Sicura Chronograph MG "Pilot"

In the Sicura brochure from 1975 this "Pilot" chronograph can be found:

Sicura "Pilot" fra eBay. Not the MG-version.

Also in 1975 British Leyland celebrated the 50th anniversary of MG with a special edition MGB GT. It was painted in british racing green with gold stripes. In total 750 Jubilee models were made. (Source).

To celebrate the anniversary MG approached Sicura and also had a special limited edition of the Sicura Pilot made. It has the MG logo on the dial. And on the backcase it says: MG, 50th Anniversary, CommemorativeWatch, 1925-1975 - together with a unique serial number on every watch. Read about the story of the Sicura brand here. And find a collection of MG serial numbers here.

My Sicura MG has the serial number 0262.

I bought mine for a very low 262 euros from a french seller on eBay. The watch has a very solid cushion case with a radial brushed finish on the upper surface. The dial has some fine details and a fine gold tone - maybe to match the gold stripes on the special edition MG. 

Sicura MG Valjoux - click on pictures to see them larger

Measurements:
Width w/o crown: 43,0 mm
Width with crown: 45,8 mm
Length: 45,1 mm
Depth: 13,4 mm
Lugs: 21,9 mm

The movement is a nice manual-wound Valjoux 7734. This is a higher quality and more expensive movement than what Sicura normally used. These Sicura MG watches seems to be selling for higher and higher prices on eBay. This is absolutely one of my favorite watches that gets a lot of wrist time. It has a very nice heft and still feels classy. Highly recommended.

Some photos borrowed from the Internet:

Sicura MG with the original bracelet. Source

Pictures showing the original box and papers:

"We certify that this watch has been manufactured entirely in our Factory by skilled watchmakers ..." Hmmm ... maybe a little bit exaggerated. The movement was bought from Valjoux.  

Letter to MG Car Club members that showed interest in the watch. The price was GBP 40.95 which is equivalent to GBP 330 in 2020. The letter is from Time Importers Ltd in London, the british importer of Sicura watches. Source 

Fun fact. It seems that MG in 1975 also made a commemorative watch with Le Jour, a brand commonly known as the brand under which French watchmaker Yema distributed watches to the US. So maybe this model was made only for the American market. It must be very rare and I have only seen this one specimen.

A Le Jour Chronograph with MG logo on the dial and engraving on the back: "Golden Anniversary commemorative watch 1925-1975" and the number 0005. Source 

CLICK HERE - AND READ THE STORY OF THE SICURA WATCH BRAND

Cordura Sea-Gull vintage divers watch

This is my second buy from eBay. The dial reads in full: Cordura 17 Jewels Selfwinding Sea-Gull Waterresistant T Swiss Made T. The price was a very low 102 Euros.

In my view the Cordura Sea-Gull is a true classic 70s diver with a distinct styling.

The Cordura Sea-Gull has a shiny, brass plated case, not steel, this was a everymans watch. It has a Submariner-style external divers bezel, but with originally protruded numbers and lines. A fixed internal scale inspired by watches with internal bezels. And a purple dial that ages really well with almost no fading.

Some pictures from the ad on eBay:

Measurements:

Width w/o crown: 41,7 mm

Width with crown: 44,0 mm

Length: 45,2 mm

Depth: 14 mm

Lugs: 20,2 mm

Compared to most watches from the 70s it is large, but actually it doesn't wear that big on the wrist. I have changed the strap to a rubber divers strap with notching.

The movement is a Baumgartner Frères S.A. BFG 158 31/7, automatic with day and date. Full specifications in Ranfft. 

Nice articles about service of Cordura Sea-Gull's from the Watch Guy here and here. A commenter tells that he bought his Sea-Gull in 1975 and that it came shipped in a container filled with water! Probably to underline that it was a divers watch. 

Strangely Mikrolisk doesn’t list ”Cordura” in their database. But everybody on the internet seems to agree that Cordura was a brand from Sicura – and the evidence is clear. The back of the case with the two seahorses is unmistakenly from Sicura. Furthermore exact the same model can be found with "Sicura" on the dial.

Some wristshots from the net:

A really hires photo:

One guy has collected an entire flock of Cordura Sea-Gulls:

He tells that even if most Sea-Gulls look exactly the same there has been slight variations in the design and choice of movements. Originally the Cordura Sea-Gull came with a tropic strap.

Fun fact. Sicura even made a tiny Cordura Lady Sea-Gull measuring only 29 mm in width:

CLICK HERE - AND READ THE STORY OF THE SICURA WATCH BRAND

CLICK HERE - GO TO THE NEWEST POST ON THIS BLOG ABOUT LARGE VINTAGE WATCHES

Falcon Worldtime 17 Rubis Incabloc

An large vintage and unsual watch from eBay:

Dimensions: 

Width with bezel w/o crown: 42 mm

Height: 46 mm 

According to Mikrolisk the name ”Falcon” has been used by several companies. It seems reasonable to assume that this Falcon Worldtime 17 Rubis Incabloc is from Montres Falcon SA from Bienne.

The watch were sold on eBay by a seller from Turkey. There seems to be a special bond between Falcon watches and Turkey. In 1974 the brand Falcon was registered in Turkey (source) by Montres Falcon SA.

However following a note in L’Impartial on the 23rd January 1980 the company ”Montres Falcon SA, Bienne” went into bankruptcy on the 4th December 1979 and was closed down - like so many other watch companies in that era.

Initially I thought that this Falcon Worldtime was a frankenwatch or a rebranded Mortima or similar. But it seems to be an original design and creation. It has some nice touches with the name Falcon on the case back and on the movement:

 

Last but not least can some similar watches be found on the internet:

Source

Source

The watch at eBay were sold for app. 36 euros. I did not buy it, but maybe I should have...