Emperor watch in a cushion-shaped stainless steel case with a black on white ‘panda’ dial, dating from c.1970, £560 at Lockdales.
Emperor is one of many ‘minor’ Swiss watchmaking brands that disappeared during what is remembered as the ‘quartz crisis’. These are generally good timepieces: Emperor chronographs used the same Valjoux 7733 manual wound movement that was the basis for many Heuer and Breitling watches of the same era.
This watch shown above, in a cushion-shaped stainless steel case with a black on white ‘panda’ dial, dates from c.1970. A Heuer or Breitling of the same ilk would cost something north of £2000.
This Emperor, estimated at £100-150 at Lockdales (18% buyer’s premium) near Ipswich on May 13, took £560.
