In 1982, Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida opened its EPCOT Center theme park to the public. Its original concept was to create a real, utopian city based on modern transportation as well as economic and architectural innovations, but after Walt’s death in 1966, the plans were simplified. Instead, EPCOT became EPCOT Center––a theme park honoring the societal modernizations Walt was fascinated with in a more practical (and marketable) manner.
To commemorate the park’s opening, Disney and its partners produced various forms of merchandise and collectibles including coins, keychains, mugs, hats, shirts, and, of course, wristwatches. This Bradley EPCOT Center watch exists as both a unique piece of Disneyana and horological history when studying the creation and popularity of Disney-themed wristwatches. Why settle for a Mickey Mouse watch when you can transport your wrist straight back to 1982?
A Brief Overview of Disney Watches
Disney’s intellectual properties have adorned all types of trinkets, souvenirs, and products since the company’s founding in 1923. Regarding wristwatches, however, Ingersoll in 1933––then a subsidiary of the Waterbury Clock Company (or Timex as they’re known today)––created the first Mickey Mouse timepiece, sparking the seemingly-never-ending popularity of Disney-themed watches among consumers. In 1971, Bradley Time Division––then a subsidiary of Elgin––took over the bulk of production from Ingersoll. Afterward, Lorus––a subsidiary of Seiko––took the reins from Bradley in 1987. Today numerous companies produce Mickey Mouse and Disney-themed timepieces, including brands both small and large. Citizen, Fossil, Swatch, and Gérald Genta are just a handful of the brands who have released Disney watches in recent years.
Looking to buy a vintage Disney-themed watch? While the original Ingersoll pieces are still available on auction sites, many are in rough shape and require extensive (and expensive) restoration to return them to their former glory. Lorus crafted some incredibly interesting pieces throughout the late 80s and 90s––especially those with musical movements that, at a touch of a button, would hum recognizable Disney songs like “It’s a Small World” and the “Mickey Mouse March.” A possible perk for some collectors and a caveat for others, these watches were produced in Asia used quartz movements. To me, the Bradley pieces are the sweet spot for collecting vintage Disney wristwatches. They typically contain good quality Swiss made movements, are found in much better condition compared to their predecessors, and are easily available for affordable prices.
Bradley EPCOT Design and Impressions
The aesthetics of this watch are everything you could want from a 1980s watch commemorating something as 1980s as EPCOT’s original motif. From the dial to the bracelet, almost every element of this piece is two-tone gold and silver. The case, measuring 33mm across and 37mm lug-to-lug, has a brushed finish on its face and a polished finish on the sides. The two-piece bracelet with sliding clasp is quite the hair nipper––which is pretty on-brand for 1980s watches––but fits the overall design of the watch well.
Its gold-tone bezel has a similar rivet pattern to the design on the bracelet, vaguely reminiscent of features found on a Cartier Santos. Black hour and minute hands are accompanied by a gold-tone seconds hand, effectively blending in with the dial but there if you ever need it. Inside the watch is a Harley Ronda 373 Six-Jeweled Swiss made quartz movement. Although its tick is relatively loud, it continues to keep good time after over 40 years of use.
The dial is the true showstopper here. Within only 26mm of space, Bradley was able to include depictions of Spaceship Earth, the entrance fountain, a monorail, and decorative bushes and trees above the words “EPCOT CENTER” in its classic futuristic font. The details are truly incredible. The imagery and words have a polished finish and are raised from the matte gold dial. Spaceship Earth, the icon of EPCOT, is in silver, standing out from the other golden landmarks and continuing the trend of “two-tone everything” on the watch. I’ve often found myself looking down at my wrist more when I wear this just to gawk at the artwork in different lighting.
Market Availability and Buyer’s Guide
When searching for this model online, I found only a couple pictures on auction sites. They appear to be quite rare compared to other Disney-themed watches but do occasionally pop up for sale. Parent company Elgin also made an EPCOT watch during this era featuring the original five-ring logo on the dial, though very little is known about that model and only a few photos seem to exist. A 1982 Elgin ladies watch with a black dial exists and can be found for rather reasonable prices (paired here with my Bradley piece). Like the Bradley, it houses another Harley Ronda quartz movement, this time the five-jeweled 672.
If reading through this has inspired you to purchase a Bradley EPCOT Center watch yourself, I’ll try my best to offer some advice. While your hunt may be a rather lengthy one, keep your eyes peeled (and saved searches saved). In my experience, every example I’ve seen has always come on the original two-piece bracelet, but finding a similar replacement should be no issue thanks to the watch’s 18mm lug width. If a listing pops up stating the watch is “for parts or repair” or “not working,” I still recommend placing your bid as, thankfully, the Ronda Harley 373 movement costs very little to replace (typically around $35 or less). This means the two worst case scenarios that can happen are that you buy a $5 battery or $35 replacement movement. Lastly, while the bracelet and case back are stainless steel, the watch case is constructed of base metal. Be cognizant of the finish on the watch before placing a bid if plating wear is something that concerns you.
Final Thoughts
I’ve always had an interest in vintage Disney, especially EPCOT, because of my fascination with retro futures. Watching short films from the 1950s where robots are the helping hand of every household and space travel is only a quick flight away has always intrigued me ever since I was a child. Nostalgia helped spark a resurgence of 1950s fashion, music, and film in the 1980s, and along with it came many of the same hypothetical ideas of the future. The creation of EPCOT Center in 1982 embodied the optimism of a technologically modernized society filled with the inventions imagined in the Fabulous Fifties. As you can tell, I adore the wealth of fascinating ideas and creations both the 1950s and 1980s had to offer when it comes to the future. EPCOT as a metropolitan concept and even as a theme park ties those concepts together perfectly.
What better way to show my appreciation for it than adding another watch to my collection? When I saw this Bradley pop up several years ago for under $200, I knew I had to buy it. Even if you don’t have a vested interest in Disney or EPCOT, the excellent craftsmanship that went into this unique piece of history is worthy of appreciation. While there’s always a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow, I kinda like what 1982 had to offer here.
