Pinterest at the start of the year predicted a few trends that they believe are going to see searches pickup for on their platform and one of those was clocks & watches.

Now here at the Vintage Inn Blog we know already that Horology (“the study of time” & or an “instrument for telling the hour”) has been trendy for a very long time. How can you not love a vintage watch that keeps on ticking for ever and ever? So for today’s post let’s have a bit of fun with it and showcase some cool vintage watche ads (clocks will have it’s own post another time) from the 1920s-1960s that I have found on the web (plus some lovely vintage examples).

1950s vintage HAMILTON WATCH advertisement illustration college men women professor

Source: Pinterest

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Watch Advertisements

1920’s-1960’s

Pocket Watches! So very stylish in the 1920s (well anytime in my mind). Here are some designs you could of owned in 1926 from Keystone standard watches.

1926 Keystone Watch Case Co Riverside New Jersey 1920's Standard Pocket Watch Ad

Source: eBay

1920’s Omega gold filled watches ad.

1920's Omega Gold Filled 80 Watch Wristwatches Art Deco vintage print Ad

Source: eBay

1937 Elgin watches ad: “Special Elgin!”

Original 1937 Elgin Watches Ad for men and women.

Source: Etsy

1938 Hamilton watch Of railroad accuracy ad: “Jim~Read This Note Before You Open The Package!”

1938 Hamilton Watch Ad 1930s vintage watches for men and women

Source: Etsy

1934 Gruen watches ad: “The Gift The Graduate Expects!”.

This vintage ad visually throws me off. My last name is Gruening and I keep seeing my last name even though there is no “ing”. HA!

Source: Etsy

1937 Gruen Curvex wristwatches Ad: “Amazing & Exquisite Exclaim Eminent Celebrities At World Premiere!”

Curved watches by Gruen are STUNNING!

1937 Gruen Curvex Wristwatches Ad. Vintage watches for men and women.

Source: Etsy

1942 Gruen watches ad: “American Fashion Firsts! for 42!”

Original 1942 Gruen Watches Ad. Vintage watches for women and men.

Source: Etsy

WW2 Hamilton watch ad, 1941: “We shall ride this storm through!”

1940s Vintage Watch Ad for Hamilton Watches during WW2. Hamilton Watch Ride Storm Through (1942)

Source: Vintage Ad Browser

1947 Helbros Fine wristwatches ad: “10 Faces That Beam With Christmas Spirit.”

Original 1947 Helbros Fine Wristwatch Magazine Ad.

Source: Etsy

1951 Hamilton fine watches ad: “A Hamilton Watch & Love Note To Peggy From Jim.”

Side note: I’m in love with Peggy’s Poinsetta blouse.

1951 Hamilton Fine Watches "A Hamilton Watch & Love Note To Peggy From Jim" Vintage Ad

Source: Etsy

1955 Timex watch ad: “The Fine Watch at 1/3 The Fine Watch Price!”

1955 Timex Watch "The Fine Watch at 1/3 The Fine Watch Price!" Vintage Print Ad

Source: Etsy

As seen in a 1952 Sears Wishbook. Classy women’s watches with the prettiest face from Bulova & Elgin. Then classic & stylish men’s watches also by Bulova and Elgin. What watch would you purchase?

Sears wishbook 1952 watches for men and watches for women catalog page

Here is a Bulova watch ad from Canadian Magazine, Macleans. October 1958.

Vintage 50s Bulova Watch Ad Canadian Magazine Macleans October 1958

Source: Etsy

1959 Bulova Sea King watch ad: “The Thinnest Waterproof We’ve Ever Made!”

1950s Men's Watches-Original 1959 Bulova Sea King Watch Ad.

Source: Etsy

1964 Bulova First Lady series watch ad: “Dazzling Precious Diamond Jewelry That Tells Perfect Time!”

Original 1964 Bulova First Lady Series Watch Print Ad. High Fashion Vintage Watch Ad.

Source: Etsy

James Bond and his Rolex as seen in this vintage 1965 ad promoting the watch & the next James Bond movie, ‘Thunderball’.

1960s Rolex Watch ad featuring Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball

Source: Pinterest

1966 Timex electric wrist watch.

Source: Etsy

Examples of vintage watches you can buy online for Men and Women:

1969 Lucerne Swiss Calendar Watch (avail as of March 2nd, 2022 HERE).

This watch is the Lucerne Calendar watch which was swiss made and touts that it has a unbreakable mainspring. The watch has been stored in the original packaging with paperwork. LOOK AT THAT BOX ARTWORK?! So Cool!

Vintage Men's Watch from 1969-Mid Century Modern 1969 Never Worn Lucerne Swiss Calendar Unbreakable Mainspring Day and Date mechanical watch in BOX.

Source: Etsy

Remember all those GRUEN ads above? Here is a couple examples (of many on ETSY) that you can take home and start enjoying ASAP.

1930s women’s watch by GRUEN. What a beauty! (avail as of March 2nd, 2022 HERE)

1930s womens watch by GRUEN - Circa 1930s Art Deco Gruen 14K Gold Plate Watch

Source: Etsy

1940s women’s GRUEN Watch, 10k Gold filled (Avail as of March 2nd, 2022 HERE).

1940s Women's Watch by GRUEN Vintage Watch

Source: Etsy

Do we have any pocket watch fans that read my blog? Here is an exquisite piece from the 1920s that I’m sure you will enjoy. A Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch (avail as of March 2nd, 2022 HERE).

1920s Vintage Watch for Men. A Vintage Hamilton Railroad Pocket Watch.

Source: Etsy

“Timex. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking”. A 1966 Timex 21 Jewel Self Wind Watch (avail as of March 2nd, 2022 HERE).

1966 Timex 21 Jewel Self Wind Watch. 1960s Vintage Men's Watch.

Source: Etsy

Question Time: Do you wear a watch? Or not a big fan? Share any thoughts you have on watches & in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Advertisements 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Right now on social media the “Ten Year Challenge” is trending. What did you look like 10 years ago vrs today. This trend then sprung an idea into my head! What if I were to look at a vintage yearbook photos from a COLLEGE Freshman’s first year vrs their last year (Senior year) and share it here?

Well friends, you are in luck! I have found some fun examples from the 1920s to the late 1960s that I’m sharing with you right now (and then maybe some more in a future post).

Let the fun begin!

(Note: All photos are from North Carolina Yearbooks-DigitalNC)

Freshman vrs Senior Year (1920s-1960s)

The Vintage Yearbook Photos

Here we have Freshman Alice Langston in the 1947 ‘Pine Knot’ yearbook at Barton College.

1940s vintage yearbook photo of a young woman in 1947

Now here is Alice as a Senior in 1950 with shorter hair (a very fashionable cut) and a more grown up look.

1950 vintage yearbook of a senior college student with a 1950s short hairstyle.

One more from Barton….Freshman Darlene Tucker in the 1947 ‘Pine Knot’ yearbook at Barton College.

1940s Vintage Yearbook photo of a young woman in a 1947 yearbook

Here is Darlene in 1950. Look at all those clubs and positions she was part of. Good for her! AND can we talk about how adorable Darlene is?

1950 Vintage Yearbook photo of a young woman with a 1950s hairstyle.

Yvonne Scruggs-Treasurer for the Freshman class of 1952 at North Carolina Central University. Seen in “The Eagle” yearbook (I love her necklace!).

1950s vintage yearbook photo of a young pretty Black woman in college as the freshman treasurer

Here is Yvonne in 1955 in her graduation Senior yearbook photo. What an active 4 years she had.

1950s vintage yearbook photo of a young Black Woman graduating from college.

Freshman Treva Miller in the 1941 ‘Sights & Insights’ yearbook from Salem College. Great necklace Treva!

1940s Vintage Hairstyle as seen on a freshman student in a 1941 yearbook

By Senior year (1944), Treva knew how to tame those beautiful curls and became the top of her class in Home Economics (I don’t know this part as a fact but it felt fun to throw in).

1940s vintage photo from a 1941 vintage yearbook featuring a female senior college student.

Hermenia Fitts as a Freshman in 1946 seen in the ‘Maroon & Gray’ yearbook from North Carolina Central University.

1940s Vintage Yearbook from 1946 of a young Black Woman as a freshman in her college

Hermenia Fitts class of 1949 in Commerce and she even made Homecoming Court Royalty. What a smart beauty who had quite the glow up!

1940s Vintage Yearbook from 1949 of a young Black Woman as a senior in her college

In 1935 at Appalachian State University, Fred Moore was starting out as a Freshman (‘The Rhododendron’ 1935 yearbook).

1930s vintage yearbook photo of a freshman student 1930s mens fashion

By 1938, Fred was now going as ‘Frederick Daniel Moore’ and he graduated with a degree (diploma?) in History and Physical Education.

1930s vintage yearbook photo from 1938 of a College Senior Man.

Stella Tilley also attended with Fred. Here is her 1935 Freshman yearbook photo.

1930s vintage yearbook photo of a freshman girl in college. 1930s vintage hairstyle inspiration.

Stella in 1938 is now a Grammar Grade Education Grad with the prettiest crown of curls.

1930s vintage yearbook photo featuring a 1930s vintage hairstyle.

One last one from ‘The Pine Knot’ (Barton College) this time from 1939. The start of WW2. The Freshman yearbook pages were filled with happy young men, like Gordon Aldridge (well maybe not Gordon).

1939 vintage yearbook photo of a young man in his Freshman year of college.

By 1942 there is only a small amount of young men in the Senior photos. Gordon is still with us and supplying us with a lovely smile for his Senior photo this time around.

1942 vintage yearbook photo of a young man in his Senior year of College

Paulette Grant-1963 Freshman at Bennett College as seen in the ‘Bennett Belle’ yearbook.

1960s vintage yearbook photo of a young Black woman freshman in college

Here is Paulette…all grownup and graduating in 1966.

1960s Vintage Yearbook photo of a young Black Woman in College in her Senior Photo

Hope you enjoyed this fun post! Share in the comments section which student Freshman vrs Senior photos ws your favourite.

Oh for those who were curious about the 10 year challenge photo, here is what I posted on Instagram. 2012 Liz vrs 2022 Liz. Just a few changes!

Vintage Style as seen at the Vintage Inn Blog

Thanks for dropping by!

Further Reading:

Liz

Tag: 1920’s

Vintage Watch Ads- The Original Tick Tock

Vintage Watch Advertisements

1920’s-1960’s

Vintage Yearbook Photos – Freshman vrs Senior Year (1920s-1960s)

Freshman vrs Senior Year (1920s-1960s)

The Vintage Yearbook Photos