***The SMITHS Watches Owners & Collectors Club***

[Old Expat Beast]

Any Smiths owners or collectors here, I wonder?

I've been wanting to pick one up for ages, as I grew up near where they were made in England, and my father had one. One of the guys in Japan who usually sells me Seikos had this available the other day so I snapped it up.

The solid 9ct gold case was made by Dennison, who also made cases for Rolex, Tudor and Omega at the time (and JLC I think), and was hallmarked in Birmingham in 1959. I can't believe how well preserved it is, and the movement is putting up respectable numbers on the timegrapher, too (+25/210/0.0) with a healthy 42-hour power reserve.

Hoping to see some other Imperials, as well as De Luxe models, Everests, Empires, Astrals, W10s and others if here anyone has them

[Old Expat Beast]

Further reading about Smiths here in GQ Magazine: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/articl...smiths-watches

[fmc000]

Nice one! Looks like it was barely worn. Congrats.

[Old Expat Beast]

Thank you Fabio

[yoast]

looks really nice! I like the seconds hand

[stevedssd]

I commented in the What Are You Wearing Today thread, this is an absolute beauty of a watch and that paperwork and box looks almost mint. Such a shame that they went out of business in the early 70's.............I have two of the Timefactors Smiths "re-issues", they are great watches for the money and a tribute to the Smiths brand but not in this league

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by yoast

looks really nice! I like the seconds hand

Thanks Joost

Originally Posted by stevedssd

I commented in the What Are You Wearing Today thread, this is an absolute beauty of a watch and that paperwork and box looks almost mint. Such a shame that they went out of business in the early 70's.............I have two of the Timefactors Smiths "re-issues", they are great watches for the money and a tribute to the Smiths brand but not in this league

Thanks mate, yeah I was looking at the Timefactors Smiths the other day. They do look pretty nice. I like the Air Ministry. Feel free to add pics here!

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Thanks mate, yeah I was looking at the Timefactors Smiths the other day. They do look pretty nice. I like the Air Ministry. Feel free to add pics here!

Here's my two. The Air Ministry has a lovely vintage vibe and feels completely different to the Military, despite having the same case

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by stevedssd

Here's my two. The Air Ministry has a lovely vintage vibe and feels completely different to the Military, despite having the same case

So I started googling and there’s something immensely charming about these recreations. The company is not pretending to be anything it isn’t, by all accounts they’re exceptionally well made for the price, and they keep true to the idea of “an original Smith that you can abuse every day’.

Wish I hadn’t just bought a Kuoe as I think I’d like to take a punt on one of these.

[mps354]

I like it, congrats! Really like the hands

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks Mike

I just found this 1954 ad on eBay which I thought was quite interesting.

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks, I was looking forward to seeing these. The W10 is also great; I think these are the two I'd go for, too. Maybe one day!

[Deaf Stan]

There's a dedicated Smiths forum here:

https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/foru...Vintage-Smiths

[The Sub-lime One]

Cracking watch.

[spoilsofwar01]

My Smiths 1968 W10, Awesome piece of English history

Ive since learnt, they were worn during the Falklands war and reissued during the 1st gulf war as the G10's failed due to the conditions, not bad for a watch dated 1968.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by spoilsofwar01

My Smiths 1968 W10, Awesome piece of English history

Ive since learnt, they were worn during the Falklands war and reissued during the 1st gulf war as the G10's failed due to the conditions, not bad for a watch dated 1968.

Very nice indeed. Those are worth a few bob these days

[spoilsofwar01]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Very nice indeed. Those are worth a few bob these days

Cheers fella, I missed the boat but eventually picked this one up, They've all had a hard life and poor relumes when reissued, I huge dent was in the side of the lug but for £200 I had the dial tidied and the cast laser welded, it was well worth doing,

[Brew]

Each is understated, handsome, and useful. Love these.

[CPRWATCH]

I think this is quite a early 6RG model from the mid 40s ( after WWll), there isn’t a great deal of information about them available. And considering it’s size it extremely legible too .

[Old Expat Beast]

It's certainly got that classic '40s look, and I like that subdial. Very nice piece

[Golden Ellipse]

That’s a beautiful, classic, and interesting piece — excellent snag!

[Justindo]

That's a great looking watch. Congratulations. Every Smiths that I've seen looks great, which is evidenced by the photos in this thread.

[emersm]

Adam, that watch is stunning! 34mm?

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks a lot guys . . . Merle, glad you like it....it's 33mm. Wears a little larger though, cos it's lotsa dial!

Here's the movement and caseback . . .

[winst]

Nice watch!

[kieselguhr]

Do you consider the newer timefactors-smiths watches too Adam or just the vintage Smiths

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

Do you consider the newer timefactors-smiths watches too Adam or just the vintage Smiths

Well, I guess they're Smiths in name, as they're licensed, but from what I know they're made in Hong Kong with Japanese movements, so while I appreciate the effort in resurrecting the name, I'm not sure I think of them as "real" Smiths watches. I'd happily wear one, though.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Well, I guess they're Smiths in name, as they're licensed, but from what I know they're made in Hong Kong with Japanese movements, so while I appreciate the effort in resurrecting the name, I'm not sure I think of them as "real" Smiths watches. I'd happily wear one, though.

Ahh I see. Thank you for your perspective Adam. I swear I have seen a few older smiths watches while shopping with my mother at the local thrift stores but I never knew about their provenance. What a shame that my ignorance caused me to miss out on lovely vintage time pieces

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

Ahh I see. Thank you for your perspective Adam. I swear I have seen a few older smiths watches while shopping with my mother at the local thrift stores but I never knew about their provenance. What a shame that my ignorance caused me to miss out on lovely vintage time pieces

I've thought that to myself many times over the years

[adcuk]

Hi - Just wondering if any experts can tell me about this Smiths watch? It was a long service gift to a relative from British Rail. I'm guessing it was a budget/midrange watch. I haven't been wearing it for a while but just treated myself to a new handmade leather strap from finwatchstraps, which I'm very happy with and I think is in-keeping with the down to earth look of a retired railwayman's watch. I'd guess the manufacture date was at youngest 70s or 80s based on logic from when he would have retired, but I'm not going to take the back off with my lack of tools and expertise. Can anyone provide any clues as to age?