Pulled the trigger on an unknown vintage Swiss hand winding watch

[JDTTO]

For the price and considering it was local, I just could not resist this one:
http://www.ebay.nl/itm/200913539961?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I like the understated look and the fact that it's a handwinder (do not have one yet). Considering the acrylic glass still looks decent, I guess it did not have a rough life so far.

Hope it keeps time reasonably well, it's probably not worth a service.

 

[Prince]

For less than $10, that looks nice to me.

 

[JDTTO]

I got it saturday and by now I can tell it keeps time very well. Overall it has gained about 45 seconds since saturday afternoon. It seems to gain about a minute in the first part of the day and gives most of that back during the night (probably because the spring tension reduces as it unwinds).

Winding is not as smooth as I expected but I do not have any reference when it comes to handwinders. It does run nicely but it's quite loud. I just love the sound. I need to put my other mechanic watch (an entry level Seiko automatic movement) to my ear to hear it. I can hear this one a meter away in a silent room, my wife actually complained about the noise from my bedside table. I guess this means I just need to snore louder.

It does deserve a different strap. Even though the strap that came with seems new, it is not my taste and a poor fit. It's 18mm but the lug width appears to be 17mm which is quite rare. I think I will get a plain brown (no stitches or artificial grain) leather strap with a little bit of taper. I am still undecided about the buckle, gold or chrome. The front of the watch case seems nickel plated but all details are gold(ish).

By todays standards it is quite small, it could easily be mistaken for a ladies watch. I guess mens watches were like that in the 60's-70's. Could anyone here estimate the period closer than that?

 

[Eeyore]

I like it!

 

[Kazeryu]

I'm not even remotely close to being a watch expert, but I think that style was popular across several decades (and continents) as I have seen similar russian, american, and swiss pieces. I don't think you could date it without a movement shot, and even that would be dependent on serial numbers or factory markings which weren't always preserved.

 

[Austin]

32mm-36mm watches were quite common during the 30's through 60's. The 70's watches became quite clunky and thick. Yours looks like a 60's model.

 

[JDTTO]

It is Swiss but the brand Ilona does not seem to be very well known.

I am not curious enough to open it as I am happy with the way it runs (I once ruined a Seiko 5 when trying to fine tune it).

Could the fact that it has an acrylic crystal and the "technogy" that is mentioned on the back be clues?

 

[Krona Kruiser]

Nice watch, understated.