An upmarket vintage model from possibly the oldest watch company in the world, is my nice 1940’s Blancpain, 14k gold gents watch, which is quite a rare thing. It has a signed 17 jewel manual wound movement, circa 1945. The 14k Gold case is by Katz & Ogush of New York and features “fancy hooded lugs” and a nicely sculpted crown which is also quite rare. When I got it some years ago I had to replace the strap and fitted a high quality Rosario stitched leather strap which suits it well.
Overall the watch is in great condition and works perfectly and I have not seen another, though there is an almost identical model referenced in my 2018 edition of Gilbert, Engle & Schugart Guide to Watches (page 679).
The referenced model has full width hooded lugs, whereas this one has split ones, which again is rare.
Note the solid hour markers on the dial are not printed or applied, but are riveted through the dial.
Case width 25mm, lug to lug 35mm and the case thickness including the slightly domed crystal (also perfect) is approximately 7mm.
Once again, this shows that many of these vintage models, though dimensionally small by today’s offerings, more often than not, look perfect on an average wrist and are exceptionally comfortable to wear.
It’s nice to have a vintage model from this Company as I also have a more modern model from them too, another one of my favourites – a Blancpain Villeret which I bought around 1990.
With my more upmarket watches I like to have an old and a new (well newer) just as a comparison. Blancpain quality still shines through.
Watch space 