Anyone like mechanical watches?

[Modified]

Been hitting garage sales and thrift shops a lot lately. No real guns to speak of (kids have put a real damper on that budge), but I can buy cheap things second hand.

Last 2 garage sale seasons and off season thrift shopping has resulted in what I have to now admit is a collection.

Prior to the Longines, the other watches were picked up because they are solid gold. I figure gold is always good to buy on the cheap. The Longines though, I just really really liked, and despite only being gold fill.

Without further ado:

Bulova Accutron in a 14k Case | Longines Mystery Dial, 1950s?, 10k Gold Fill | Omega Seamaster De Ville 14k case, 1960s? | Waltham Automatic, 14k Case | Rolex cocktail watch (?), 14k bracelet.

Paid $50, $200 (first watch I bought because I loved it), $400 (figured the gold was worth that, needs a small repair but runs, its my favorite), $10 (don't know anything about it, but hey, its solid gold), and ~$7.

The Rolex is I think also from the 50s, its crazy small, it was in a bunch of jewelry at a garage sale. I even told them I thought it was gold, but it was so small it was just part of the $7 I gave them for a pile of gold jewelry and silver holloware. They were from California, clearing out their aunt's house who had just passed and they didn't care even slightly about any of her stuff.

I hope someday maybe my daughter will appreciate it as their Aunt did.


Questions for you watch guys;

1) What kind of strap should I put on the Bulova Accutron? It's a big chunky thing, I am just not sure what would look right. Now that I am getting to be a watch guy I fear I may actually wear it from time to time.

2) Why do I love the dial on the Longines so much? It's mesmerizing, and I just love that its engraved.

3) Why does the Omega feel so right when I wear it? It gives me a similar feeling to my Registered Magnums for pure luxurious opulence, while somehow still not being ridiculous or showy.


I'd also appreciate any advice. I don't plan on getting really into watch collecting, but I found this box at a garage sale, put them all in it, and found myself well pleased with the result. Maybe too well pleased. I will doubtless grab more good watches here and there in my travels.

Here's some closer shots. I need to figure out how to get real glamour shots of these;

And I realized just now that I don't have a shot of the awesome back on the Seamaster. Its just so cool.

 

[Sistema1927]

Mechanical watches have a "soul" that quartz watches lack. I am rocking Omega Speedmaster Professional (Moon watch) on a Forstner Komfit band. I also have watches from Hamilton, Tag Hauer, and even a vintage Citizen Automatic Diver.

 

[armorer951]

I do like the old school, mechanical watches....and pocket watches. I only have one "good" wrist watch. It's an old Omega Seamaster from 1961 that I received as a gift back in my high school days....when dinosaurs and wind up Omega watches roamed the earth.

Had it serviced several years ago and it is still very accurate.

A few dents and scratches, but even with it's "sunburned" dial, it still looks great.

 

[schutz5]

Nice watches!

 

[pmosley]

1998 Omega Seamaster 50th Anniversary GMT with Bond Bracelet - bought it locally at a reasonable price several months ago. Had an issue that required service costing about half of what I paid for the watch.

Mechanical and automatic watches can be expensive to maintain but like the steel, hammer fired guns most of us admire, are worth it for the sheer wonder of the technology and workmanship.

Sent from my 6165S using Tapatalk

 

[MetalMan]

I like ‘em…just can’t afford ‘em.

My 27 year old IWC small Portuguiser (Ref. 3531)….

 

[StrawHat]

Here is one of mine, a railroad grade Elgin.

Sorry, my mistake. That is not the railroad grade Elgin. That is my dress Elgin.

Kevin

 

[s&wchad]

I love vintage mechanical watches. Bulova Accutron's are early electronic watches that use a vibrating "tuning fork". They predate quartz watches, were extremely accurate and are fairly collectable today.

Here's a few of mine...

 

[Greyman50]

Have 3 at a real old watch repair shop. Will know in a few weeks how they are. One is a watch my Dad wore in WWII that no other watch repair shops would even look at, will see.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Seiko Automatic Dive watches have been my everyday watch since 1988/89

 

[MetalMan]

Seiko Automatic Dive watches have been my everyday watch since 1988/89

I have one of these too but it’s in need of repairs…

The pins keep slipping out of the bracelet links.

40th Anniversary dive watch.

 

[Jon651]

Here is one of mine, a railroad grade Elgin.

Sorry, my mistake. That is not the railroad grade Elgin. That is my dress Elgin.

Kevin

With the exception of the odd Waltham and Hamilton, I have a nice collection of around two dozen antique Elgin pocket watches. My oldest is from 1875 and the youngest from 1925.

Elgin are great watches to collect - they didn't make the very best or the very worst. What they did make was nearly 65 million of them over the course of almost 100 years in the US, so there are plenty still out there as well as plenty of parts for repair.

Fun Fact - "Railroad Grade" watches were not the most accurate watches made. That goes to chronometers and deck watches that were used for navigation.

 

[rwsmith]

Mechanical watches and guns....

Watches and guns seem to go together. Anybody that cares for fine mechanical things should like both.

 

[s&wchad]

I have one of these too but it’s in need of repairs…

The pins keep slipping out of the bracelet links.

40th Anniversary dive watch.

That bracelet is unique to the watch. You might be able to get a new one from Seiko, but it'll probably cost around $100. They might offer just the pins, but you can use a screwdriver/hammer/steel plate and create a flat on the existing pins to hold them in place. Make the flat spot near the end of the pin and drive that end in last.

IRC, there's an arrow on the back of the links showing which way to dive the pins in. It's important that you drive them out the opposite direction.

 

[DWalt]

I have seven mechanical watches. Some run, some don't. All are in a baggie in a dresser drawer. I appreciate fine mechanical devices as much as anyone, but for their intended purpose of telling time, I go quartz. I have a 20+ YO Swiss Army quartz (Ronda mvt) watch which is scary precise. Within a couple of seconds per month. No maintenance has ever been needed other than the occasional battery change.What Rolex (or any other mechanical) watch can match that?

 

[DWalt]

That bracelet is unique to the watch. You might be able to get a new one from Seiko, but it'll probably cost around $100. They might offer just the pins, but you can use a screwdriver/hammer/steel plate and create a flat on the existing pins to hold them in place. Make the flat spot near the end of the pin and drive that end in last.

IRC, there's an arrow on the back of the links showing which way to dive the pins in. It's important that you drive them out the opposite direction.

Several YouTube videos on how to do all that.

 

[armorer951]

For me, i confess that a major part of the fascination and admiration of the workmanship in the early 20th century pocket watches is inside the interior of the case.

It's amazing to me that these men and women could produce such beautiful and accurate timepieces and cases, both inside and out.

Truly incredible. This is an Illinois, circa 1923









Carter

 

[DWalt]

I have my grandfather's Illinois pocket watch, guessing it is probably from around the 1920s. I occasionally wind it just to let it run a little. I have owned since he died in 1960. I no longer have much sentimental attachment to it so I might sell it soon. However, after looking on eBay, those watches don't seem to command much of a price.

 

[fhsjrm]

I had my great-grandfather's Burlington (Illinois) pocket watch converted into a wristwatch by the good folks at Vortic in Fort Collins, CO a few years ago. Later, I had another one of his pocket watches, a Waltham, done for my dad. It's so cool to wear a 103 year old family heirloom on your wrist!

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[sceva]

I had a Zodiac automatic mechanical that my Brother-in-law bought in Greenland ( Sondrestrom Air Base) and gave me in the early 1970's. Great Watch. When the stem broke in the mid 1980's I went to a Seiko Quartz. Wore various Seiko Quartz watches until a little over a year ago when I bought an Islander dive watch off another forum classifieds and the Seiko went on the shelf. I really like a good mechanical watch, there is just something about them that a quartz watch lacks and I won't even discuss a digital watch. A Quartz watch may be super accurate ( mine stayed within 5-6 seconds a month) but a good mechanical is pretty darn good.

My Islander Northport, accuracy averages within + / - 2 - 3 seconds per day which is on par with the high dollar ones. Movement is a Miyota 9015 high beat auto winding.