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Attn: Doc, and other watch lovers

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waltesefalcon

waltesefalcon

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So I have been lusting after an Omega Constellation for some time but couldn't justify buying one...until now. This is my graduation gift to myself. It is a 1966 with a 561 movt. in it ref.168.005. It does have some scratches under the bezel between the lugs that I find slightly off putting and it has had the dial refinished (which apparently kills it's value with collectors) but it does keep fantastic time and I have enjoyed wearing it daily for the past couple of weeks.
IMG_20160909_131201845_HDR.jpgIMG_20160908_204556730_HDR.jpgIMG_20160908_205215698.jpg
 
Congratulations! Lovely piece! I once had an Omega that may Dad gave me years ago, but it went missing in one of our many military moves! I'm a collector of cheap (relatively) watches. I have several Seiko watches, the most costly of which was under $200. My prize watch, which I only wear on very special occasions, is a Gold Lord Elgin that was a gift to my Grandfather from my Grandmother. It is inscribed on the back with my Grandfather's name (same as mine) and the date "12-25-46"
 
That's fantastic Bas. I also own a Lord Elgin (mine is a gold and black one dating to 45), by today's standards it is ludicrously small watch.
 
I had a beautiful Omega that stopped working after one year so I threw it out and replaced it with a gorgeous Breitling.
Total cost of both watches - $50.00 in total.
 
pdplot said:
I had a beautiful Omega that stopped working after one year so I threw it out and replaced it with a gorgeous Breitling.
Total cost of both watches - $50.00 in total.
Click to expand...

Ok, what's the rest of the story? You didn't buy that Breathing from some guy on the street in Hong Kong?

(By the way, I know it says "breathing" and not Breitling above, but that's what my "auto correct" did "for" me - another thing that belongs in our pet peeves thread)
 
Lovely watch. I too collect relatively cheap watches - more to novelty than name though I have two Fauxlex watched - one from Hong Kong and one from Tijuana. I have a dozen or so - a CYMA railway watch (24 hour) that was my father's (he was with the railway) and a Seiko - which was also his. It no longer works but I don't know how to get rid of it.

More to the point - Congratulations!! what are you graduating from/ with?
 
I like the choice. Two years ago I went looking for a Speedmaster, bought the Rolex Air king, because the retailer was just around the corner.
The Omega dealer about 2 hours away. Glad the dealer is so close, have had it in for service twice. I keep a Timex on hand just in case.
 
JPSmit said:
Lovely watch. I too collect relatively cheap watches - more to novelty than name though I have two Fauxlex watched - one from Hong Kong and one from Tijuana. I have a dozen or so - a CYMA railway watch (24 hour) that was my father's (he was with the railway) and a Seiko - which was also his. It no longer works but I don't know how to get rid of it.

More to the point - Congratulations!! what are you graduating from/ with?
Click to expand...

One of the Seiko Watches I have was inherited from my Dad. Circa 1970-ish. FYI, it had quit working too, so I took it to a jeweler / watch repair guy locally and had an entire new movement installed. It cost more than the watch is worth, but it was sentimental. I now have the watch working again and it looks as new.
 
JP, I am graduating with a Master's in Special Education so that I can be highly qualified and keep my job.

I have collected watches for some time now, but I have always focused on American pocket watches although I do have a couple of Swiss pocket watches, Swiss-American wrist watches (Wittnauers), and a lovely older British fusee pocket watch.
 
I said Omega - I meant Rolex. My bad.
Both purchased in Shanghai. Legitimate goods on the first floor. Then through a curtain and upstairs to a room full of $25 Rolexes and Breitlings. Also Fendi, Vuitton, Gucci, etc. All fakes. The Breitling is still going strong after 7 years though I hardly ever wear it. Too heavy. I do get compliments though. Since it works by agitation and not a battery, it may last longer than the Rolex, which lasted just over a year. Once at dinner in New York with the producer of The Sopranos who had a real Rolex, her father pulled out a jewelers loupe and examined both watches. He could not tell the difference from looking but there is a difference between real and fake Rolexes - the second hand on the real one goes around smoothly - the fake has an escapement wheel and goes around in small increments. Some of the fakes- mostly made in Italy- may be better and last longer but for $25, what do you expect? My everyday watch? A solar-powered Seiko from Macy's. I also have a $19.95 Timex I use when working on the car. Keeps perfect time.
 
Nice graduation present Walter and congratulations.

IMG_1150_zpstktkl5l5.jpg

Took this a while back trying to do something with unused items. Lord Elgin, my favorite but I can't be trusted with delicate items and dropped it, doesn't go. Chronosport sailing race start timer. Wenger with broken stem. Bulova with original strap. Hot wheels.
 
sail said:
Nice graduation present Walter and congratulations.

View attachment 44671

Took this a while back trying to do something with unused items. Lord Elgin, my favorite but I can't be trusted with delicate items and dropped it, doesn't go. Chronosport sailing race start timer. Wenger with broken stem. Bulova with original strap. Hot wheels.
Click to expand...

As I mentioned in previous post, I inherited a Lord Elgin from my Grand Father (dated 12-25-46 on back). Here is is. Still keeps good time (when I wind it)

Lord Elgin.jpg
 
Basil said:
One of the Seiko Watches I have was inherited from my Dad. Circa 1970-ish. FYI, it had quit working too, so I took it to a jeweler / watch repair guy locally and had an entire new movement installed. It cost more than the watch is worth, but it was sentimental. I now have the watch working again and it looks as new.
Click to expand...

I do understand the sentiment - curiously with this one I have no recollection of my father ever wearing it - or even of seeing it in his possession. So, probably not worth it in terms of memories
 
waltesefalcon said:
JP, I am graduating with a Master's in Special Education so that I can be highly qualified and keep my job.

I have collected watches for some time now, but I have always focused on American pocket watches although I do have a couple of Swiss pocket watches, Swiss-American wrist watches (Wittnauers), and a lovely older British fusee pocket watch.
Click to expand...

Congratulations! It is an important work!
 
Nice Omega Walt. I also have a black/stainless Lord Elgin my girlfriend gave me for Christmas when we were 16. I don't wear it but it does still work.
 
Richard, your Lord Elgin and Bulova are both lovely. It's a real shame about your Elgin, hopefully the pallet only jumped the roller on the table, and the balance is okay. Otherwise the balance is probably broken.

Bas, that really is a nice Lord Elgin.

Here is my collection of American made wrist watches:
IMG_20160911_175018181_HDR.jpg
 
I have a Rolex Oyster that my mom gave my dad circa 1951. I wear it once in awhile, fun but it isn't as accurate as my Seiko. I also have a lord Elgin that my dad gave me when I was about 10 because he was around magnets and it kept getting magnetized.

Marv J
 
Marv, when was the last time you had your Rolex in for a full service?

That is something to remember when you have older timepieces, get them serviced and cleaned every three or so years. The wear can get pretty bad in them if they are run for a long time between services.
 
Good for you, Walt!

Both my Waltham chrono and the Seamaster have been serviced by a watchmaker (Omega trained/authorized) in the past year, wore the Omega last evening to a local Leadership program fundraiser. The "everyday" ones are two Victorinox Swiss Army ones, one black phenolic case & black NATO band, the other is a brushed metal case with a green band. A Pulsar serves for most "business casual" days.
 
Doc, the Accutron above was my daily watch for work (mostly because of the calendar), with the Lord Elgin and the Hamilton making occasional appearances. Now the Constellation has supplanted them all (at least for the time being). I still wear my pocket watches most weekends, in fact I just wore my Illinois Bunn Special today.
Luckily my Constellation has just been serviced according to the seller. This gives me some time to bone up on my watchmaking skills so I can tackle that self winding movt. when the time comes.
 
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