Anyone like mechanical watches?

[Walter Rego]

Mechanical watches are a thing of beauty. I could easily see how people get into collecting them and easily spend way more than many of us do on guns.

I'm with Sistema 1927 and have an Omega Speedmaster "Moonwatch" as well. I remember seeing them advertised around the time of the first moon landing and told myself that I would own one someday. It took until 2021.....

Regarding that Bulova Accutron: I think a brown lizard or 'gator strap would look great with it. I understand that batteries are an issue, they take some kind of battery that is no longer available. However apparently there is an easy mod to get around that. I'd check on some watch collecting forums for the details.

I do have a railroad grade Waltham Crescent St. pocket watch from 1903 that is pretty cool. It has a glass crystal on the back to expose its movement.

Here's some pics.

 

[biku324]

My grandfather's pocket watch is an Elgin from 1923/24. It runs perfectly.

 

[chief38]

I don't have anything but mechanical watches - love them! No Quartz or batteries for me.

 

[Kinman]

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...

I have an identical match to your Astronaut, I bought it in the PX back in the early 70's. I tried a few years ago to get a new battery for it, just for demonstration to folks that never saw one in operation. Problem is that Bulova used a low voltage battery that is no longer available, they can put a battery in it but it will run fast. I can remember going over to a girlfriend's house and laying the watch on her night table, it was glass covered, in the middle of the night she wakes me up about a strange sound, it was the danged watch vibrating on the glass table top. They were great watches, a little on the clunky side but not as bad as most diver type watches.

 

[Sistema1927]

While we are looking at the movements of watches, here is the backside of the Omega in post #2.

 

[s&wchad]

I have an identical match to your Astronaut, I bought it in the PX back in the early 70's. I tried a few years ago to get a new battery for it, just for demonstration to folks that never saw one in operation. Problem is that Bulova used a low voltage battery that is no longer available, they can put a battery in it but it will run fast. I can remember going over to a girlfriend's house and laying the watch on her night table, it was glass covered, in the middle of the night she wakes me up about a strange sound, it was the danged watch vibrating on the glass table top. They were great watches, a little on the clunky side but not as bad as most diver type watches.

Correct batteries are available...

Esslinger.com - Accutron Battery

After you install the battery, you need to smack the watch to get it running. That activates the tuning fork.

 

[mrchick]

I have a lot of watches, but this is my daily wear. It was my grandfathers and it is older than me (62). I wind it every morning and it keeps great time.

 

[rwsmith]

My favorites are...

...pocket watches. I have a couple. If I decide to dump this ****** cell phone I'll start wearing one. Just need to get some vests.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I have never had a mechanical watch that satisfactorily worked. I have a cell phone.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Yes.

My Seiko 5, while humble and hardly anything to brag on, is an interesting and useful timepiece.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Sceva, Post #25, that knife that says Tidioute on it, is that from a souvenir shop or did they make watches up there? It's nice the way the edge is on that knife. Nice timepiece, too!

 

[Jon651]

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!

I have an Elgin 21-Jewel B.W. Raymond pocket watch that was converted to a wrist watch by a group over in Ukraine. This was long before the war and sadly their business has since gone silent. It had been languishing in my display case until I read your post, so I took it out to wear for a while. It has a crystal on both sides so you can see the movement. My only gripe is that the case is absolutely not water resistant so I have to be extremely careful with it!

 

[Jeff423]

[/QUOTE]
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.

[/QUOTE]
I put an age appropriate "Twist-O-Flex" on mine.

 

[DWalt]

Yes.
My Seiko 5, while humble and hardly anything to brag on, is an interesting and useful timepiece.

I worked in Colombia back in the early 1970s and bought a Seiko 5 autowind there fairly cheap. I wore it until the late 1980s when it stopped running reliably. When I found out what it would cost me to have it repaired, it got demoted to the dresser drawer. Sold it on eBay maybe 15 years ago.

Invicta autowind watches use Seiko movements. I inherited one which runs fine and looks good, but a little too clunky for me to want to wear. Sort of a Rolex diver clone. Probably one of the best as it has a decent movement. Not a Rolex, but then it is only a few percent of a Rolex price.

I still have my father's Bulova Accutron, non-working. I haven't been tempted to get it repaired, doubt I would wear it if if I did.

 

[03hemi]

I have a couple, but Omega's my favorite by far.
Speedmaster Pro- Hesalite sandwich

Cartier Roadster

Omega Speedmaster Triple Dates

TAG Cararera

 

[Walter Rego]

Have you Omega Speedmaster fans seen the newest version with the white dial ? I think it is stunning. It is available only with the Sapphire sandwich setup and costs about a $1100 premium over the standard version. I don't wear my standard Speedmaster that often so it would be hard to justify buying another. And I don't have $8100 burning a hole in my pocket anyway.....

 

[sceva]

Sceva, Post #25, that knife that says Tidioute on it, is that from a souvenir shop or did they make watches up there? It's nice the way the edge is on that knife. Nice timepiece, too!

Great Eastern Cutlery. Makes knives under the GEC Brand ( Stainless and Carbon) Tidioute Iron Works brand (carbon Steel) and the Northfield Cutlery brand (stainless)

Small runs of very well made knives. The one shown is a # 06 model called the Pemberton and the shape is called a Coke Bottle. ( Doc Pemberton invented Coca Cola) from 2019

Great Eastern Cutlery - Great Eastern Cutlery

 

[03hemi]

Have you Omega Speedmaster fans seen the newest version with the white dial ? I think it is stunning. It is available only with the Sapphire sandwich setup and costs about a $1100 premium over the standard version. I don't wear my standard Speedmaster that often so it would be hard to justify buying another. And I don't have $8100 burning a hole in my pocket anyway.....

It's a nice watch, but I like the traditional Speedy in black myself.

 

[Bettylawrences]

It’s amazing what treasures people overlook! I totally get the thrill of picking up something special without breaking the bank. I remember scoring a vintage Seiko at a flea market for just $20, and I still can’t believe my luck! As for the Bulova Accutron, I think a classic leather strap would look great.

 

[kwill1911]