Watchmaking history is ripe with old dial patterns and textures to resurface: sector dials, crosshairs, guilloche and others have all made some slight comebacks. And yet the “linen dial” remains an obscurity of the vintage watch world. The textile-like pattern is a result of imperfect crosshatch engraving on the watch dial, its textured surface playing with the light much like its guilloche counterparts. Unfortunately, the linen dial doesn’t seem to be the next vintage design scheme to be resurfaced, but it was a fairly common design used by watchmakers like Omega, Seiko Tudor and Rolex. These three watches are your chance to own one right now.
Eterna-Matic 3000
What we like: In addition to the linen dial, this watch has Eterna’s legendary automatic movement, launched in the late ’40s, which cut down on friction and increased efficiency by using a quintet of ball bearings. The 35mm case, thin bezel and domed dial shape are all quintessential design traits from the time, and this Eterna-Matic should prove to be a great dress watch for decades to come.
From the seller: Eterna-matic 14K gold top and stainless steel back circa 1960s. 35mm case diameter with acrylic crystal. Silver fine linen dial with thin gold indexes and hands.
Tudor Prince Oysterdate
What we like: While most linen dials had a silver hue, gold-tone dials with the pattern also existed, and I can think of nothing more suitable to go with this Tudor’s two-tone color-scheme. Further, it has other Rolex-esque design traits like a “Cyclopse” date magnifier and fluted bezel, making it a more affordable alternative to the crown.
From the seller: [Case is in] great condition, no serious nicks or scratches; [dial is in] great condition, no blemishes.
