Cheapo Vintage Beauties

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I bought that exact Rodania from someone on eBay about a year ago. Same dial and scratch on the crystal around 8.
Absolutely love it and wear it quite often in my rotation. Hopefully you'll be pleased to learn it's still in the OF and living a great life.

Pic from a few weeks ago and one I just took!
Lovely, and nice to see it back in the OF family! 😀
 
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What a great idea this thread! I often feel at least the same, maybe even more, enjoyment when I find a cheap watch that just blows me away in terms of how nice it is to wear or how much fun it is.

This is a pretty cool Wyler with a Explorer-style dial.



This Zodiac is pretty fun too. It’s super flat, has a lovely Peseux 330 movement and the dial design is very clean with its 12 as the only numerals on it. It also has a signed crown as a bonus.




I don’t know much about this watch, but it’s all steel and has nice patina.



Funky, chunky brick of coolness. Really like this dial design. The perfectly patinated tritium complements it nicely.
 
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What a great idea this thread! I often feel at least the same, maybe even more, enjoyment when I find a cheap watch that just blows me away in terms of how nice it is to wear or how much fun it is.

This is a pretty cool Wyler with a Explorer-style dial.



This Zodiac is pretty fun too. It’s super flat, has a lovely Peseux 330 movement and the dial design is very clean with its 12 as the only numerals on it. It also has a signed crown as a bonus.

Loving that Zodiac! Super clean look.
 
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Loving that Zodiac! Super clean look.
Thanks, it’s a nice minimalistic design. Another cool feature is that it has a screwed caseback, even though it’s pretty thin.
 
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A few thats passed and a few still there.
Man, you really took this to heart. I like the Silena Exclusive. Do you have the only one in existence?😉
 
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Got this recently for about 17 cents so it definatly a cheapie, as for beauty it could be but not right now. Damn thing ticks like a cartoon time bomb, you wouldn't want to try and sleep with this on your wrist.
It's a one 1 jewel movement Swiss Movt Ruby Deluxe and looks are ok for the $10 you would have bought it for in the 60-70's.
My WM convinced me it wasn't worth servicing, I may have to convince him otherwise, I really quite like it!

Did you try beating the seller down a bit?
 
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simple tank from a friend. Not sure if its Rubens SA or Rubensa. No luck on mikrolisk
You’d think it’d be more curvaceous…

[edit - excuse the rash of meaningless posts, it’s Saturday night and I’m incredibly bored despite the plethora of sport on tonight. I commend you all on some outstanding looking purchases, regardless of their qualities as timepieces]
Edited:
 
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Man, you really took this to heart. I like the Silena Exclusive. Do you have the only one in existence?😉
Actually only the Lavina I have left of those!
 
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Here's my contender. Look beyond the heavily-crazed crystal (which I'll replace when/if I ever get it serviced). It's what was called a "Monet" in the movie Clueless: looks better at a distance. Found in a box of watch tools and parts that were gifted to me, with a really comfortable Nato added that cost $6.95. Runs perfectly!

 
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Actually only the Lavina I have left of those!
That's a really great looking watch. I, too, enjoy finding (relatively) unknown brands that offer great quality.
 
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That's a really great looking watch. I, too, enjoy finding (relatively) unknown brands that offer great quality.
Yes you really can find great quality watches for great value! 😀
 
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I also bought this beauty yesterday (not my pics, since it's still in shipping).
It sure is exquisite 😀
ae5348518c81eba1f66e2038e94dfa4bdb07f1a4.jpeg

b711e0b501c82b8753b221d406d475c606fbdfc7.jpeg
 
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This cost me £60 a few years ago. It’s probably worth at least £65 now.

Nope! Almost £69 I bet! ha ha. I love all these no-value-but-quite-nice watches. It is not necessary to spend a huge amount of money to be happy!
 
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I probably have a dozen Benrus and Bulova watches from the 40's and 50's. Some are solid gold, some are GF, some are capped, and some have SS backs. All are tank style and make beautiful dress watches. While I can't classify them as "Cheapo," unfortunately their lack of popularity has driven their prices down to less than a large pizza would command. I wish I had more occasion to wear them.
 
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That's a really great looking watch. I, too, enjoy finding (relatively) unknown brands that offer great quality.
Great pieces! But come on, now - you know that great Flying Dutchman doesn't belong down on this floor... 😉
 
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I also bought this beauty yesterday (not my pics, since it's still in shipping).
It sure is exquisite 😀
ae5348518c81eba1f66e2038e94dfa4bdb07f1a4.jpeg

b711e0b501c82b8753b221d406d475c606fbdfc7.jpeg

Beautiful! May I ask how much you paid for such an exquisite piece?
 
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Beautiful! May I ask how much you paid for such an exquisite piece?
I'll give away that I was lucky enough to pay substantially less than the price I'd value it at!