Vintage Late 1960s Waltham Blue Dial Manual

$190.00

This is a striking 1960s-era Waltham dress watch with a genuinely rare feature for the period: a deep blue dial that has survived in excellent condition. Blue dials were far less common than silver or champagne in mid-century everyday watches, and this one delivers a rich, even tone with a subtle sunburst effect that makes the applied baguette-style markers and small-seconds register pop. The watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well, making it a very wearable vintage piece despite honest case wear.

Case, Dial & Aesthetic

The dial is the star here: a saturated blue field with bright applied crystalline baton markers and a crisp small-seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. In the 1960s, colored dials were often more prone to fading, spotting, or uneven discoloration, so finding one this clean is quite unusual. The case is chrome-plated base metal with a stainless steel screwback. There is significant chrome wear and brassing, most noticeably on the back side and edges; the good news is that the heaviest wear is largely out of sight when the watch is on the wrist. A new crystal has been installed, restoring clarity and giving the dial the presentation it deserves.

Movement: Lorsa 238 (17 Jewel, France)

Inside is the Lorsa 238 in 17-jewel specification, a French-made manual-wind movement family commonly seen in 1960s Waltham-branded watches. It is a straightforward, serviceable design with a classic small-seconds layout and a traditional mid-century cadence.

  • Movement: Lorsa 238

  • Winding: Manual wind

  • Jewels: 17

  • Origin: Made in France

  • Display: Small seconds at 6 o'clock

Condition & Service

This watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well. A new crystal has been installed, and a new crown and stem were fitted to ensure secure winding and setting. Case wear and brassing are present and reflected in the pricing, but the watch presents beautifully from the front, where it counts most.

Specs & Details

  • Brand: Waltham

  • Year (Estimated): circa 1965–1968

  • Case: Chrome-plated base metal with stainless steel screwback

  • Case size: 35mm

  • Lug-to-lug: 43mm

  • Thickness: approx. 10mm

  • Lug width: 17.1mm (17mm strap)

  • Crystal: New

  • Crown/stem: New

Why This Watch Matters

Mid-century blue dials are one of those details collectors chase because they instantly change the character of a simple dress watch, and they are often the first thing to deteriorate with time. Finding a Waltham "Made in France" is also a treat for collectors, as it marks a specific, short-lived chapter of the company’s history before it moved entirely to Swiss and eventually Japanese production. This example stands out because the dial has held its color and texture so well, pairing rare aesthetics with a freshly serviced, ready-to-wear mechanical movement. If you like honest vintage watches with a standout dial and no mechanical drama, this one checks a lot of boxes.

This is a striking 1960s-era Waltham dress watch with a genuinely rare feature for the period: a deep blue dial that has survived in excellent condition. Blue dials were far less common than silver or champagne in mid-century everyday watches, and this one delivers a rich, even tone with a subtle sunburst effect that makes the applied baguette-style markers and small-seconds register pop. The watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well, making it a very wearable vintage piece despite honest case wear.

Case, Dial & Aesthetic

The dial is the star here: a saturated blue field with bright applied crystalline baton markers and a crisp small-seconds subdial at 6 o'clock. In the 1960s, colored dials were often more prone to fading, spotting, or uneven discoloration, so finding one this clean is quite unusual. The case is chrome-plated base metal with a stainless steel screwback. There is significant chrome wear and brassing, most noticeably on the back side and edges; the good news is that the heaviest wear is largely out of sight when the watch is on the wrist. A new crystal has been installed, restoring clarity and giving the dial the presentation it deserves.

Movement: Lorsa 238 (17 Jewel, France)

Inside is the Lorsa 238 in 17-jewel specification, a French-made manual-wind movement family commonly seen in 1960s Waltham-branded watches. It is a straightforward, serviceable design with a classic small-seconds layout and a traditional mid-century cadence.

  • Movement: Lorsa 238

  • Winding: Manual wind

  • Jewels: 17

  • Origin: Made in France

  • Display: Small seconds at 6 o'clock

Condition & Service

This watch has been fully serviced and regulated and is running well. A new crystal has been installed, and a new crown and stem were fitted to ensure secure winding and setting. Case wear and brassing are present and reflected in the pricing, but the watch presents beautifully from the front, where it counts most.

Specs & Details

  • Brand: Waltham

  • Year (Estimated): circa 1965–1968

  • Case: Chrome-plated base metal with stainless steel screwback

  • Case size: 35mm

  • Lug-to-lug: 43mm

  • Thickness: approx. 10mm

  • Lug width: 17.1mm (17mm strap)

  • Crystal: New

  • Crown/stem: New

Why This Watch Matters

Mid-century blue dials are one of those details collectors chase because they instantly change the character of a simple dress watch, and they are often the first thing to deteriorate with time. Finding a Waltham "Made in France" is also a treat for collectors, as it marks a specific, short-lived chapter of the company’s history before it moved entirely to Swiss and eventually Japanese production. This example stands out because the dial has held its color and texture so well, pairing rare aesthetics with a freshly serviced, ready-to-wear mechanical movement. If you like honest vintage watches with a standout dial and no mechanical drama, this one checks a lot of boxes.

Important Note on the Watch Band

Please note that the band pictured is NOT included with watch purchase. I generally acquire new bands for display purposes and do not include them because they vary significantly in price and many purchasers will want to obtain their own band as suits their taste.

You will need an 17mm band to pair with this watch.

However, if you are interested in purchasing the band pictured in the photos along with the watch, it will be available at or near my replacement cost as an optional add-on. If you don’t see it as an option in the listing please message me for help. I am also happy to point you to where you can purchase the exact same band directly from the seller.

If you have questions about bands or want my assistance, please message me. I’m happy to help.

Standard Disclaimer

I make every effort to ensure that the vintage watches I work on are both accurate enough to serve as practical timepieces and reliable enough to be worn and enjoyed for many years to come. That said, vintage watches are delicate and, like any mechanical device, subject to wear.

Therefore, I cannot provide any express or implied warranty for this watch, beyond the fact that it is running, and it is being sold AS IS.

Additional notes

·       Servicing and restoration followed the process described in detail here.

  • Vintage watches are delicate - particularly older models that lack shock protection. Please handle with care

  • Regardless of what it says on the case, I do not attempt to restore watches to a fully waterproof condition. Please keep this watch away from water and definitely do not submerge it.

  • If the watch is an automatic, I recommend that you use the hand wind feature sparingly to minimize wear on the automatic winding mechanism.

I do like to stand behind my work, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any problems. I will correct any obvious defects in my workmanship free of charge and will provide lifetime service (as long as I am able) for vintage timepieces that I have restored at heavily discounted rates.

Regarding Parts Originality

I know that some collectors are very concerned with originality of parts. I will list any parts that I replace, internally or externally, in the condition notes above. I will also make a good faith effort to assess whether any of the watch parts (e.g. dial, crown or hands, etc.) may have been replaced or refinished prior to my acquisition of the watch and, if I believe it is likely they were, I will also indicate this in the condition notes above. However, I cannot make any bedrock guarantees regarding originality of parts. I work on many different watch brands and lack the deep expertise on the history of any given brand that would be necessary to do so.