Being into watches - it's just not the same.

I had a holiday job many years ago, meaning the mid to late 50's and so was working over the school summer holiday in a small factory where they had a British Govt contract to repair and service watches.

Most afternoons at about 4:30 I'd go round and sweep up a lot of black watch faces like the US Navy Hamilton one and also Omega and the International Watch Co. I took a few of them home to show people and then threw them away.

Hindsight suggests the faces were the "dangerous" radioactive ones being replaced by the safer version.

Now think what that handful of black faced watch dials with the GB broad arrow on them would be worth...

Regards, David


PS Having typed that I just remembered that in the 70's a lot of ex-govt. Omegas were bought up and given new cases and faces and then sold off at a bargain price. I meant to buy one (as a souvenir) but never did.
 
Fascinating all the interest in watches..
Note a manufacturer like "Patek" has no comparison to any other brands..
The love of the whole process at their factory was awesome!
There is almost no watch too old to be serviced and repaired..
I walked taller each day working, training with those Swiss folk in Geneva.
A far different story than Rolex or even Leica these days..
It might take time, but it will happen.
All the high brands like Galsshutte, etc were not always in production..
Omega is beautiful, but part of the ETA group . Swatch!
There are traditional service people, new ones trained world wide.
Most older mechanical watches have service material available.
Circuits are not forever..
Chronometer meaning tested at a Observatory Facility., with certificate.
Rolex OWN their test facility..
 
kshapero said:
Wow, Great collection.
Click to expand...


Thanks - I think it's more of an 'accumulation' than necessarily a 'collection'. I'm sure the Hodinkee guys would laugh at what I have. I've just pretty much purchased what moved me at a given time, without any real rhyme nor reason. I wasn't really going after a particular type of watch or style, just something that I liked at the time. One thing I never really got into were big watches, as is the trend nowadays.

Here's how odd my 'accumulation' got - actually kinda mirrored the way I've acquired cameras over the years, so in way it is the same:

Bulova Accutron Astronaut, 1967. A stunning, stunning watch, time adjuster is on the back. 24-hour dial, original 'coffin' link bracelet. Runs (hums!) perfect.


Accutron Astronaut by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

I think this is a watch that needs to be in any watch collection -- an Ernest Borel Cocktail. It's not a high-end watch by any means, but it has a good movement in it (17-jewel manual wind Swiss) and it has that very nifty kaleidoscope action in the middle.


Ernest Borel Cocktail by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

1907 Waltham, 15 jewel movement, in a sterling silver Navajo cuff with Morenci turquoise. The spot on the cuff where the watch mounts is so odd that this was the only watch I had that could fit. The watch itself is tiny -- 23mm across, not including the crown. Runs very well and feels great to wear.


1907 Waltham by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Another one out of left field, but maybe more 'conventional' in terms of watch collecting. Michael Schumacher Omega Speedmaster. This is the 'reduced' model -- 39mm across, so not quite as valuable as the full-size Speedmaster, but fits my skinny wrists much better. Sold this one a few years ago.


Watches20 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

That's all for now.
 
I would luv a Patek..
Maybe an undersized older gold watch..as they are not too expensive..as far as PP goes..
But that said..Patek has supposedly really gone down quality wise..
And their service dept..is supposed to be abysmal these days..
As in..get your watch back a year later..with the same issues you sent it in for..and maybe more..
Lange is probably a better bet these days for new..top of the line stuff..
But truthfully..if you are going to actually wear the stuff day in and day out..Rolex is probably a better idea..as its super tough inside..and out..
 
Emile de Leon said:
I would luv a Patek..
Maybe an undersized older gold watch..as they are not too expensive..as far as PP goes..
But that said..Patek has supposedly really gone down quality wise..
And their service dept..is supposed to be abysmal these days..
As in..get your watch back a year later..with the same issues you sent it in for..and maybe more..
Lange is probably a better bet these days for new..top of the line stuff..
But truthfully..if you are going to actually wear the stuff day in and day out..Rolex is probably a better idea..as its super tough inside..and out..
Click to expand...

A fellow from whom I’ve regularly bought watches over the last 10+ years (longtime member of the NAWCC, organizes watch shows throughout the US, very highly respected individual in the watch world) told me that, value for the dollar and quality for the price, you can’t beat Longines. I don't recall if he was referring to strictly vintage Longines or vintage and current ones.

I only have one Longines from 1940 -- this is a real sweetie-pie, runs beautifully. My wife claimed it a while back -- can't entirely blame her :)

=
Longines1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

Generally speaking, having a personalized engraving on a watch (like a camera, I suppose) takes the value of it down a notch, but personally I don't care. I love this engraving.


Longines2 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
Here's a great example of a nice watch that can be had for not a lot of money.

1953 Elgin Windsor, with a very reliable Swiss 'Elgin Engineered' 645 self-winding (automatic) movement. It's a nice size for skinny wrists (25mm across, not including the crown), has that nice sweeping second hand, just an all-around good daily wearer.


Elgin Windsor1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Elgin Windsor2 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr

I had heard that a number of the Elgin Watch Company's first employees had been disgruntled Waltham Watch Company workers, but not sure if that's true or not. I've always been a sucker for Elgins - I think for the money they are great watches.
 
1930's Pierce. I don't actually know a whole lot about this watch, except that it's a very early example of a waterproof watch. Its name, 'Parashock', suggests that it may have been intended for paratroopers during WWII, but I can't be certain. 'Fab. Suisse' does indicate that it was for the French market. From the little info I've been able to find, it was a very highly-regarded watchmaker.

Really nice watch, runs great. A keeper.


Watch 2018-4 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Watch 2018-5 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
Completely forgot that I used to have this watch.

1957-58 Hamilton Pacer, one of the first electric (battery powered) watches. A completely unreliable watch with that infamous/notorious Hamilton 500 movement. I had it overhauled twice by Rene Rondeau, the only fellow who was working on them at the time. Twice was enough for me!

I really only got it because Elvis used to wear one :)


Pacer1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr


Pacer6 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
 
Interesting looking! Too bad it won't run for you

Vince Lupo said:
Completely forgot that I used to have this watch.

1957-58 Hamilton Pacer, one of the first electric (battery powered) watches. A completely unreliable watch with that infamous/notorious Hamilton 500 movement. I had it overhauled twice by Rene Rondeau, the only fellow who was working on them at the time. Twice was enough for me!

I really only got it because Elvis used to wear one :)

Pacer1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
Pacer6 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
Click to expand...
 
The clock and camera are always there. I hope this small part of the collection will not be too large ;)
 

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And a few more photos of my favorite pocket watch. I wear them to know the time, but not to show these items ;)
 

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I have to buy everything in pairs; it gets expensive at times.

Two%20Watches-L.jpg


Her strap is cleaner as she stopped wearing it after an expensive repair. Mine should have been serviced but there's been this lockdown...

Luckily the two Sekondas at a fiver for the pair brought the average down; hers was dearest, of course.

Regards, David
 
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