ISTANBUL FLEA MARKET AT GRAND BAZAAR

I went to Istanbul Grand Bazaar on the first day before conference started. It is so huge bazaar, can find a lot of gifts to take home, t-shirts, textiles, antiques and of course my favourite item.. vintage watches.

Not many vintage watches for sale, few shops and stalls and the price unbelievable.. expensive!!! Mondia with blue dial and sub-second for TLR750.00 (RM1700), Seiko Helmet for TLR550.00 (RM1200) and non negotiable! so I just looked at them......

Penat juga merayau-rayau dalam bazaar tu tapi hati kecewa sebab harga jam vintage mahal sangat nak haggle pun berapa sangat Pak Turki tu nak bagi jadi ambil gambar aje le.... Dalam banyak-banyak tempat flea market, harga yang berpatutan masih juga Portobelo London

Thank You and Kind Regards
Irhomdeys

VINTAGE BENRUS SQUARE AUTOMATIC MEN'S WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

VINTAGE BENRUS SQUARE MEN'S WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1960'S

TWO TONE BROWN/WHITE SQUARE DIAL WITH QUICKSET DATE WINDOW AT 3 O'CLOCK

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK AND NOR SCRATCHES

SWISS BENRUS 21 JEWEL AUTOMATIC WINDING MOVEMENT

OPEN THROUGH CRYSTAL

GOLD TONE METAL HANDS

RAISED GOLD TONE STICK MARKERS

STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 38mm INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 36mm LUG TO LUG

UNSIGNED CROWN

ORIGINAL WIRE MESH BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... VERY RARE AND HARD TO FIND!

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE : USD300.00 NOW OFFER AT BELOW COST FOR RMUSD200.00

BRIEF HISTORY OF BENRUS, SOVEREIGN AND BELFORTE WATCHES

Although the company went out of business in 1977, large numbers of their well made and dependable fine Benrus watches are available as vintage collectors’ items.

Way back in 1921 three brothers called Oscar, Ralph and Benjamin Lazrus founded the Benrus Watch Company. History doesn’t tell us why Benjamin was the brothers’ name that was chosen but the company name, Benrus, is a combination of the first syllable of his name and the second syllable of their family name. Benrus watches is sometimes mistaken for a Swiss watch making company because early in its history the American owned and operated company leased one floor of factory space from a Swiss owned watch making company that was located in La Chaux de Fonds in Switzerland. Their reason for doing this was to help to circumvent the draconian regulations against the use of Swiss watch movements in foreign time pieces. The earliest models of Benrus watches featured precision movements made by the Schild Company, a well known and established Swiss watch maker. The first watch casings from the Benrus Watch Company are not marked with their brand name due to the Swiss regulations discussed previously.

In the decade of the 1930’s the innovative and creative styling of Benrus watches started to attract quite a following. Their chic designs featured such innovations as cushion watches and rectangular shaped watch casings. It was during this period of time that the Benrus Watch Company first became well known to the American consumer market. The company continued to be known as a leader in style and design in the watch making industry. During the 1940’s they made a range of fine time pieces that are avidly sought after by vintage watch collectors today. Perhaps the most famous of these was the manually winding calendar watch.

Other brands that sold under the Benrus name were

SOVEREIGN
BELFORTE

In the 1960's through the late 70's, Benrus made military issue watches used by the Army and Navy. These were issued to servicemen fighting in the Vietnam War.

Early in the 1960's Ben and Ralph Lazrus were in their 70's and ready for retirement. By the mid to late 70's Benrus Incorporated was a diversified manufacturer of a number of consumer products. Companies included: Benrus Watch Co. Watches, Wells, Inc. Jewelry, and Destino, Ltd. - Christian Dior Products. An attempt to consolidate all the various manufacturing enterprises under one roof proved to be a much more expensive move than anyone calculated, and a final blow to the company which subsequently filed bankrupt in 1977.

The company was then sold, and after passing through several more hands, came under the ownership of the Hampden Company, which also owned "Fantasy Diamonds", with factories in both the Virgin Islands and Chicago. An attempt was made to bring back the Benrus brand under Hampden/Fantasy, which was somewhat successful but short lived. Among others, a reissue of Vietnam service watches proved very popular.

HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE ORIENT AUTOMATIC MEN'S WRISTWATCH

VINTAGE ORIENT WATER BRIT MEN'S WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1960'S

BLACK TONE DIAL WITH DATE WINDOW AT 3 O'CLOCK

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN, NO CRACK NOR SCRATCHES

THE JAPAN ORIENT 21 JEWELS AUTOMATIC WINDING MOVEMENT WITH SPECIAL MINI ROTOR

GOLD TONE METAL HANDS

RAISED GOLD TONE BATON MARKERS

GOLD PLATED STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 33mm INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 34mm LUG TO LUG

ORIGINAL CROWN

NEW GENUINE BLACK LEATHER BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... !

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE : SOLD TO MAJOR SAB FROM IPOH

VINTAGE SWISS ORIS AUTOMATIC MEN'S WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

VINTAGE ORIS MEN'S WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1960'S

SILVER TONE DIAL WITH DATE WINDOW AT 3 O'CLOCK

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN, NO CRACK NOR SCRATCHES

THE SWISS ORIS 25 JEWELS AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT

SILVER TONE METAL HANDS

RAISED SILVER TONE BATON MARKERS

STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 42mm INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 44mm LUG TO LUG

ORIGINAL CROWN

NEW GENUINE BROWN LEATHER BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... !

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PSOLD TO TUAN RIZAL FROM BANGI RM600.00

VINTAGE SWISS BULOVA MEN'S WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

VINTAGE BULOVA MEN'S WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1960'S

CLEAN AND SHINNING LIKE NEW TWO TONE GREEN DIAL

DATE WINDOW AT 6 O'CLOCK

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK NOR SCRATCHES

BULOVA 17 JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT

LUMINOUS SILVER TONE HANDS

RAISED SILVER/BLACK STICK MARKERS

FLUTTED BEZEL

STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 33mm NOT INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 40mm LUG TO LUG

ORIGINAL SS CROWN

GENUINE DARK BROWN LEATHER BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... VERY RARE AND HARD TO FIND!

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

SOLD TO MR SIMON FROM KLANG

History of Bulova, Accutron and Caravelle Watches and Their Place in Time

1912 - Bulova sets up its first plant dedicated to the production of watch components and their assembly into jeweled movements in Bienne, Switzerland. 1919 - During World War I, the convenience of wristwatches (as opposed to pocket watches) is discovered. In 1919 Bulova introduces the first full line of men's jeweled wristwatches. 1875

1875 - Joseph Bulova, a 23-year-old immigrant from Bohemia, opens a small jewelry shop on Maiden Lane in New York City.

1911 - Bulova begins manufacturing and selling boudoir and table clocks as well as fine pocket watches. These pieces are sold in unprecedented numbers.

1912 - Bulova sets up its first plant dedicated to the production of watch components and their assembly into jeweled movements in Bienne, Switzerland. 1919 - During World War I, the convenience of wristwatches (as opposed to pocket watches) is discovered. In 1919 Bulova introduces the first full line of men's jeweled wristwatches.

1920 - Bulova Watch Company, Inc. moves to 580 Fifth Avenue and builds the Bulova Observatory on top of the building for the taking of sidereal time. This is the first Observatory ever built atop a skyscraper. The Observatory is under the direction of a mathematician whose readings are electrically recorded, instantaneously, on a chronograph hundreds of feet below the observatory, guiding the Bulova watchmakers in the Setting and Timing unit of the Company.

1923 -The name Bulova Watch Company, Inc. is adopted. Bulova perfects a new concept in the watch industry with total standardization of parts. Every part of a Bulova watch is made with such precision (standardized to the ten thousandth part of an inch) that it is interchangeable with the same part in any other Bulova watch. This revolutionizes the servicing of watches.

1952 - Bulova introduced Accutron Turning Fork, the first breakthrough in timekeeping technology in over 300 years. Accutron, the first fully electronic watch, promises to keep time to within 2 seconds a day.

1953 -Recognizing new trends in the watch industry, Bulova adds more self-winding and shock-proof watches to its line. Also added this year is the Bulova Wrist-Alarm, an entirely new kind of watch.

1960 - NASA asks Bulova to incorporate Accutron into its computers for the space program. Bulova timing mechanisms eventually become an integral part of 46 missions of the U.S. Space Program.

1969 -An Accutron watch movement is part of the equipment placed on the moon by Apollo 11 astronauts, the first men on the moon. A Bulova timer is placed in the moon's Sea of Tranquility to control the transmissions of vital data through the years.

2002 - The opening of European headquarters in Fribourg, Switzerland, marking Bulova’s return to full proprietary operations in Europe after nearly a quarter of a century. Made in Switzerland, with product development at both Bulova Swiss, S.A. and Bulova’s home office in New York, the Bulova European Collection is set to begin distribution on January 1, 2003.

HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE TISSOT QUARTZ MEN'S WRISTWATCH

VINTAGE SWISS TISSOT QUARTZ WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1970's

VERY CLEAN GOLD DIAL WITH DATE WINDOW AT 3 O'CLOCK

CRYSTAL IS CLEAN, NO CRACK NO SCRATCHES

THE SWISS TISSOT ETA 4 JEWELS QUARTZ MOVEMENT

PRESS CROWN FOR 10's TO ADJUST MINUE HANDS

FAST DATE CHANGE WHEN HOUR HAND MOVE TO 12 O'CLOCK

GOLD TONE METAL HANDS

BLACK STICK MARKERS

GOLD PLATED STAINLESS STEEL HEXAGONAL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 34mm INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 44mm LUG TO LUG

ORIGINAL TISSOT CROWN

ORIGINAL GP BRACELET BAND FITS 8.5" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... !

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE: USD450.00

VINTAGE SWISS MONDIA MOONLANDER AUTOMATIC MEN'S WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

VINTAGE SWISS MADE MONDIA MOONLANDER MEN'S WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1960'S

SHINNING TWO TONE GREY DIAL WITH QUICKSET DAYDATE WINDOW

ACCRYLIC CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK NO SCRATCHES

THE 25 JEWELS SWISS MONDIA AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT

SILVER TONE HANDS

RAISED SILVER STICK MARKER

SOLID STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 42mm INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 38mm LUG TO LUG,

ORIGINAL SS CROWN

ORIGINAL MONDIA STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET FITS 8" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... HARD TO FIND! HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE : RM500.00 SOLD TO MR CHRIS Krzysztof Włodkowski FROM POLAND

BRIEF HISTORY OF MONDIA-ZENITH-MOVADO WATCHES

1875 • George Favre-Jacot succeeded in his goal: to produce reasonably priced, precise fob watches.His company employed one-third of the working population of Locle.

1896 • Manufacturer won Gold Medal at the Swiss National Exhibition.

1903 • First prize in the Neuchâtel Observatory competition for chronometers.

1911 • George Favre-Jacot retired and left the flourishing business to his descendants, under the name ZENITH.

1917 • Death of George Favre-Jacot.

1920 • First wristwatch models.

1954 • ZENITH won the Neuchâtel Observatory prize for wristwatch chronometers.

1960 • ZENITH took over MARTEL WATCH Co.

The UNIVERSELS caliber 749 and 285 became the ZENITH 146 family.

1969 • Birth of the EL PRIMERO movement, the first chronograph in the world equipped with a winding crown with central rotor.

ZENITH became a member of the MONDIA-ZENITH-MOVADO holding company.

1970 • The CRONOMETRO TIPO CP2 aviation chronographs with anti-magnetic case and 60-minute rotating lunette, manufactured for A. Cairelli in Rome.

1971 • The American ZENITH RADIO CORPORATION took a majority stake in the MONDIA-ZENITH-MOVADO group.

1978 • The group returned to the hands of Swiss investors, with DIXI, the financial and mechanical constructions group, as major shareholder.

1984 • MOVADO taken over by NORTH AMERICAN WATCH Co, and the name ZENITH appeared alone on the watch dials.

2000 • ZENITH taken over by L.V.M.H group.

HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE VINTAGE ROTARY COMMODORES AUTOMATIC MEN'S WRISTWATCH

VINTAGE SWISS MADE ROTARY COMMODORES MEN'S WRISTWATCH CIRCA 1960'S

SHINNING TWO TONE BLUE DIAL WITH QUICKSET DAYDATE WINDOW

ACCRYLIC CRYSTAL IS CLEAN WITH NO CRACK NO SCRATCHES

THE 21 JEWELS SWISS ROTARY AUTOMATIC A.SHIELD MOVEMENT CAL.2066

SILVER TONE HANDS

RAISED SILVER STICK MARKER

SOLID STAINLESS STEEL CASE MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 42mm INCLUDING THE CROWN AND 38mm LUG TO LUG,

ORIGINAL SS CROWN

ORIGINAL ROTARY STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET FITS 8" WRIST

DISCONTINUED MODEL... HARD TO FIND! HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE

WORKING CONDITION, KEEPING TIME AND RECENTLY SERVICED

PRICE : USD220.00 (NEGOTIABLE)