Pre-Owned Picks — Cool Finds Under €1,000

Last week’s Pre-Owned Picks included some pretty expensive watches, so let’s tone it down a notch and have a look at what’s out there to buy under €1,000.

Every week we pick a few pre-owned watches from Chrono24, the largest market place for wristwatches in the world — watches that we love ourselves, or think they will be interesting to you. So to be clear, we picked the watches, Chrono24 only sent us the images without their watermark and in a proper resolution.

With this week’s budget, we can’t include a Rolex or Patek Philippe of course, but there’s more than enough other interesting stuff out there, that can bring just as much fun as one of the heavy hitters. Let’s have a look at the 5 watches I selected for this week. These pre-owned picks range from the now-extinct Nivada to brands like Hamilton and Tudor, that are still going strong today. Besides the price, these watches have little in common. I just selected the ones I liked from an aesthetic point of view. I hope you like them too.

Nivada Chronograph (€990)

According to the seller from Portugal, this Nivada chronograph dates back to 1960. It is a two-register chronograph as you can see. Although it seems amazing by modern standards, it has a diameter of 35mm. That’s thanks to the Landeron caliber 248 that beats away inside. As Michael once wrote in this article, think of a Landeron 248 much like you would a Ford Model T. Personally, I would say 1960 is a bit late for this particular watch, and if you really want to dive in, you need to research the web a bit on these watches.

There doesn’t seem to be a proper source for these models, and I come across them with all sorts of hands. However, this dial seems to be authentic, which is important to most buyers. You will have a pretty cool vintage chronograph for under €1,000 with a chronograph movement that is relatively easy to get serviced or repaired. I really believe this is one of the most interesting pre-owned picks to be found in this price zone. The seller provides one year of warranty (which is quite a lot) and indicates that this watch has been recently serviced. Click here to go to the offer of this Nivada chronograph.

Longines Dress Watch (€990)

Here’s a 34mm diameter stainless steel Longines dress watch, with a manual winding movement inside. Longines makes and made a lot of watches. That’s a good thing. Everybody likes a choice! The 13ZN chronograph from Longines is one of the most sought-after chronographs. It occupies a very different price segment, but that’s not to say there aren’t gems to be found under 1K. The good thing about Longines is as well, that they have an Extract of the Archive available for you at no cost. So you will quickly find out from which year your watch actually is, based on the serial number. Longines also has an amazing vintage workshop in Saint-Imier. There, the brand is able to work on almost every watch from its back catalog. That kind of service is great when you’re buying a vintage watch. Click here for the offer on this vintage Longines dress watch.

Hamilton 647 “Big Eye” Chronograph (€990)

This might be the favorite of this week’s pre-owned picks for many of you. Here we have a vintage Hamilton 647 chronograph with a Valjoux 7733 movement. This piece has been definitely been worn, but that adds some character, right? It measures approx 38mm wide and the seller estimates a production period between 1968 and 1970. Put a decent strap on it and you’re ready to go. The seller is located in France and indicates there are papers with the watch from a well-known French auction house. Click here for the offer on this Hamilton 647.

Omega Seamaster Calendar (€1,000)

I selected this Omega watch basically because I have one, and like it a lot. Mine is gold-capped (click here to read about gold-filled, gold-capped and solid gold) and has the honeycomb dial. But apart from those differences, it is pretty much the same. You will find these models with two different crown types, but both are original. I like the fact that the date is at 6. That’s what drew me to this watch in the first place. That, and the beefy lugs. This Seamaster Calendar with reference 2624-5 SC dates back to 1952 and is powered by the bumper automatic caliber 353 movement. The dial shows some wear and aging, but rather that than a re-dial. Click here for the offer on this Seamaster Calendar.

Tudor Oyster 7934 (€965)

Last but not least for this week’s pre-owned picks, this handsome little fellow from Tudor. Another 34mm diameter watch in this list, but since we’re talking vintage (dress) watches it is a pretty common size. The dial looks great and appears to be in original condition, including the “Shock-Resisting” writing on there. The seller from the United Kingdom estimates the production year to be 1962 and inside there’s a Tudor signed manual wind movement. Apparently, the Plexi crystal is an aftermarket one, but that is reflected in the price, compared to some other offers. A pretty nice little piece with a Rolex signed crown, under €1,000.  Click here for the offer on this Tudor Oyster.

As always, with pre-owned watches, make sure to do your (own) research. Also, feel free to make an offer on these watches (remember, these are merely asking prices), and don’t be afraid to discuss the warranty the seller can provide. Chrono24 offers its Trusted Checkout system, so you have proper buyer protection (more here). But it never hurts to be surer than sure. Always do your homework. Spending adequate time on a purchase can help minimize frustrations further down the line.

Happy Hunting!