Men's & Unisex Vintage
1950s Mid Century Elgin Mens Vintage Watch | Limited Edition Antique Watch | Antique Unisex Watch | Mid Century Modern Space Age Watch
-
DetailsSTOP! READ THIS! Here are ALL the details on this mysterious mid-century marvel:
• Mid century Lord Elgin men's watch—Switzerland, 1957
• Yellow gold filled case with original acrylic crystal
• "Mystery dial"
• Handmade tan leather strap - made in France, fits wrists up to 7.5"
• Hand-winding Elgin 730A movement with 23 jewels
• Works great! Fully serviced, cleaned, and adjusted by a master watchmaker
• 40mm tall, including the lugs (30mm without lugs)
• 31mm wide, including the crown (30mm without crown)
• Six month warranty for the mechanicals
Stop. Look at your hands, picturing this on your wrist. How do you feel? Would you enjoy every minute a little bit more if you saw this every time you looked at your hands?
In the 1950s, the world was wild with thoughts of the future—and especially about going to outer space. With eyes on the heavens, the Space Age filled people's imaginations—influencing all media and fashion. We had more questions than answers: What would things look like in the future? Would I have a robot as a maid? What will my Space Watch look like when I'm riding in a flying car and eating a single pill to satisfy all my nutrition needs?
I bought this retro-futuristic watch for my personal collection at great expense—far more than I can expect to recover. Last year it received a complete service by my master watchmaker—completely disassembled, cleaned, put back together, calibrated, and polished. Sounds laborious and expensive, right? That's because it was. And, now it runs like a champ. Getting a vintage watch like this fully serviced costs from $200-400. And, they almost all require servicing. I've owned hundreds of vintage watches. 71% of them required servicing in the first three months.
The only way around it is to buy a piece that was just serviced. That, dear reader, is this very watch. Let my loss be your gain.
The hand winding, mechanical movement should be wound daily to maintain the correct time. It has a 40 hour power reserve, so it's ok if you forget to wind it on some days. The 16mm tan leather band was handmade in France.
It is in good, used working condition. There are micro-scratches throughout—including the lugs, caseback, and dial—although these blemishes are very difficult to see without a magnifying glass. There are specks of dust and discoloration on the The gold filled case looks very good. I didn't find any obvious areas with worn gold plating. It retains the very unique original Elgin plastic crystal. The design and creation of the Futura's crystal was shameless bragging: What looked like most other acrylic crystals, was in fact made out of two parallel crystals, ostensibly to serve as a shock absorber (against unexpected impacts), design element (you can read it quite well at oblique angles), and clever way to make this one of the thinnest, smallest watches available. The (presumably) original crystal is intact, and was recently polished—showing few signs of wear, but one can see specks of dust under magnification.
It's not about telling time, or any of that stuff. It's about how it makes you feel. For creative individualists, a watch is a powerful tool that amplifies the expression of your individuality.
I offer a six-month warranty on the inner mechanical movements of my watches. That includes: the winding crown, the hour, minute, and second hands, and the heart of the operation, the Swiss movement—the very machinery that makes it work. Contact me if anything goes awry and I'll help set it straight.
EXTRA: I offer an extended service warranty that extends your mechanical warranty to a total of 18 months. I pay for shipping both ways for repairs. Getting this watch serviced by anyone else will cost $250-350. (Note: It covers internal mechanical issues, and doesn't cover the watch crystal, the strap, and damage from impact or water aren't covered. But, you'll get 50% off anything not covered by the warranty, like a broken crystal or leather strap.)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
About Me
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Who gave you your first watch? How old were you? Where were you? Everybody I ask has a very unique, intimate story to tell. Why? Your first watch is magic. It’s the first time you gain agency over your most precious, limited resource: time. I wanted to feel that magic again. So, I started buying vintage watches that made me feel romantic and nostalgic—for moments I’d lived, and for moments I might have lived if things had turned out just a tiny bit differently.
Collecting (and wearing) vintage timepieces is truly a rich man’s game. A weather-beaten mid-century Rolex will cost at least $3,000; a vintage Patek Philippe can set you back ten times that! I’m no rich man. My budget is more like $50-200. There must be low-priced watches that Swiss-watch-snobs with deep pockets don’t care about, right?
Turns out the answer is YES! There are plenty of extremely rare, conversation-starting, iconic timepieces out there. You just need to know where to look and what to look for. They’re frequently made by the same Swiss horologists—often with some of the same exact parts as the prestige brands. I scour auctions, estate sales, and curio shops around the world to find them. I taught myself to clean and repair them so I could keep my costs down—and teamed up with a watchmaker for issues I can’t figure out on my own.
But, I can’t keep them all. My Etsy shop lets me keep my collection ever-changing—while bringing you a curated collection of the coolest watches around. -
Shipping & Policies
Shipping from United States
Processing time
3-6 business days
Estimated shipping times
- Australia : 1 - 3 weeks
- Canada : 1 - 2 weeks
- Italy : 2 - 5 weeks
- United Kingdom : 2 - 3 weeks
- United States : 2 - 5 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Customs and import taxes
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Payment Options
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept returns and exchanges
Just contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 7 days of delivery
I don't accept cancellations
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
- Custom or personalized orders
- Perishable products (like food or flowers)
- Digital downloads
- Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)
- Items on sale
Conditions of return
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
Privacy policy
•• Information I Collect ••
To fulfil your order, you must provide me with certain information (which you authorized Etsy to provide to me), such as your name, email address, postal address, payment information, and the details of the product that you’re ordering. You may also choose to provide me with additional personal information (for a custom order, for example), if you contact me directly.
•• Why I Need Your Information and How I Use It ••
I rely on a number of legal bases to collect, use, and share your information, including:
as needed to provide my services, such as when I use your information to fulfil your order, to settle disputes, or to provide customer support;
when you have provided your affirmative consent, which you may revoke at any time, such as by signing up for my mailing list;
if necessary to comply with a legal obligation or court order or in connection with a legal claim, such as retaining information about your purchases if required by tax law; and
as necessary for the purpose of my legitimate interests, if those legitimate interests are not overridden by your rights or interests, such as 1) providing and improving my services. I use your information to provide the services you requested and in my legitimate interest toimprove my services; and 2) Compliance with the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use. I use your information as necessary to comply with my obligations under the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use.
•• Information Sharing and Disclosure ••
Customer privacy is important to my business. Ideally I would like to NEVER share anyone's information, ever. But, it turns out that I may need to share your personal information for very limited reasons and in limited circumstances, as follows:
Etsy. I share information with Etsy as necessary to provide you my services and comply with my obligations under both the Etsy Seller Policy and Etsy Terms of Use.
Service providers. I engage certain trusted third parties to perform functions and provide services to my shop, such as delivery companies. I will share your personal information with these third parties, but only to the extent necessary to perform these services.
Business transfers. If I sell or merge my business, I may disclose your information as part of that transaction, only to the extent permitted by law.
Compliance with laws. I may collect, use, retain, and share your information if I have a good faith belief that it is reasonably necessary to: (a) respond to legal process or to government requests; (b) enforce my agreements, terms and policies; (c) prevent, investigate, and address fraud and other illegal activity, security, or technical issues; or (d) protect the rights, property, and safety of my customers, or others.
•• Data Retention ••
I retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide you with my services and as described in my Privacy Policy. However, I may also be required to retain this information to comply with my legal and regulatory obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce my agreements. I generally keep your data for 3 years.
•• Transfers of Personal Information Outside the EU ••
I may store and process your information through third-party hosting services in the US and other jurisdictions. As a result, I may transfer your personal information to a jurisdiction with different data protection and government surveillance laws than your jurisdiction. If I am deemed to transfer information about you outside of the EU, I rely on Privacy Shield as the legal basis for the transfer, as Google Cloud is Privacy Shield certified.
•• Your Rights ••
If you reside in certain territories, including the EU, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. While some of these rights apply generally, certain rights apply only in certain limited cases. I describe these rights below:
Access. You may have the right to access and receive a copy of the personal information I hold about you by contacting me using the contact information below.
Change, restrict, delete. You may also have rights to change, restrict my use of, or delete your personal information. Absent exceptional circumstances (like where I am required to store data for legal reasons) I will generally delete your personal information upon request.
Object. You can object to (i) my processing of some of your information based on my legitimate interests and (ii) receiving marketing messages from me after providing your express consent to receive them. In such cases, I will delete your personal information unless I have compelling and legitimate grounds to continue using that information or if it is needed for legal reasons.
Complain. If you reside in the EU and wish to raise a concern about my use of your information (and without prejudice to any other rights you may have), you have the right to do so with your local data protection authority.
•• How to Contact Me ••
For purposes of EU data protection law, I, Nathan Martin, am the data controller of your personal information. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me at justin@justinwinokur.com.Frequently Asked Questions
Will my package require a signature?
Yes. A signature is required for almost all shipments. That way you can rest assured that your items will arrive safely. Make sure to use a shipping address where someone can sign for your package, otherwise you'll have to go to the post office to collect it.
What shipping method do you use?
• In the USA, items with free shipping are sent by USPS First Class with insurance and signature required.
• International orders ship via USPS Priority.
• Upgraded shipping is USPS Priority Express mail with insurance and signature required.
• Express shipping via private carriers like FedEx, DHL, and UPS is available upon request. Pricing is on a case by case basis. Prices range from about 75 USD for DHL Express to 140 USD for FedEx and UPS Express.Can I upgrade to faster shipping?
Yes! Upgraded shipping is via USPS Priority Express Mail with insurance and signature required. It usually takes 1-2 days within the continental USA, and 3-5 days to other countries.
Express shipping via private carriers like FedEx, DHL, and UPS is available upon request. Pricing is on a case by case basis. Prices range from about 75 USD for DHL Express to 140 USD for FedEx and UPS Express.Can I get a different colored watchband?
I have watchbands in many different styles, colors and materials. If you love the watch but want a different color band, send me a message. I'll see if I have the color you want in my inventory. If I don't, you can swap out the band for any strap you'd like by buying one online or taking it to your local jeweler or watch repair store.
Does my watch need a battery?
It depends on the watch.
1) Mechanical (hand-winding): These watches use a spring and gears to run. There is no battery. You must wind the watch once daily for it to keep running. Most of my watches are this kind.
2) Mechanical (automatic/kinetic): These use a spring and gears as well as a swinging pendulum that rotates as you move throughout the day. It winds itself. You don't need a battery and you don't need to wind it.
3) Quartz: These use batteries. Your watch will include a brand new battery. They can last anywhere from six months to a few years, depending on the watch.I changed my mind! Can I cancel my order and get a full refund?
We don't accept cancellations for a refund. Instead, we offer you store credit which you can use on any of our other items. This store credit is good for one year.
Will the vintage watchband fit me?
Use a measuring tape to measure around your wrist.
All my detailed descriptions include the max wrist size of the bracelet. Bracelets are standardized. They're not an integral part of the watch itself. It's easy to change the band.
NOTE: YOU CAN NOT RETURN THE WATCH BECAUSE THE BRACELET IS THE WRONG SIZE. You're paying for the watch itself—the bracelet is basically free.How do I return an item?
Contact us and we will guide you through the process. Note that the paperwork, documents, packaging, photographs, cards, and anything else in the package MUST be returned in the condition which we sent them to you in. If anything is missing or damaged we will deduct the value of those items from your refund.
Bigger/Smaller Bracelets?
The bracelet (aka band or strap) is usually NOT an integral part of the "watch" itself. It's normal (and somewhat expected) that you'll have a jeweler adjust the band to fit you, or replace the band with one that you can try on in person. Watchbands are standardized and available from any jeweler, watch shop, and online.
NOTE: YOU CAN NOT RETURN THE WATCH BECAUSE THE BRACELET IS THE WRONG SIZE. You're paying for the watch itself—the bracelet is basically free.What do I do if the bracelet isn't the right size?
YOU CAN NOT RETURN THE WATCH BECAUSE THE BRACELET IS THE WRONG SIZE. You're paying for the watch itself—the bracelet is basically free. The bracelet size is listed in the product description. And, any jeweler will adjust the bracelet/band size for you as needed.
A watch is like a ring or other fine piece of jewelry, in that you need to have a jeweler adjust it to fit your perfectly. This is expected and normal. You may even find that you want to replace the bracelet. Bracelets are not an integral part of the watch. They are interchangeable. They can be replaced easily—and quite inexpensively. You can do it yourself or have your local jeweler or watch repair shop do it for you.
Related Products
