Vintage Mido Multifort Datometer

I have just found a Vintage Mido Multifort Datometer  With bumper automatic movement. It shall require a thorough cleaning and service.

The vintage Mido Multifort Datometer with a pointer date and bumper movement is a rare and elegant timepiece, featuring a unique date display where an additional hand points to the date on an outer ring of the dial. This configuration was produced in limited quantities during the 1930s to 1950s and is especially prized by collectors for its mechanical ingenuity and clean aesthetic.

Notable Details

• The pointer date complication sets these watches apart from standard calendar models, with the date hand typically in red and circling the outer edge of the dial.

• These watches use bumper automatic movements, such as the Caliber 817 or 917, which provide reliable self-winding and are valued for their historical significance.

• Original examples in good condition, especially with non-luminous dials and steel hands/markers, are exceptionally rare and desirable among vintage watch enthusiasts.

Vintage West End Watch

Vintage West End Watch

Q4 Oct - Dec 2025 Review

I have started the last quarter of 2025 with a special Goofy carton watch by Helbros where the watch works in opposite anti clockwise direction. For the last quarter of 2025, I am hoping to keep the quantities of watches to the minimal. I have till date collected 43 watches and sold 50 watches with a net less 7 watches, which is not bad.

I was offered a nice Rolex stainless steel hooded Bubbleback but the price of HK$400,000 is beyond my budget and I have decided to let it go. Sometimes, watch collecting is about choices too. The last quarter saw an increase in number of watches with historical significant  and relatively inexpensive watches.

Helbros backward watch (3 oct)

JW Benson (19 Oct) This watch reminds me of my earlier days of vintage watch collecting.

North Korean Moranbong watch (20 Oct). This North Korean watch is getting harder to find

Orator moonphase watch with Chinese characters (31 Oct)

Universal Geneve Polerouter (2 Nov) A nice gilt dial!

Rolex ref 3064 hooded Bubbleback (3 Nov). I have managed to collect 5 Rolex hooded watch but this is the first one with the subsidiary seconds.

Vintage 1960s Kongque watch (14 Nov)

Glashutte Spezichron from East Germany

Glashutte Spezichron from East Germany

Glashutte Spezichron from East Germany

Omega Constellation ref 167.005 pie pan black gilt dial (24 Nov)

Rolex 6094from 1952 ( Dec 3, 2025)

Rolex 6075 big Bubbleback (Dec 9, 2025)

Vacheron & Constantin in rare 35mm stainless steel ( Dec 15, 2025), my last watch acquisition for the year 2025

Watches Found in 2025: 43 Watches

1. Jan 10 : Rolex Day Date 18078 18k Yellow gold bark bezel and bracelet

2. Jan 15 : Rolex Big Bubbleback 5030 18k Rose gold 

3. Feb  7 : Rolex Big Bubbleback 6105 18k Yellow gold

4. Feb 25 : Omega Constellation Kim Il Sung

5. March 3 : Rolex 16613 submariner

6. March 4 : Rolex 1807 Day Date blue dial

7. March 16 : Lowenthal Mono Rattrapante chronograph

8. April : Rolex 6298 new old stock dial

9. April 7 : Seagull Special edition moonphase 

10. May 5 : Rolex Bubbleback 2490 subsidiary seconds

11. May 23 : Universal Genève Tri Compax in 18k rose gold

12. May 28 : Rolex 5031 Big Bubbleback from 1947

13. June 1 : Coca Cola Watch by Universal Geneve from the 1950s

14. June 1 : Coca Cola watch by Helbros from the 1950s

15. June 9 : Rolex Prince Zebra

16. June 14 : Rolex GMT ref 1675 mk2

17. June 20 : Rolex DRSD mk4 serial 4

18. June 23 : Aquastar Deepstar

19. July 9 : Eterna Czech pilot watch

20. July 17 : B-Uhr (Beobachtungsuhr) watch

21. Aug 2 : Rolex GMT ref 16758 root beer

22. Aug 8 : Titus Calypsomatic 7085

23. Aug 14 : Rolex GMT ref 16753 root beer

24. Aug 21 : Vintage Wyler Crichettino automatic Incassable watch

25. Sept 6 : Waltham vintage Pepsi logo watch 1950s

26. Sept 9 : Alain Siberstein krono Bauhaus

27. Sept 13 : Alain Silberstein Krono Bauhaus 2

28. Sept 13 : Franck Muller endurance 24

29. Sept 13 : Rolex Bubbleback tropical dial

30. Sept 21 : Rolex Royal ref 6282

31. Oct 2    : Goofy cartoon watch

32. Oct 19.: JW Benson trech watch

33. oct 20 : North Korea Moranbong watch

34. Oct 22 : Rolex ref 3265

35. Nov 2 : Universal Geneve Polerouter

35. Oct 31 : Orator Triple calendars moonphase watch

36. Nov 3 : Rolex hooded Bubbleback ref 3064

37. Nov 13 : Kongque Chinese Watch

38. Nov 19 : Glashutte Spezichron from East Germany 

39. Nov 24 : Omega constellation black gilt pie pan dial ref 167005

40. Dec 9 : Rolex Big Bubbleback 6075

41. Dec 15 : Vacheron & Constantin in 35mm stainless steel 

 

Wish Lists 2025:

1. Rolex 18078 

2. Rolex 5030 

3. Rolex 1807 

4. Rolex Prince Zebra

5. Rolex DRSD 

6. Rolex 16758, Rolex 16753,  

7. Alain Silberstein Kronos Bahaus &  2

8. Alain Siberstein Ikrono

8. Lemania Nuclear sub chronograph

9. Rolex Lapis dial/ Tiger Eye

10. Rolex Sporting Prince Chronometer ref 1883/1599 Prince with full hunter cover 

11. Blancpain Fifty Fathom no radiations

Watches Sold/Trade: 50 watches

1. Jan 6    : Rolex steel 鋼 Bubbleback  ref 6050 traded with Longines Tonneau plus cash 

2. Jan 6    : Sold Mido Melik set 

3. Jan 8    : Sold Spare 海鷗八一軍表

4. Feb 5    : Sold Juvenia hand wind watch

5. Feb 7    : Traded Rolex bi colour 6085, steel 6050 and a steel gold 6105 for a 18k 6105.

6. Feb 17  : Sold a Movado triple calendars

7. Feb 28   : Sold Enemal dial chronograph, 

8. Feb 28   : Sold Omega Constellation, 

9. Feb 28   : Sold Enicar auto

10. Mar 3   : Traded Rolex 6424 for Rolex 16613

11. Mar  9   : Rolex 5050

12. April 11 : Chinese Worldtime spare

13. May 2   : 上海軍表

14. May 2   : Chinese Woldtime spare

15. May 20 : Rolex 5506 Airking

16. May 25 : Bovet Chronograph 

17. June 1 : Tudor big Rose 

18. June 14 : Rolex 1803 rose (duplications)

19. June 20 : Rolex 1016 (duplications)

20. June 20 : Rolex Big Bubbleback 6075 (duplications)

21. June 20 : Rolex Daytona 116523

22. June 21 : Pagol watch sold to China

23. June 27 : Traded Kingston Moonphase, Longines Pointer and Lejour Chrono for a Rolex 

24. Jul 9      : Chinese Wolrd time Watch

25. Jul 12    : Rolex steel bubbleback 6050

26. Jul 12    : Rolex Cushion

27. Aug 4   ：桂花Watch

28. Aug 4    : Westend ladies watch

29. Aug 14 : Rolex 5501

30: Aug 14 : Rolex 1601

31. Aug 31 : JL stainless steel automatic 1970s

32. Sept 3 : Bover Mono Rattrapante

33. Sept 6 : Seiko business A 27 jewel 8346-9000 1969

34. Sept 13 : Nivada Deptatic trade for FM Endurance 

35. Sept 13 : Bremont diver + Dial for a Rolex Bubbleback

36. Oct 15   : Rolex 6103 Bubbleback

37. Oct 15   : FM gold 

38. Oct 18  : Juvenia 18k moonphase

39. Nov 1 : Everite cushion watch

40. Nov 29 : Rolex 1625 Turn O Graph white dial

41. Dec 9 : Rolex steel 3265

42. Dec 9 : Rolex hooded Bubbleback 

43. Dec 15 : Orient triangular 

44. Dec 19 : Rolex 6094

Vacheron Constantin ref 6563 Hand wind calibers

I have been offered this 35mm Vacheron & Constantin watch in stainless steel watch several months ago but owing to the long price negotiation process, it has taken much time  before I could finally acquired the watch. The watch, in my opinion, is very collectible as its size is 35mm (most are 30, 32mm and 34mm) plus it is in stainless steel.

Stainless steel vintage Vacheron & Constantin watches from the 1930s to 1960s do exist, but they are relatively rare compared to gold models from the same period. Most Vacheron Constantin wristwatches produced during this era were made in precious metals like yellow gold, pink gold, or platinum, especially for their high-end and complicated pieces.

However, there are documented examples of stainless steel cases, particularly for certain references and models. For instance, the reference 4072 chronograph was produced in both steel and bicolored (steel/gold) versions, although steel versions are much less common and their production numbers were limited. Additionally, some sector dial pocket watches and specific wristwatch models from the 1930s and 1940s are known to have been made in steel.

Overall, while stainless steel vintage Vacheron Constantin watches from the 1930s–1960s are not abundant, they do appear in auction records and specialist collections, often commanding high interest from collectors due to their rarity.

However, owing to a small hairline scratch on the dial, I was able to get the watch at a relatively good price.

Vintage Vacheron  & Constantin used a wide range of hand‑wound calibers over the 20th century, and any list will be partial rather than truly complete. The calibers below focus on classic, time‑only, hand‑wind movements collectors most often encounter in vintage dress pieces.

1940s–1960s standard manual

• Cal. 453 (sub‑seconds) – manual, time‑only, based on a Jaeger‑LeCoultre ébauche, widely used from the 1940s into the 1960s.

• Cal. 454 (center seconds) – manual, time‑only, center‑seconds version of the 453 with a thicker mainplate to support the extra gearing.

• Cal. 1007/BS (sub‑seconds) – chronometer‑grade, manual, essentially an uprated 453 for Chronomètre Royal, with hacking (balance stop).

• Cal. 1008/BS (center seconds) – center‑seconds version of the 1007/BS with similar chronometer‑oriented upgrades and hacking.

Thin hand‑wound calibers
• Cal. K1001 – thin, manual, sub‑seconds, produced from the 1950s into the late 1970s, derived from a dedicated Jaeger‑LeCoultre base for Vacheron Constantin.

• Cal. K1002 – thin, manual, center‑seconds variant of the K1001, with an extended gear train for the central second hand.

• Cal. K1014 – later thin, manual sub‑seconds movement (about 1970s onward), simplifying the K1001 bridge layout while retaining a slim profile.

Ultra‑thin hand‑wound

• Cal. 1003 – ultra‑thin, manual two‑hand movement (hours and minutes) originally based on the JLC 839/849 family, around 1.64 mm thick and historically one of the thinnest hand‑wound movements ever made.

Tudor ref 7928 submariner

Tudor Submariner reference 7928 is one of the core vintage Tudor dive references and Tudor’s closest equivalent to the Rolex 5512/5513 era pieces. It is a highly collectible watch with many sub-variants, so details matter a lot when assessing originality and value.

Key specifications

• Introduced around 1959 and produced until roughly the late 1960s.

• 39 mm stainless steel case with crown guards (first Tudor Sub to receive crown guards), 200 m / 660 ft water resistance, acrylic crystal, bidirectional black bezel with aluminum insert

• Automatic Fleurier-based caliber 390, 18,000 bph, with “ROTOR / SELF-WINDING” text on the dial in a characteristic upward curve (“smiley” line).

Dial and hand variations

Over its run the 7928 saw multiple dial executions and lume eras, which is where much of the collector interest lies.

• Early examples: gilt chapter-ring dials with the Tudor rose logo and radium lume, often with “exclamation” or underline marks indicating the radium-to-tritium transition.

• Later pieces: matte open-minute-track dials with silver or white printing, tritium lume (“T SWISS T”), sometimes with lollipop seconds hands and still retaining the rose logo and four-line “Oyster-Prince / Submariner / Rotor / Self-Winding” layout.

Case and crown guards

The 7928 is also known for a progression of crown-guard shapes which significantly affect rarity and pricing.

• Very early: square crown guards (extremely scarce, likely low hundreds made), followed by sharper “eagle beak” guards.

• Later: pointed crown guards, then more common rounded crown guards for the bulk of production

Rolex Big Bubbleback ref 6075 (1951-3)

The Rolex 6075 Big Bubbleback is a vintage Oyster Perpetual Date model, notable for its distinctive “bubbleback” case design and classic mid-century Rolex styling. 

The Rolex Big bubbleback series leading to the Datejust consists of the following 

Rolex ref 4467 (solid Gold from year 1945-1949)  

Rolex ref 5030 (Solid gold) , Bi colour steel and gold 5031, 5075, 6031 (from year 1949 - 1950)，

Rolex ref 6075, 6074 (Bi colour from year 1950 - 1953)

Rolex 6104, 6105 (Bi colour modified A296，from year 1951 - 1953) 

Rolex 6304 , 6305, 6309 (Pre ThunderBird) (A296，from year 1953 - 1956)

Rolex Datejust 6604, 6605, 6609 (Thunderbird), 1600, 1601,1603, 1607, 1625 (Thunderbird) (from 1959 - 1977 onwards using Butterfly movement calibre generation features cal. 1065 and later cal. 1565 and 1575.)

Over the years, I have managed to find the ref 6647, 5031,5075, 6031,6104, 6105, 6305, 6309, 6609, 1600, 1601,1603,1607 and 1625. After several years of waiting, I have finally able to add the ref 6075. The Ref 6075 looks similar to the ref 4467 with its coin edege bezel. The movement is similar with the full closure automatic bubbleback movement.

This reference is often found in 18k yellow gold or two-tone (gold and steel) variants, with a 36mm case. The later versions has a signature red “Datejust” text on the dial,

It is very common for Rolex to use whatever case back they have during production by simply re-engraving the new serial nos. For those who don’t know will think it’s fake 

Key Features: 

• Produced in the 1950s–1960s, the ref 6075 features an automatic movement and a date window, with some examples having a small Rolex crown on the dial and an all-red calendar. This one is with the super Oyster direct pulling crown.

• The “bubbleback” case refers to the rounded, domed back typical of early Oyster Perpetual models, giving the watch a unique profile.

• Most 6075s are made in 18k yellow gold or two-tone, with a fluted bezel and a variety of dial colors including white, champagne, and black.

Market Value and Rarity

• The Rolex 6075 Big Bubbleback is considered a rare and collectible vintage model, with prices ranging from HK$20,000–148,000 depending on condition, provenance, and materials.