Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

[Pilgrim]

I've been a Tissot fan since 1971. My parents bought me a Tissot dive watch as a 21st birthday present, and I still own it. Works fine; it's a self-winder. Unfortunately due to age and old seals it's no longer water-tight.

My daily watch is a Tissot PRS 200 blackface. It's extremely durable and has a sapphire crystal - first crystal I've ever owned that I don't scratch up.

In modern watches, I think Tissot has about as much bang for the buck as you can get.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'm packing a sundial. Hard to drag around, with its column and all. Seems to break down a lot in the winter and at night.

 

[Lauren]

Omega Constelation. I need to get a battery for it, though. [huh]

And Dan got me a vintage Elgin for Christmas last year.

 

[Mycroft]

I'm packing a sundial. Hard to drag around, with its column and all. Seems to break down a lot in the winter and at night.

Now thats vintage, that existed in the Golden Era of the Greeks.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I'm packing the Invicta Lupah somethingsomething, with a nice champagne-colored face and intricate etchings around the numbers. It's a beautiful timepiece, and well-worth the price tag. Buyers beware, though, since the thing is huge. HUGE huge. It's the size of a brick, and weighs roughly the same.

But it's so perty...

Man, that is a crazy watch! Cool.

My only decent watch is a 1981 Rolex Oyster. Nice and simple, nothing fancy. 21st birthday present from my parents. I've decided to make it my daily watch except when travelling. Why have it and not wear it, right? My dad is a watchmaker and can source these things at a fraction of their cost. Hence i got one. When i get back to Britain i'll be badgering him to fix up one of the multitude of vintage pocket watches (some Verrrrry old) he has lying around in his workshop. I might even badger him to get them working and we can sell them on the internet. Man, if people knew of the watches that were sitting around in the garden shed, we'd get robbed within seconds. he has hundreds of the d*mn things. None of which work

bk

 

[DanielJones]

Here is a close up of the Elgin wristwatch that is absolutely amazing. This is my new favorite. I wear it all of the time.

Hemingway,

That's looks a lot like my grandfathers Elgin. I know you didn't rob my house because I wearing mine right now. Lovely time pieces you have there.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Hemingway,

That's looks a lot like my grandfathers Elgin. I know you didn't rob my house because I wearing mine right now. Lovely time pieces you have there.

Cheers!

Dan

Thank you, Dan! You too!
Actually, I don't know if I said, but that one came from Michaelson and I was lucky enough to win it at the Queen Mary, proving that People really do win on the Fedora Lounge.

 

[Zach R.]

Waltham Watch Dating

I was wondering if anyone could date this Waltham wristwatch? I've done a cursory search but haven't found anything.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Zach,
You need to PM Michaelson. He is the authority on Walthams, bar none.
BTW, I work in Waltham, MA, where the original Walthams were made. This one looks very different from any Waltham I have seen. The insignia is totally different. Michaelson will know.

 

[Zach R.]

Is it possible that it is a fake Waltham? I've heard of those turning up pretty frequently.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Zach,
I am no authority, but I don't think it is a fake. I would guess that it might be from one of the successors of the original Waltham Watch Company that went out of business in the mid-fifties. But that is a guess.

 

[Michaelson]

Hi Zach. I got your PM at COW, but will answer here. Got your alert too HJ. Thanks!

I looked through my 2006 Shugarts listings, and the Waltham watch co. went out of business in 1957. This particular stylized Waltham lettering isn't not even shown as being one used by the American Waltham co., so it is definiately one used AFTER the company went under. The Waltham name is still in exitance, and currently owned by the Swiss.

Where this watch is a shock resistant mechanical, and based on the wear on the crown, as well as the screw back case (though all base metal, so not an expensive watch in it's day) I'd say we're looking at a mid to late 1960's watch...probably Swiss or Japanese movement, complete with a luminous dial and sweep second hand. It was pretty decent stuff for it's day, just prior to the introduction of the tuning folk and quartz movement, though more of a mid range watch in the sales category for the then faux 'Waltham' co.

I've seen watches like this in stores for anywhere from 10 dollars up to 30 dollars, depending on condition and band.

Not 'vintage' at all, but still, a last step before the dawn of common electric wrist watches.

Regards! Michaelson

 

[Zach R.]

Thanks.:cheers1:

I was looking for a nice, plain watch to replace my modern Fossil that is a little worse for wear, and I think this does the trick.

I only paid $12 for it, at any rate its better than anything that I could get for the same price these days.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Looks like all of those meetings with staff from The Waltham Museum paid off!

Zach, that is a great watch. I would be proud to wear it. Enjoy.

 

[Michaelson]

Thanks.:cheers1:

I was looking for a nice, plain watch to replace my modern Fossil that is a little worse for wear, and I think this does the trick.

I only paid $12 for it, at any rate its better than anything that I could get for the same price these days.

Excellent! If it keeps decent time (and most of these 17j mechanicals of that timeperiod were very reliable), you paid a very good price. Get is cleaned up a bit, crystal polished to remove some of the scratches and a nice leather band and you'll have a fine looker there for daily wear. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it was a bit water resistant, considering the excellent looking screw back. If you have a decent watch man in your area, have the gasket checked on the case in the back, as well as the crown area. It may be a lot nicer than we can tell from just a cursory look from the outside.

High regards! Michaelson

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Watch help

Gentlemen of the watch loving brigade, I need your assistance.

I have my grandfathers Hamilton watch. Its 10k gold, 17 jewels according to bits written on it.

Getting pictures of it to turn out was rough as the watch face is bevelled but I tried, as seen below.

The band is stretchy, but made so via lots of little hinges that are then covered with smoother silver covers. The band has

APEX PatPend
then something that looks like 1/1012kgf top
then stainless back on it..


http://pics.livejournal.com/neecerie/pic/0001bkts/g14


Unfortunatly its not working, can neither be wound or have the hands move.

any ideas....I know zero about watches....

edited because the inline picture hates me.....I will try to add it in another follow up post..

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I do have an idea, do what I do when I have a watch question: PM Michaelson!
Honestly, he has some knowledge on these topics and has an excellent watchmaker that he uses.

I am sure he will guide you in the right direction.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

if you first don't succeed...try try again

 

[binkmeisterRick]

I have to agree with Hemingway there. Michaelson's been able to answer all my watch questions. The man knows his stuff! Just make sure he's filled up with coffee. :coffee:

bink

 

[Michaelson]

That's a Hamilton dial I've never seen before, though I HAVE seen dials like this under different names. I'd be suspecious as to whether or not it really IS a Hamilton, and the only way to do that is to 'look under the hood', or pull the movement out. That's a job I would NOT recommend you do yourself.

The best man for the job (in my opinon) is Rich Kuhn. He's a specialist in old wristies, and can take a look and give you a apprasial as to what you have, and what it would take to get it back in to running condition. He guarantees his work, and all carry a 90 day warranty.

You can reach him at watchmakerfinds@yahoo.com

If that IS a real Hamilton, you could be talking some bucks in terms of worth, as Hamilton's seem to draw quite a following, and collectors fight tooth and nail to acquire interesting variations. If this one is as factory made, you could have a real sleeper there.

Once again, it all depends on whether or not that IS a real Hamilton inside.

Regards! Michaelson