Plato - No reserve price - Men - 1950-1959

05
days
18
hours
19
minutes
41
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
No reserve price
Erwin Dekker
Expert
Selected by Erwin Dekker

Experienced antique dealer with extensive watch collecting expertise and antiques background.

Estimate  € 250 - € 280
No bids placed

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Plato Classic Executive Minimalist Dress Watch, dating from the 1950s, with a manual-wind Swiss FHF 73 movement (17 jewels) in a stainless steel case, 34 mm diameter, leather strap, in very good condition.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

We are proud to present a beautifully minimalist and highly sophisticated piece of late-1950s Swiss horology: an elegant Plato Mechanical Dress Watch. Hailing from the historic watchmaking town of Biel/Bienne, the Montres Plato house was celebrated for its understated executive design language and superb build quality. This specific model features Plato's signature design element—the iconic asterisk (*) emblem on the lower dial.

A Pristine Swiss Heart – Caliber FHF 73:
Inside this collector-grade watch beats a factory-clean Swiss Made FHF Caliber 73 manual-wound movement, engineered by the renowned Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon. Operating on a robust 17 Rubis (17 Jewels) layout and featuring the premium Incabloc shock-absorption system, this high-grade traditional caliber is in an exceptional mechanical state. The movement features a traditional silver metallic architectural finish, is completely free of any oxidation, and performs with remarkable Swiss precision.

The Prestige of the "Tout Acier" Stainless Steel Case:
What elevates this time capsule significantly in the eyes of vintage collectors is its solid stainless steel construction. While the vast majority of mid-century dress watches relied on short-lived plated brass, this piece features a premium case made entirely of high-grade steel. The screw-down caseback proudly bears the historical French stamping "TOUT ACIER ETANCHE" (All Stainless Steel / Waterproof) along with the serial reference 7910. The case design is framed by dramatic, sharp architectural lugs that offer an incredible presence on the wrist.

The Minimalist Dial Profile:
The original silver-cream dial is an exercise in mid-century purity. It features highly elegant, elongated faceted silver indices, stylized Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, and classic ultra-slender dauphine (arrow) hands. Topped with a brand new, flawless acrylic crystal and paired with a premium leather strap, it is the ultimate vintage dress watch for the discerning collector.

Specifications
• Brand: Plato (Montres Plato / Henzi & Cie, Biel, Switzerland)
• Model: Classic Executive Minimalist Dress Watch
• Period: Circa 1955–1960
• Movement: Manual winding mechanical, high-grade Swiss execution
• Caliber: Swiss FHF 73 (Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon), 17 Jewels, Incabloc protection, pristine state
• Functions: Hours, minutes, central sweep seconds
• Case Material: Solid high-grade Stainless Steel (Tout Acier)
• Case Dimensions: 33.5 mm (excluding crown) x 41 mm (lug-to-lug) – classic dress proportions
• Caseback: High-grade Stainless Steel, heavy screw-down type, stamped "Tout Acier Etanche", "Plato" and reference number 7919
• Crystal: Premium domed acrylic crystal, absolutely flawless and scratch-free
• Strap: Brand new, unused high-quality genuine leather strap in classic black vintage style, width 17 mm

Condition Report
• Case & Body: Excellent vintage condition. The all-stainless steel case retains a brilliant, clean luster. The case lines, sharp profiles, and angular lugs remain well-defined and unpolished, showing only light, honest micro-signs of age.
• Dial & Hands: The original cream dial is in highly authentic, clean condition with a very light, attractive uniform age patina. The silver indices and dauphine arrow hands are beautifully preserved with no major oxidation.
• Mechanical Condition: Mechanically in flawless condition. The FHF movement operates perfectly, winds with absolute smoothness, and keeps stable, accurate time well within the historical tolerances of Swiss manufacturing.
• Water Resistance: Historical vintage piece, not tested.

Please keep in mind that these historic mechanical wristwatches are described exactly according to their condition, which was verified during cataloging, and are sold in their current authentic state without any documented service history. Although the watches are fully functional and keep accurate time at the moment of the auction, their long-term accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance cannot be guaranteed due to wear on parts caused by age, historical lubricants, changes in temperature and pressure, shocks, and changes in position during transport or wearing. This piece is sold as a collectible and investment item, so for maximum use of its potential and to ensure long-term reliability, regular checks and adjustments by a watch specialist are highly recommended.

"Important shipping restriction: Please note that due to strict regulatory and tax administrative complications regarding the EU SME scheme (Small Business Scheme) and specific customs regulations, shipping to Spain (including the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla) is strictly unavailable. Bids from buyers residing in these regions cannot be fulfilled, and orders will be canceled. Thank you for your understanding."

We are proud to present a beautifully minimalist and highly sophisticated piece of late-1950s Swiss horology: an elegant Plato Mechanical Dress Watch. Hailing from the historic watchmaking town of Biel/Bienne, the Montres Plato house was celebrated for its understated executive design language and superb build quality. This specific model features Plato's signature design element—the iconic asterisk (*) emblem on the lower dial.

A Pristine Swiss Heart – Caliber FHF 73:
Inside this collector-grade watch beats a factory-clean Swiss Made FHF Caliber 73 manual-wound movement, engineered by the renowned Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon. Operating on a robust 17 Rubis (17 Jewels) layout and featuring the premium Incabloc shock-absorption system, this high-grade traditional caliber is in an exceptional mechanical state. The movement features a traditional silver metallic architectural finish, is completely free of any oxidation, and performs with remarkable Swiss precision.

The Prestige of the "Tout Acier" Stainless Steel Case:
What elevates this time capsule significantly in the eyes of vintage collectors is its solid stainless steel construction. While the vast majority of mid-century dress watches relied on short-lived plated brass, this piece features a premium case made entirely of high-grade steel. The screw-down caseback proudly bears the historical French stamping "TOUT ACIER ETANCHE" (All Stainless Steel / Waterproof) along with the serial reference 7910. The case design is framed by dramatic, sharp architectural lugs that offer an incredible presence on the wrist.

The Minimalist Dial Profile:
The original silver-cream dial is an exercise in mid-century purity. It features highly elegant, elongated faceted silver indices, stylized Arabic numerals at 12 and 6, and classic ultra-slender dauphine (arrow) hands. Topped with a brand new, flawless acrylic crystal and paired with a premium leather strap, it is the ultimate vintage dress watch for the discerning collector.

Specifications
• Brand: Plato (Montres Plato / Henzi & Cie, Biel, Switzerland)
• Model: Classic Executive Minimalist Dress Watch
• Period: Circa 1955–1960
• Movement: Manual winding mechanical, high-grade Swiss execution
• Caliber: Swiss FHF 73 (Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon), 17 Jewels, Incabloc protection, pristine state
• Functions: Hours, minutes, central sweep seconds
• Case Material: Solid high-grade Stainless Steel (Tout Acier)
• Case Dimensions: 33.5 mm (excluding crown) x 41 mm (lug-to-lug) – classic dress proportions
• Caseback: High-grade Stainless Steel, heavy screw-down type, stamped "Tout Acier Etanche", "Plato" and reference number 7919
• Crystal: Premium domed acrylic crystal, absolutely flawless and scratch-free
• Strap: Brand new, unused high-quality genuine leather strap in classic black vintage style, width 17 mm

Condition Report
• Case & Body: Excellent vintage condition. The all-stainless steel case retains a brilliant, clean luster. The case lines, sharp profiles, and angular lugs remain well-defined and unpolished, showing only light, honest micro-signs of age.
• Dial & Hands: The original cream dial is in highly authentic, clean condition with a very light, attractive uniform age patina. The silver indices and dauphine arrow hands are beautifully preserved with no major oxidation.
• Mechanical Condition: Mechanically in flawless condition. The FHF movement operates perfectly, winds with absolute smoothness, and keeps stable, accurate time well within the historical tolerances of Swiss manufacturing.
• Water Resistance: Historical vintage piece, not tested.

Please keep in mind that these historic mechanical wristwatches are described exactly according to their condition, which was verified during cataloging, and are sold in their current authentic state without any documented service history. Although the watches are fully functional and keep accurate time at the moment of the auction, their long-term accuracy, power reserve, and water resistance cannot be guaranteed due to wear on parts caused by age, historical lubricants, changes in temperature and pressure, shocks, and changes in position during transport or wearing. This piece is sold as a collectible and investment item, so for maximum use of its potential and to ensure long-term reliability, regular checks and adjustments by a watch specialist are highly recommended.

"Important shipping restriction: Please note that due to strict regulatory and tax administrative complications regarding the EU SME scheme (Small Business Scheme) and specific customs regulations, shipping to Spain (including the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla) is strictly unavailable. Bids from buyers residing in these regions cannot be fulfilled, and orders will be canceled. Thank you for your understanding."

Details

Brand
Plato
Gender
Men
Band material
Leather
Shipped insured
Yes
Period
1950-1959
Repainted dial
No
Movement
Manual winding
Case material
Stainless steel
Original box included
No
Original papers included
No
Case diameter
34 mm
Original warranty included
No
Condition
Very good - minor signs of wear
Sold by
Czech RepublicVerified
87
Objects sold
100%
pro

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