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BS: Vintage watch thread |
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Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Steve Shaw Date: 12 Dec 15 - 05:14 AM I get all that. I do think my Casio cheapie has become a bit of a classic though. They've been making that model for donkeys' years now. It's a bit too big to be ladylike and a bit too small to be manly. Kind of wristy metrosexuality for the inverse snob. The battery lasts for about five years, then the best thing to do is to bin the watch, for two reasons: first, a new battery costs almost as much as the watch, which will be pretty battered after five years anyway (the joy of a cheapie is that you don't have to care) and second, a watch with replaced battery will permanently steam up inside the first time you wash your hands. As far as I'm aware, this issue has defeated the smartest minds. I have spares. You don't have that with a Rolex. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Will Fly Date: 12 Dec 15 - 04:53 AM Like Dan says, there's no question that the most basic quartz watch will keep as good time and better than a mechanical watch. But watch nuts don't collect watches because they want to know the time - any modern smart phone can do that as equally well as a watch - but for things like design, function and elegance of engineering. This is a picture of the movement in my wife's Elgin 354 - a small, "Lady Elgin" pocket watch worn as a pendant and made in 1915: Elgin 354 movement This is a tiny watch - a style that would eventually morph into a wristwatch. Just look at the damaskeening (engraved decoration) on the plates. Note how the centre gear wheel is half hidden by the barrel bridge plate - and the outline of the continuing wheel is engraved on the plate. Look at the way that the engraving on the wheels makes them look like spirals. All done by hand. That why I love these watches - the beauty, elegance and craftsmanship. By the same token, you can get excellent factory-made guitars, but I also love custom-made, hand-built guitars. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Will Fly Date: 12 Dec 15 - 04:07 AM I like your style, Dan! Dave - your dad's Cyma is an excellent watch and well worth keeping - and wearing. I have a Cyma, and you can read a bit about it here. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 12 Dec 15 - 12:07 AM And why would one buy a six dollar watch that keeps perfect time when they can spend 500 dollars on one that doesn't. Lol |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 11 Dec 15 - 11:52 PM The fun in carrying a 100 + year old watch daily is knowing that there is a real possibility you will miss that doctors appointment that you really didn't want to go anyway :) quartz is just to accurate to give you those odds |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 11 Dec 15 - 11:38 PM Well steve what they lack it coolness they make up for in accuracy. No mechanical watch will ever beat quartz. Electrons vs springs :) Dave I was out tonight but will pm you Saturday morning |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Steve Shaw Date: 11 Dec 15 - 08:00 PM Mine's a Casio with a round face, real numbers and a plastic strap. I appear to be allergic to all other straps. £5.49, eBay, post free. Been using 'em for over ten years. I too will get me coat... |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Dave the Gnome Date: 11 Dec 15 - 05:47 PM Thanks Dan. Much appreciated. I look forward to your PM and to having Grandad's watch working again :-) He always made me smile in many ways but the watch really tickled me as a young man. He was so amazed at such a clever thing as a self winding watch that he spent far longer moving his arm up and down than he ever would have winding a traditional watch! He would have loved the internet and when I think of how interested he would have been at it I still miss him. But with fond memories :-) It was either loosing or gaining, can't remember which, and I tried to adjust it. Unfortunately I caught a hair spring with my screwdriver and made it worse by trying to put it back. Needless to say, it never worked again :-( Out of interest, the other watch I hold dear is my late step-Dad's gold Cyma. That had a crack down the back and a local jeweler did what was required to fix it. Seems OK but I am reluctant to wear it on all but special occasions. No idea of the worth or rarity but, whatever it is, it will stay with me till I shuffle off this mortal coil! |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Greg F. Date: 11 Dec 15 - 03:51 PM If everyone carried a pocket watch there would be peace on earth. Amen to that, Dan! Be well, Greg. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Will Fly Date: 11 Dec 15 - 01:46 PM I'll drink to that, Dan! |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 11 Dec 15 - 10:46 AM If everyone carried a pocket watch there would be peace on earth. We all would be so busy keeping them running on time there would be no time left for hate :) |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 11 Dec 15 - 10:27 AM Send it to Mahlon, I can give you his address dave. No problem. Family item's no matter the grade deserve to live again. Pm me don't worry about the cost I got your back |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 11 Dec 15 - 10:17 AM Wow will, awesome pics.. Amazing. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Dave the Gnome Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:39 AM Ooooh - Now the obvious joke is out of the way, I have an old Sekonda self winding watch that I managed to break when trying to adjust :-( It is not worth much but has sentimental value as it was my Granddads. Anyone think it is worth sending off? |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Will Fly Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:31 AM Hey Dan, do you remember the Elgin "Father Time" I got from you? A fantastic watch. Well, I bought myself a nice Canon 70D DSLR camera some months ago, and recently acquired a copy stand. I've been testing out an old Pentax Asahi Super Takumar 55mm manual lens with a x3 converter ring on it for maro photography. Here's a pic of the Elgin movement - close up! Father Time |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Will Fly Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:26 AM Richard, I've sent one or two items to Dan's Amish watch man, Mahlon, in the US. He's a superb technician and, even allowing for postage costs both ways, is a better buy than many repairers here in the UK. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Will Fly Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:23 AM Hi Dan - you're right - the old thread was wobbling along for pages! Well, since we last talked about these things, I bought myself a modern automatic by Christopher Ward - from the "not quite new" shelf - which has a black titanium casing and is very comfortable. An everyday watch. My latest beauty is a LeCoultre from 1956 - lovely face and movement and in perfect condition. LeCoultre face LeCoultre movement LeCoultre was a Swiss firm which, like Wittnauer, exported their movements to the US, where they were cased and timed. The ones sold in Europe were sold as "Jaeger LeCoultre". They also made movements for Vacherin & Constantin. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Dave the Gnome Date: 11 Dec 15 - 04:22 AM Is this a wind up? I'll get my coat... |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Richard Bridge Date: 11 Dec 15 - 01:23 AM Thank you. I am however in the UK. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 10 Dec 15 - 06:17 PM That is a wonderful watch Richard, next time you need service let me know, I will have Mahlon do it for you. Beautiful watch. I have a sea master and one early omega pocket watch. |
Subject: RE: BS: Vintage watch thread From: Richard Bridge Date: 10 Dec 15 - 05:19 PM I just had my Omega Dynamic reconned by Omega at vast expense (happily paid by insurers). |
Subject: BS: Vintage watch thread From: olddude Date: 10 Dec 15 - 05:14 PM The pocket watch thread is too dang big so lets do a new one. Any new additions to report. I picked up a beautiful 21 j Elgin veritas with the hard to find 3 finger bridge. I will post a pic later. Mahlon restored it for me to new state. Will did you get anything lately. Oh also restored an1879 hunter cased longines. |