Attn: Doc, and other watch lovers

[PAUL161]

Among others, I bought a new Bulova 40 years ago and from day one it never kept good time. A few trips to the jewelers to get it corrected but it still looses a few minutes a day. The best time keeper I have in old watches is a Hamilton pocket railroad watch my dad gave me a very long time ago. It has a beautiful face with Roman numerals. I don't wear it anymore as I'm afraid of damaging it. If kept wound, it might loose 30 seconds in a month sometimes none. I don't know, but I must have a dozen watches like everyone else, but don't wear any of them as I'm hard on wrist watches. other than a Timex I don't care about, it get's beat and keeps on ticking! I guess my best dress watch is a Seiko thin line and it does keep perfect time. Only watch I have that has to go to the jeweler to get the battery changed, I wouldn't touch it. PJ

 

[DrEntropy]

Doc, I'm guessing that is your Waltham chronograph in the photo?​

That's the Omega Seamaster, Walt.

And that Walther makes a LOUD ticking sound now-and-again. :smirk:

 

[waltesefalcon]

Oh Doc, that's not fair, you didn't say both were chronos.

 

[DrEntropy]

Yup. The Waltham has a dark blue face and black leather strap.

When Th' Mits gets back from her shopping expedition, I'll get her camera and do a shot of the watch stable.

 

[waltesefalcon]

Sounds good Doc, I'm looking forward to it.

 

[DrEntropy]

'cept fer th' wally we all seem to pretty much have the same gear!

Here's my "collection". Poopy image, had her take it with a tablet.

 

[DrEntropy]

:lol:

 

[waltesefalcon]

I'm resurrecting this old thread to show off a fairly recent purchase. An 1887 Illinois Model 2 Grade 5. This old watch is a 15 jewel 18 size watch in a coin silver case. It's running well and keeping good time. This is what's known as a transitional model because it can be wound by either a key in the back of the movement or by the crown.

 

[Basil]

Walter that's stunning! Speaking of old watches, I posted a picture of my 1944 Lord Elgin in see post #12 with the original flex band. Not too long ago, I bought a really nice leather Croc band which I think looks better than the gold flex band.

 

[JPSmit]

Looks great both of them! This past weekend my kids came to celebrate a belated birthday/ father's day - they gave me a watch kit.

from the DIY watch club. Looks really fascinating and fun. Taking some holidays next week so hoping for a rainy day It is remarkably detailed and 'apart' Club found here > DIY Watch Club | Make your own mechanical watch < (and you can find anything on the interweb) Mine is (I believe) the Mosel series > DIY Watchmaking Kit | Mosel series - Blue Skeleton vintage dress watch w/ Miyota 8N24 <

 

[DrEntropy]

Wow guys! I'd forgotten about this thread, Walt that Illinois is stunning indeed! The Lord Elggin ain't shabbyy either.

I just recently went thru a couple drawers and found a couple pocket watches I forgot about. I'll post some pix here tomorrow.

And Walt, your holster collection has me thinking. I've a typical drawer full of 'em, used to carry in a Bianchi soft left-hander in the middle of the back IWB. Can't do that anymore. Now a Bianchi IWB.

And I got Herself a Sig 238 a year ago, she's as accurate with that as she is with her Walther. "Don't mess with da' Mits!"

 

[DrEntropy]

Looks great both of them! This past weekend my kids came to celebrate a belated birthday/ father's day - they gave me a watch kit.

from the DIY watch club. Looks really fascinating and fun. Taking some holidays next week so hoping for a rainy day It is remarkably detailed and 'apart' Club found here > DIY Watch Club | Make your own mechanical watch < (and you can find anything on the interweb) Mine is (I believe) the Mosel series > DIY Watchmaking Kit | Mosel series - Blue Skeleton vintage dress watch w/ Miyota 8N24 <

Looks like a fun project, JP.

I'm holdin' out for a "DIY" Tourbillon kit!

 

[anarchy99]

It's funny you mention watch restoration JP. That immediately makes me think "it's a Canada thing" after catching up on episodes of Restoration Garage and watching David Granger go full tilt into collecting and rebuilding watch pieces. Watching and hearing what he spends on time pieces makes me realize I get off easy with my sorta British, mostly American v8, car projects!!!

 

[waltesefalcon]

Bas, that croc strap looks great on there.

JP, that watch kit looks like it culls be fun. Enjoy.

Doc, the gun and gun leather collection has grown a bit in the past five years. I decided that guns and watches made for as sound of an investment as my 403b, and quite frankly several of my guns have far exceeded the gains my investment account has seen.

I'll have to post some more pictures of all the goodies.

 

[JPSmit]

Looks like a fun project, JP.

I'm holdin' out for a "DIY" Tourbillon kit!

Had to look it up - yeah, good luck with that! - Though we were in Greenwich in 2019 and there is a Museum at the Royal Observatory - one of the displays was various Marine Chronometers - one of the most historic was listed as having been 'discovered' on the Antiques Road Show. So maybe it's still out there....

 

[DrEntropy]

Someplace on the 'net is a good video of a Swiss watchmaker building one by hand, from raw materials. A year to make. It fascinates me both to see the process and see the mechanism running.

Latest acquisition, practical day-to-day chrono.

 

[JPSmit]

It's funny you mention watch restoration JP. That immediately makes me think "it's a Canada thing" after catching up on episodes of Restoration Garage and watching David Granger go full tilt into collecting and rebuilding watch pieces. Watching and hearing what he spends on time pieces makes me realize I get off easy with my sorta British, mostly American v8, car projects!!!

I must say I dream of restoring/ repairing watches - the limit of my ability so far is replacing batteries and straps. On another forum there is a professional watch restorer and what he is doing with a lathe that is smaller than I thought possible is amazing. In terms of the dollars, while I have a collection of about 15 watches none of them are expensive (as in the most expensive as a special gift was maybe $200). I am not into Rolex or anything - though I have 2 Faulex. But the money. Mind you a friend just decided he need to have an N gauge Model Train hobby and he already (since Covid) for sure has more into it than have into the Vauxhall and he is not far off the Vauxhall and the MG combined. All of which reminds of of the unfortunate truth of the difference between men and boys ....

 

[DrEntropy]

I did repair a pocket watch once, but mainly developed the skill-set to repair cameras and shutter mechanisms. Compared to watches they were kinda simple. Copal (and most other leaf) shutters are babypoop simple compared to a wristwatch. Focal plane units only a bit more so.

 

[Basil]

Someplace on the 'net is a good video of a Swiss watchmaker building one by hand, from raw materials. A year to make. It fascinates me both to see the process and see the mechanism running.

Latest acquisition, practical day-to-day chrono.

Citizen Eco-Drive - Good Choice for a Chrono! I acquired this one a couple years ago (this model now discontinued). It is a Promaster Navihawk GPS Satellite Wave. It uses GPS timing signals received from satellites to keep it dead accurate. Has a sapphire crystal and the case and bracelet are both titanium (light as a feather). While it's not in the range of an Omega or Rolex, this is the priciest watch I have ever acquired. (One of these days I'd love to get something like an Omega Seamaster).

 

[DrEntropy]

Citizen Eco-Drive - Good Choice for a Chrono! I acquired this one a couple years ago (this model now discontinued). It is a Promaster Navihawk GPS Satellite Wave. It uses GPS timing signals received from satellites to keep it dead accurate. Has a sapphire crystal and the case and bracelet are both titanium (light as a feather). While it's not in the range of an Omega or Rolex, this is the priciest watch I have ever acquired. (One of these days I'd love to get something like an Omega Seamaster).

I see mechanical Seamasters going for outrageous sums on a lot of sites including Ebay. Had mine serviced a couple years ago, I know the Omega certified watchmaker who did it, crystal and seals were the only parts needed but hoooboi, Omega's proud of 'em!