Pierce Watches

Pierce Watches

If you’re into vintage chronographs with real character and mechanical charm, Pierce should absolutely be on your radar.

This isn’t a household name — and that’s part of the appeal. Pierce built its own movements, innovated early on, and quietly turned out some of the coolest tool watches of the

pre-quartz era. The fact that most people have never heard of it? That’s your edge.

A Little History

Pierce Watch Co. was founded in 1883 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, and by the 1930s had become known for producing in-house calibers — a rarity at the time, especially

for chronographs.

One of their biggest breakthroughs was the Pierce 134 movement: a fully integrated chronograph caliber introduced in the 1940s, built entirely in-house and offering a

column-wheel

mechanism with unique levers and cams. It was simple, robust, and reliable, and it powered a ton of their chronograph models for decades.

While the company faded after the quartz crisis, its legacy lives on in a tight circle of collectors who value in-house vintage chronos with character and quirk.

What Collectors Love

Pierce watches hit the vintage sweet spot: cool movements, military styling, and surprisingly good finishing — all at prices that haven’t (yet) caught up to their

historical significance.

Key models include:

  • Pierce Chronographs — typically 34–36mm, with multi-scale dials (tachy, telemeter), often powered by the in-house cal. 134 or 134C

  • Pierce Two-Pusher and Single-Pusher models — some using more primitive cam systems, others with column wheels

  • Military-style field watches — simple three-handers with luminous hands, often issued or styled for service use

  • Pierce Auto models — featuring some of the brand’s proprietary automatic modules, though less common than the chronographs

The dials are often aged beautifully, with creamy lume, crisp numerals, and hand-cut hands. And the movements? A little odd, a little charming, but built to last and

surprisingly fun to service.

Why Pierce Deserves a Spot

Because it’s one of the few vintage brands that made its own chronograph movements — at a time when most others were just casing up Valjoux or Landeron.

There’s an honesty to Pierce’s watches. They’re tool watches with soul. Not high luxury, not brand-name flexes — just good, honest mechanical watches from an

era when that really meant something.

And in today’s world of mass-produced vintage reissues? Having the original is always better.

What’s Out There Now

Pierce hasn’t made watches in decades, so the only way in is vintage:

  • Pierce Chronographs — 34–36mm, manual wind, with in-house cal. 134/134C movements

  • Military-inspired field watches — often in chrome-plated brass or early steel

  • Rare Pierce triple date chronographs — unicorns, but they exist

  • Occasional Pierce-branded dress watches — usually from later years, often less collectible

Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $1,500 depending on condition and movement. For a full in-house vintage chrono? That’s a steal.

Fed’s Take

Pierce is the kind of brand serious vintage guys love to pull out at meetups. It’s obscure but legit. The chronos have character, the cases wear well, and the movements

are just weird enough to make them fun without being a nightmare.

I’ve handled a few over the years, and every time I think — if this had a more famous name on the dial, it would cost three times as much. But it doesn’t.

And that’s exactly why you want one.

Check Out Our Pierce Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Pierce watches — especially vintage chronographs with cal. 134 and military-style models.

If you have a Pierce watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

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