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VINTAGE VULCAIN 17-JEWEL AUTOMATIC INCABLOC – SWISS MADE – DATE – GOLD-FILLED SPEIDEL
Offered here is a striking vintage Vulcain automatic men's wristwatch, combining classic mid-century Swiss watchmaking with an exceptionally handsome silver sunburst dial and gold-tone detailing.
Founded in Switzerland in 1858, Vulcain is one of the historic names of Swiss watchmaking. While the company is especially famous among collectors for its mechanical alarm watches, Vulcain also produced traditional mechanical dress watches such as this automatic 17-jewel example.
The dial is beautifully executed, featuring a silver/satin sunburst finish contrasted by applied gold-tone hour markers and distinctive oversized 12, 9 and 6 Arabic numerals. A framed date aperture at 3 o'clock balances the dial, while gold-tone dauphine/baton-style hands and a sweeping center seconds hand complete the classic mid-century appearance.
The dial is signed:
The watch is housed in a handsome gold-tone case with angular lugs and a highly domed vintage crystal that gives the watch considerable period character.
The stainless-steel case back is marked SWISS MADE – INCABLOC – STAINLESS STEEL BACK – ANTIMAGNETIC – AUTOMATIC – WATER RESISTANT, further identifying this as a genuine vintage Swiss automatic Vulcain.
Completing the presentation is an attractive period Speidel U.S.A. expansion bracelet. The bracelet is particularly noteworthy because its end piece is stamped:
“1/20-10K G.F. TOP CAPS U.S.A.”
This indicates 10K gold-filled top caps, giving the bracelet considerably more vintage character than a generic modern replacement.
Condition
This watch presents very nicely for a vintage timepiece.
The silver dial retains excellent visual presence with attractive vintage character. The applied numerals, markers, hands and Vulcain signature remain crisp and highly attractive. The gold-tone case maintains strong visual appeal, with normal age-appropriate marks and wear visible under close inspection.
The domed crystal shows light age/use marks consistent with a vintage watch. The Speidel expansion bracelet also shows normal vintage wear, particularly on the underside and around the end links, as clearly documented in the photographs.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
Unless documented by service records, no representation is made regarding previous polishing, restoration, replacement components, or service history.
Specifications
- Brand: Vulcain
- Origin: Switzerland
- Era: Likely 1960s
- Gender: Men's
- Movement: Mechanical automatic
- Jewels: 17
- Shock protection: Incabloc
- Functions: Hours, minutes, center seconds and date
- Dial: Silver/satin sunburst
- Indices: Applied gold-tone markers with oversized 12/9/6 numerals
- Date: Window at 3 o'clock
- Crystal: High-domed vintage-style crystal
- Case: Gold-tone/base-metal construction
- Case back: Stainless steel
- Bracelet: Vintage Speidel U.S.A. expansion bracelet
- Bracelet marking: 1/20-10K G.F. Top Caps U.S.A.
- Country: Swiss Made
- Vintage: Yes
- Water-resistance note: Although the case back carries a historical water-resistance marking, no vintage watch should be considered water resistant today unless it has recently been pressure tested by a qualified watchmaker.
