Lucky Harvey Watches

Lucky Harvey: Private-Label Mystery with (Occasional) Mechanical Muscle

Let’s not sugarcoat it — Lucky Harvey was never a household name in watchmaking.
 You won’t see it in auction catalogs. There’s no “museum piece” tourbillon in the archives. And Google barely knows what to do with the name.

But dig into vintage listings, estate finds, and the occasional Valjoux chrono… and you’ll find a few Lucky Harvey-branded pieces that absolutely deserve a second look.

This is pure private-label territory — the kind of name stamped on dials for retailers, department stores, or contract distributors. And while most of what carried the Lucky Harvey name was built to a price, some models snuck in solid Swiss movements, well-finished cases, and real collector value.

Brand History: American Name, Swiss (Subcontracted) Build

There’s little formal documentation on Lucky Harvey’s origin. Best guess?
 A U.S.-based private-label brand, likely distributed through department stores or small jewelry chains in the mid-20th century.

Like a lot of house brands (think Hallmark, Tradition, Baylor), Lucky Harvey watches were Swiss-made under contract, often using mass-market mechanical movements from ETA, FHF, or Valjoux, then sold under Americanized branding for broad retail appeal.

No manufacture. No celebrity. Just middle-market mechanicals, with the occasional surprise.

Collector Highlights: Movement-Based Value Hiding in Plain Sight

  • Valjoux 7733 / 7734 Chronographs – The real chase pieces. Some Lucky Harvey watches from the 1970s were two-register chronographs powered by Valjoux hand-wound calibers. These share the same internals as early Heuer, Zodiac, and Clebar models — just without the collector markup.

  • Landeron Chronographs – Also seen with Lucky Harvey branding. Often in colorful dials, cushion cases, and full 1970s sport chrono energy.

  • Time-Only and Automatic Models – Entry-level pieces with basic Swiss calibers. Not collectible, but decent value if you like vintage looks and don’t need a brand-name dial.

  • Case Similarity to Known Brands – Some chronos share case shapes and components with better-known brands from the same era — often from the same suppliers.

You’re not buying a Lucky Harvey for the brand. You’re buying it for the movement, condition, and 1970s vibe.

Why Collectors Should (Maybe) Care

  • Swiss-made chronograph movements — often Valjoux or Landeron

  • Identical build quality to better-known nameplate watches from the same factories

  • Low cost of entry for a vintage mechanical chrono

  • True off-radar collector value — no one’s flipping these for hype

  • Cool, funky designs — especially from the late '60s into the '70s

If you like movement-first vintage collecting, Lucky Harvey is a hidden alley worth exploring.

What They’re Making Now: Nothing

Lucky Harvey isn’t an active brand.
 There’s no modern production. No website. No revival.

What’s out there is strictly vintage, mostly from the 1960s–1970s, and usually found through estate sales, eBay deep dives, or vintage watch dealers who’ve seen it all.

Fed’s Take

Lucky Harvey is a brand that doesn’t matter — until it does.

Most of the time? It’s quartz stuff or time-only pieces with little value.
 But every so often, a clean Valjoux 7733 chrono pops up with this obscure name on the dial — and you realize you’re looking at $1,200 of watch for $400.

I’ve flipped a few. I’ve been surprised more than once.
 And if you’re the kind of collector who values off-the-grid vintage, Lucky Harvey might just be your next sleeper win.

Unknown Name. Known Movement. Underpriced Goldmine (Sometimes).

If you’re hunting vintage watches by movement, not marketing, Lucky Harvey is one of those names you don’t chase — but you’re glad you found.

Delray Watch occasionally sees vintage Lucky Harvey watches — especially Valjoux-powered chronographs.

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