Timepieces

[NYCfixie]

A bit off topic, but I need to get this fixed. It hasn't worked for as long as I've owned it, which is about 26 years now, it won't wind. Well, the crown spins, but it doesn't wind the movement. It was my great grandfather's pocket watch. When I was a little bitty guy I would sit in his lap, put it to my ear, and say 'tock, tock, tock, tock..." as it ticked away. Before he passed away he made sure everyone knew he wanted me to have it. I was 8 when he passed, some of my earliest memories at his and my great grandmother's house.

Anyone know a reputable place I could send it??

I have not used them (only serviced my Rolex watches at Rolex Service Center NYC) but they have a very good reputation.
Saltzman Watch Repairs

And if nothing is working, leave it alone as forcing it may break something which might not be able to be replaced at this point.

[dgaddis]

I left out some info. The crown spins, and the hands spin along with it, and it feels nice and smooth. But you can't actually seem to wind the movement. Also, the hands are out of sync as you can see in the pic.

[dgaddis]

I was finally able to get enough grip to open the case up. Ran the serial number for the movement, and it was made in 1917. My great grandpa was only ~4yrs old at the time, so he must have either received it as a gift at some point later or bought it used. I'm not sure if there's anyone left alive who would know at this point.

Good news for me is it was a really popular movement, it was in production from 1903-1927, and 455,000 of them were made during that time, so whatever is broke on it there should be parts available.

Been swapping e-mails with American Time Keeper, hopefully putting it in the mail to him this week to get it running again.

[NYCfixie]

Finally found a watch that my life would actually like me to wear (aka she does not like anything else I currently own and wear).

Topper Special Edition White Dial Hamilton Khaki Field Watch

[theflashunc]

Fwiw, I've had mine less than a year and the movement is already exhibiting problems. Specifically "hanging" seconds hand at full or nearly full wind.

Hamilton's changed the movement this year -- and on the white dial versions -- which makes me wonder if they're looking to solve an issue (or cut costs) on the new Khaki Field Mechanicals.

[NYCfixie]

Fwiw, I've had mine less than a year and the movement is already exhibiting problems. Specifically "hanging" seconds hand at full or nearly full wind.

Hamilton's changed the movement this year -- and on the white dial versions -- which makes me wonder if they're looking to solve an issue (or cut costs) on the new Khaki Field Mechanicals.

the white dial one I mentioned is listed as "Movement: H-50 mechanical movement with 80-hour power reserve"

[theflashunc]

the white dial one I mentioned is listed as "Movement: H-50 mechanical movement with 80-hour power reserve"

Yup, that'd be the movement swap. Mine has the ETA 2804-2.

[NYCfixie]

At what point do we apply the rule for how many bikes we should own to how many watches we should own?

If the number of bikes one should own = N + 1 (with N = to the current amount of bikes owned), what is the correct amount or formula for watches?

I have heard, read, and shared this advice with others even though I have never really followed it myself:
The correct amount of watches to own is 3: 1 nice dress watch, 1 nice sports watch, 1 beater watch

Does anyone follow this advice?


If you had a lifetime budget of about $6000 to spend on watches would you:

Scenario 1
- Purchase a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in steel which can be a dress and sports watch $5700
- Purchase a Casio digital (or anything less than $75) as a beater watch

Scenario 2
- Purchase a Tudor Black Bay as your sports watch $3725
- Purchase a Tudor Style as your dress watch $2575
- Purchase a Casio digital (or anything less than $75) as a beater watch

Scenario 3
- Purchase a Casio digital (or anything less than $75) as my only watch and spend the rest on bikes


The watches listed are only examples but that Rolex OP would work really well if someone wanted only 1 really nice watch that would work for many occasions. Another option is the Rolex DateJust which costs more but includes a date function. I thought about the Rolex Explorer as a 1 watch but there is a several month long waiting list even if you can get one so that would not really work.

So, would you go for 1 really nice watch, a variety of watches (even more than 3), or just 1 crappy watch and blow the rest on bikes (and it is not an either/or because you probably already have a few nice bikes)?

[Scott G.]

6k$ watch budget, fly to Switzerland, pickup a Wegner.
Spend the rest of the money touring Switzerland, by bike & SBB.

Like the old Mercedes European Delivery Plan.

[Matthew Strongin]

Rolex Explorer is just about the most versatile and comfortable watch around. That's my pick.

[choke]

I was finally able to get enough grip to open the case up. Ran the serial number for the movement, and it was made in 1917. My great grandpa was only ~4yrs old at the time, so he must have either received it as a gift at some point later or bought it used. I'm not sure if there's anyone left alive who would know at this point.

Good news for me is it was a really popular movement, it was in production from 1903-1927, and 455,000 of them were made during that time, so whatever is broke on it there should be parts available.

Been swapping e-mails with American Time Keeper, hopefully putting it in the mail to him this week to get it running again.

Very nice. American pocket watches are a bargain IMO. The quality and finishing of the movements is so much better than any Swiss pocket watches.

[choke]

At what point do we apply the rule for how many bikes we should own to how many watches we should own?

If the number of bikes one should own = N + 1 (with N = to the current amount of bikes owned), what is the correct amount or formula for watches?

I have heard, read, and shared this advice with others even though I have never really followed it myself:
The correct amount of watches to own is 3: 1 nice dress watch, 1 nice sports watch, 1 beater watch

Does anyone follow this advice?


If you had a lifetime budget of about $6000 to spend on watches would you:

Scenario 1
- Purchase a Rolex Oyster Perpetual in steel which can be a dress and sports watch $5700
- Purchase a Casio digital (or anything less than $75) as a beater watch

Scenario 2
- Purchase a Tudor Black Bay as your sports watch $3725
- Purchase a Tudor Style as your dress watch $2575
- Purchase a Casio digital (or anything less than $75) as a beater watch

Scenario 3
- Purchase a Casio digital (or anything less than $75) as my only watch and spend the rest on bikes


The watches listed are only examples but that Rolex OP would work really well if someone wanted only 1 really nice watch that would work for many occasions. Another option is the Rolex DateJust which costs more but includes a date function. I thought about the Rolex Explorer as a 1 watch but there is a several month long waiting list even if you can get one so that would not really work.

So, would you go for 1 really nice watch, a variety of watches (even more than 3), or just 1 crappy watch and blow the rest on bikes (and it is not an either/or because you probably already have a few nice bikes)?

Scenario 4 - None of the above. For me, the Rolex OP/Datejust/Explorer just does not work as a dress watch.

My $6k 3 watch collection would look something like this:

Chopard L.U.C. Sport - around $3k (used)
A vintage solid gold dress watch from any number of manufacturers (GP, IWC, UN, etc.) - no more than $2k and probably less
Seiko diver - $300

That leaves me with $700+ to buy another vintage bike.

[bbattle]

As a fashion accessory, watches should be as common as socks in your chest of drawers.

As a tool, you only need one.

I suspect most men would wear a sports watch as a daily and so would only need to add a dress watch. I would think the dress watch category contain a steel watch, gold watch, maybe some other color for special occasions.

I have been digging and digging but have yet to uncover my old gold Citizen dress watch. I did however, find the collection of "The Simpsons" plastic digital watches I got for Christmas many years ago. Who knows? they may be worth a lot these days.

By the way, my Elliot Brown Holton Professional "collaboration" will arrive in a couple of days from Page and Cooper. They drop the date function that the official Holton model has and have a couple of other design changes. They only made 15 of each variation so maybe a bit of cachet there?

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[GonaSovereign]

I'm probably biased, but IMO if you're going to get an Omega you should get a Speedmaster or Seamaster.

I agree (and that's what I own), but the pie pan homage on those Globemasters is pretty nice.

[Mabouya]

A while ago I figured I had enough autos and decided to try out a manual-wind, so I got a Stowa Black Forest Flieger. Based on a few months of it in my regular rotation (each watch gets a week of wrist time during the work week, and for the weekend I wear a beater quartz) I've decided that if you're going to go mechanical, then no-date hand-winds are really the simplest choice. You don't have to deal with winders or re-setting the date, and winding every morning (but only for the days when it's being worn) is a nice little routine.

If I ever decide to splurge and get an Omega, that's most likely the route I would go. Plus, the original Omega moon-watches were hand-wound, so it only makes sense to stick with that.

[twowheels]

Rolex Explorer is just about the most versatile and comfortable watch around. That's my pick.

Yes, and my vote goes for the 39. It's surely dressy and sporty enough for any occasion. It fills 2 roles. For a beater, my choice is a maratac pilot 39. For less of a beater, fortis pilot red arrows on nato strap. So the 3 are dressy and sporty, explorer, pure beater, maratac, and less of a beater, fortis. And it would be nice to also have a tudor bb58. Those look very nice.

[Matthew Strongin]

And it would be nice to also have a tudor bb58. Those look very nice.

The Black Bay 58 is very nice. If I didn't already have a red bezeled Black Bay, I'd likely have gotten the 58.

[NYCfixie]

You must have purchased the last one because the PROJECT354.GREY.PVD option you are showing appears to be sold out.

...By the way, my Elliot Brown Holton Professional "collaboration" will arrive in a couple of days from Page and Cooper. They drop the date function that the official Holton model has and have a couple of other design changes. They only made 15 of each variation so maybe a bit of cachet there?

Screen Shot 2019-05-13 at 7.17.54 PM.jpg

[NYCfixie]

Tried on more watches today...


ORIS DIVERS SIXTY-FIVE 42mm $2300
- a really nice good value for money diver style watch
Attachment 111966


ORIS BIG CROWN PROPILOT BIG DATE 41mm $1550
- really liked this one especially because I can read the date without my reading glasses
Attachment 111965


Grand Seiko Elegance SBGR261 39.5mm $4300
- this might be the dress watch I have been looking for that will also be wife approved
Attachment 111967


TUDOR HERITAGE RANGER 41mm $2675
- this one looks so much better on a leather strap than on a metal bracelet
Attachment 111968

[dgaddis]

Tried on more watches today...


ORIS DIVERS SIXTY-FIVE 42mm $2300
- a really nice good value for money diver style watch
Attachment 111966

For $2300 you'd think the lugs and bracelet would fit each other better.