Vintage Watches

"It must be useful. It must work dependably. It must be beautiful. It must last. It must be the best of its kind" the words of Alfred Dunhill, creator of the now broadly diversified luxurious goods producers and retailers bearing his name. Dunhill's Motorities" a London store opened in 1893 by Alfred Dunhill, offered its exclusive customers almost everything to warm the heart of any automobile enthusiast.

From the start, the Dunhill business has been a successful exercise in marketing to gentlemen of taste, superb design and style in luxury items. Products included waterproof clocks for open-air cockpits, the double-sided "Motoring Watch" with chronograph, and also the "Motor Cycle Watch No. 895" having a sprung case-cover. Clocks and watches initially come to his shops windows in 1926; the Unique lighter, which contained a watch in their side, is a collector's piece these days, also built his watches into artistically designed cigarette lighters, ashtrays, pipe accessories, and even into belt buckles and brooches.

Dunhill wristwatches were introduced probably in the middle of the 20's with the catalogs presenting square, tonneau and cushion-shaped watches. Within the nineteen thirties came a series of fine gentleman's watches, featuring early luminous dials, their first chronograph, plus the wonderfully original ball-race watch. Their success on the retail markets continue to these days. Dunhill watches are a awesome possession, and truly in accord with Alfred Dunhill's original saying.

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