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crobinsonandco@n
·Hi Everyone. Just wondered whether anyone knows this Smiths model? Case size is 31mm exc crown.
Smiths watch, does anyone know this model?
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Charlemagne1333
·‘Made in Engand’ 15 jewel movement, so possibly early-mid 1950’s De Luxe.
Edited:
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size11s
·It's a transitional RG0307 to A204. I say 'transitional' as the dial has had a second printing to put the coronet and De Luxe on the dial. As originally made, circa 1950/51 (the mvt serial dates it to circa 1950), it only had SmithS on the dial but SmithS rebranded the watches circa 1952, introducing the De Luxe range and adding the coronet, supposedly to commemorate the coronation of queen Elizabeth 2nd. So I think this was a dial in stock for a couple of years and given the extra printing to keep in line with the sales schtick at the time.
I have a couple of dials similarly printed and the difference in the printing between the SmithS text and the De Luxe and coronet is quite clear, and certainly not from the same printing plate.
Edit to add - the mvt has had bridges swapped presumably during repair but apart from that it's a very nice example. Even the spring bars look like the original Dennison ones supplied with the watch.
I have a couple of dials similarly printed and the difference in the printing between the SmithS text and the De Luxe and coronet is quite clear, and certainly not from the same printing plate.
Edit to add - the mvt has had bridges swapped presumably during repair but apart from that it's a very nice example. Even the spring bars look like the original Dennison ones supplied with the watch.
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crobinsonandco@n
·It's a transitional RG0307 to A204. I say 'transitional' as the dial has had a second printing to put the coronet and De Luxe on the dial. As originally made, circa 1950/51 (the mvt serial dates it to circa 1950), it only had SmithS on the dial but SmithS rebranded the watches circa 1952, introducing the De Luxe range and adding the coronet, supposedly to commemorate the coronation of queen Elizabeth 2nd. So I think this was a dial in stock for a couple of years and given the extra printing to keep in line with the sales schtick at the time.
I have a couple of dials similarly printed and the difference in the printing between the SmithS text and the De Luxe and coronet is quite clear, and certainly not from the same printing plate.
Edit to add - the mvt has had bridges swapped presumably during repair but apart from that it's a very nice example. Even the spring bars look like the original Dennison ones supplied with the watch.
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ghce
·Now that is a deep dive into the Deluxe!
Here is mine.
Here is mine.
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size11s
·There is a SmithS sub forum over on MWR where there are folks that know much more than me and it's a great resource for all things SmithS from Cheltenham, and more. I think some of the watches are attached to interesting historical events and some are even of decent quality and quite attractive....lol
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ghce
·There is a SmithS sub forum over on MWR where there are folks that know much more than me and it's a great resource for all things SmithS from Cheltenham, and more. I think some of the watches are attached to interesting historical events and some are even of decent quality and quite attractive....lol
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crobinsonandco@n
·Being in NZ I particularly wanted an original deluxe with it's close association with the first successful summit of MT Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary rather than a later tribute Everest marked watch, never been into tribute watches lol.
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size11s
·Sir Edmund Hillary's SmithS watch that was with him atop Everest, it is thought to be a one off by SmithS particularly for purpose and appears to be a 'one off' dial. Donated by by him and now on view in the Science Museum. It doesn't have a product code as far as I know. The A409 was the 13 watches presented to the team post the summit ascent.
At this point in time I think this is the nearest commercially available watch to the 'Hillary'. They come up for sale very occasionally.
At this point in time I think this is the nearest commercially available watch to the 'Hillary'. They come up for sale very occasionally.
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size11s
·Another example of a 'transitional' twice printed dial with the 'old' SmithS text and the 'new' De Luxe and coronet, movement dated circa 1951. The above 2 topics of the SmithS and SmithS De Luxe and Hillary's Everest watch are linked as obviously all around a similar period. I will stop now 🤣
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ghce
·There is of course this thread on here and another within that thread.
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sheepdoll
·I love the old Smiths adverts in the British Horological Trade Journals.
For a while I was doing searches and keeping tabs on a 'generic' smiths. They kept getting bid higher than I was willing. After a few other botched goodwill type 'generic' watches I figured it was better to spend the denari (film admissions and lunch costs) on omega parts.
Curious I never noticed the coronet on the Smiths logo before. Surprised that other brand did not slap them with a trademark infringement, or was that the other way round.
For a while I was doing searches and keeping tabs on a 'generic' smiths. They kept getting bid higher than I was willing. After a few other botched goodwill type 'generic' watches I figured it was better to spend the denari (film admissions and lunch costs) on omega parts.
Curious I never noticed the coronet on the Smiths logo before. Surprised that other brand did not slap them with a trademark infringement, or was that the other way round.
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size11s
·Some say it's a coronet, others say a muscular chest, or similar.....
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ghce
·There is a SmithS sub forum over on MWR where there are folks that know much more than me and it's a great resource for all things SmithS from Cheltenham, and more. I think some of the watches are attached to interesting historical events and some are even of decent quality and quite attractive....lol
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JimInOz
··Melbourne AustraliaSome say it's a coronet, others say a muscular chest, or similar.....
😁
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1812602/
JimInOz ·
And is it just me...........or was the dial designer for the De Luxe nostalgically remembering "the night before" as he designed the logo?
😁
😁
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ghce
·or similar............
😁
https://omegaforums.net/posts/1812602/JimInOz ·And is it just me...........or was the dial designer for the De Luxe nostalgically remembering "the night before" as he designed the logo?
😁