Four Vintage Sports Watches Worth A Closer Look
We’re back with another shop feature, this time with four affordable vintage sports watches that are majorly underrated.
Vintage sports watches are THE hot thing right now. As usual, we’re seeing the big names dominate the space, Rolex, Omega, Blancpain — but as “little guys” ourselves, we’re always on the lookout for the little guy in the watch space. Today, we’re talking four vintage sports watches we don’t see enough of. Gigantic shoutout to Hodinkee’s recent Talking Watches with Greg Selch, where we got to see some extremely special and uncommon sports watches — some of which are featured here!
First up, a deep dive
If you haven’t noticed by now, it’s no secret we’re fans of Bulova here. While the American/Swiss manufacturer made a number of sweet and impressive affordable watches back in the day, not many come close to this early 1970s Deep Sea “Devil Diver”. Its instant cool is evident at first from the sandy patina and ghosted blue bezel, but it gets cooler with its specific 666-feet depth rating, and just the idea of a diver’s chronograph carries with it the romance of a different world.
These pieces are slowly gaining some more attention (which they definitely deserve) and it’s nice to see some notable collectors start picking them up — but lucky for us, they’re still under $1,500!
Next, a soccer watch?!
You read that right. This piece is far cooler than I, a very-unathletic writer, initially realized. It’s a chronograph made in the mid-1970s for UNAF, or the Union Nationale des Arbitres Français — that’s the National Union of French football Referees! It’s got a Valjoux 7734 movement inside and a super attractive dial featuring a soccer ball and some massive squared-off eyes for minutes and running seconds.
This is definitely a watch you don’t see every day, and absolutely the perfect pick for a soccer fan (“football” fan for you Europeans). And as a bonus, it’s barely over $1,500.
Of course, there’s gotta be a Zodiac in here
And for very good reason. While we keep seeing the Rolex GMT get all the hype, masterpieces like this late-50s Zodiac Aerospace GMT early reference slip through the cracks. This piece has all the heat — a nicely worn-in bezel fade, a generously glossy gilt dial, sharp, angular lugs and an original J.B. Champion stretch rivet bracelet (that isn’t stretched out, mind you). A GMT watch like this one has all the feelings and DNA of an early jet-age watch in an under-the-radar case size and mostly-monochromatic colorway.
You know we’re suckers for Zodiac and fully believe they’re worth more than what they’re going for, but an all-original and pristinely-running example like this at $2,400 is a definitive steal.
Last but not least, the Greg Selch pick
In the latest episode of Talking Watches, Cole Pennington asks Selch what watch he’d want to have on if he was stranded on an island — and the Zenith Defy was his instant choice. I was quite surprised, as I hadn’t looked too closely at this watch before. Turns out, this mid-70s gem is cool as hell.
Not only is its movement near-indestructible, but its jewel-shaped case is super robust and could supposedly let the watch be dropped off a building and survive. You don’t need us to tell you not to do this your watch, but that’s an awesome fact to have attached to your timepiece. It’s also on a period-correct ladder bracelet with a ton of vintage charm.
If you know a vintage watch that doesn’t get enough coverage, we’d love to feature it! Let us know through our Contact form, or send a message to @iamjoshcameron on Instagram.
