A BEST HELBROS?

[artb]

From my bunch of Helbros w.w. those marked Invincible and Regency seem to be better grades. Helbros was a retailer with their own stores in major cities so they sold a wide variety of qualities. For the usual watch buyer they sold mostly good looking cheap ones which are the commonly seen ones today. Perhaps a German or anyone can explain this German marked on dial, movement and case. Marked waterproof, thus before 1968? From a moderate distance looks like a similar age autowind Omega. Not gold but case like a lower grade Omega. Has unused original Helbros strap. Movement by Swiss ?

[mike184]

Hi!

Easy answer - dial, back and movement are marked with Germany because the complete watch is from Germany.
The movement is an Otero 48.
Otero comes from OTto Epple ROhwerke. The Otero - Uhrenrohwerke Otto Epple & Co was founded in 1944 in Königsbach near Pforzheim, they made movements and complete watches under the brandname Otero and also delivered movements to other watch producers. In the 1960s they were member of the Epora, in the 1970s of the Pallas, both associations/collectives of German watch- and watchpart producers.
Not to see if the complete watch is from Otero or from another German watch factory with just the movement from Otero.
BTW, very nice watch and it seems to be in good condition.

[artb]

Very good answers Mike. Certainly a good one from Helbros, but not a best. Helbros sold some diamond and gold cases with better grade movements, but the ~1960 Eppo movement certainly is a nice one. This one not used or oiled but runs vigorously with a slight motion of the case.

[mike184]

Eppo is another watch brandname of Otero.
Helbros also have imported Rado watches, one of them the rare Satellite model, the grandfather of mystery dials, to see here. Here´s my Rado for compare:

[Hartmut Richter]

That is a nice watch with a good movement. It has the famous Pellaton excenter winding mechanism made famous by IWC in their 85xx series of movements. Probably the most efficient automatic winding system there is. You can see one of the little winding arms in the hole to the upper right of the balance wheel.

Hartmut Richter

[baronrojo]

Eppo is another watch brandname of Otero.
Helbros also have imported Rado watches, one of them the rare Satellite model, the grandfather of mystery dials, to see here. Here´s my Rado for compare:

What a cool watch. I'm "trying" to have a few space related watches in my collection...would love one of these.

[mike184]

What a cool watch. I'm "trying" to have a few space related watches in my collection...would love one of these.

Thanx!
Good luck in finding one, only 1.000 have been made 1960/61, + ? Helbros Satellite.

[bctje]

hey mike i am one of the luky 1000 owners if i want to sel the watch hat is a good asking price

[mike184]

Hi!

If you want to sell it, you should offer it for a fixed price. The last one I´ve seen went for nearly 700 US$ in the US-bay, but in top condition. I was lucky to pay much less for mine.

[webbb01]

From my bunch of Helbros w.w. those marked Invincible and Regency seem to be better grades.

I agree! I have a Helbros Invincible and it is currently my daily wearer...