of a steel Bovet Mono-Rattrapante Chronograph Watch (Second series) - part 1

The last time I embarked on a watch major restoration project was in June 2022 where a Rolex Prince was fully restored. For the end of 2024, I have decided to embark on a major restoration of a barn find old Bovet Mono-Rattrapante chronograph in its original untoched condition as follows. Owing to its conditions, the price is very reasonable (at 1996 Antiquorum price).

Bovet, an old and renowned watchmaker from 1822, is known as the inventor of the transparent case back and as the first Swiss watchmaker to approach the Chinese market in the early 1800s. It was in 1936 that Bovet created and patented a "mono-rattrapante" chronograph system that acted similarly to a split-seconds mechanism. The mechanism of the chronograph is started by the push button at 2 o'clock, while the push button at 4 would stop it and when released allowed the time to catch up to the actual time.  The Valjoux 84  was exclusively produced for Bovet Frères for their "Mono Rattrapante" between about 1936 and 1950. 

This example is the most coveted version (black dial with lumed numerals) and is the second versions. Its sublime intact black dial has survived the epochs, with Arabic numerals and its original patinated radium that give a unique appeal to the chronograph. 

As you can see from the photos, the case is full of rust, cracked crystal plus watch is not in working condition. It will be an interesting project restoring the watch. 

I have waited anxiously last night hoping that I can get this beauty and this morning when I woke up, I have finally have confirmation that it is mine. Once the watch has arrived, I shall start the restoration project with KK Sifu soon! 

This is a 38mm bigger size bovet Mono Rattrapante watch with stepped case

With the Impermeabkle case

This watch is similar to https://sabiwatches.com/product/1950s-bovet-mono-rattrapante-with-valjoux-85

Another example : https://www.stetzcowatches.com/product/1950s-oversized-bovet-chronograph-38mm-steel/

Another example : https://www.antiquewatch-carese.com/mens-watch/other/mo1970.html

Summary of all 4 watches :