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

[Fading Fast]

1955 Mercury: All really cool, particularly like the Trojan one.

 

[1955mercury]

Thank you Fading Fast. It was in pitiful shape when I first received it and not running at all. I took it completely apart cleaned, oiled and adjusted it. It's keeping time within +/- 4 seconds a day now.

 

[1955mercury]

Here's a 1951 Bulova Allerton model I found in the graveyard.

After putting it on life support and giving it a lot of TLC it came back to life.

 

[Fading Fast]

⇧ that is incredible. Kudos to you, you did a great job rescuing a beautiful watch. Enjoy it.

 

[RJR]

'60s Tudor ref 7928 with pointed crown guards.

 

[viclip]

A lot of really nice wristwatches have been posted over the past few days, making this a most enjoyable thread!

I thought I'd turn the clock back a bit further. Here's an open-face LIP 43 mm (aka as 19 ligne) in in-house chronometer mode (17 jewels, adjusted but of course):

The silver case was finished using the niello technique. I'm currently wearing it affixed to a sterling chain.

The pocket watch is a recent acquisition, it would have been produced sometime between 1921 & circa 1940 by the LIP manufacture in Besancon, France. Judging from the fancy cuvette, the company took some pride in this model:

 

[1955mercury]

This 1949 Bulova Tuxedo got a little exercise today.

 

[viclip]

Nice pocket watch, only 'small' thing, you have to attach the chain with the 'safety clip' not with the 'spring ring' to your pocket watch
The spring ring is meant to be attached to your buttonhole (vest) or attached to your belt loop (pants).

The chain in question has a spring ring at one end and a T-bar at the other. The T-bar goes through a button hole in the lapel or vest. Here's another shot of the watch in which the relevant attachments can be made out in the vicinity of the pendant:

I have no idea whether the spring ring is original to the chain but as with all vintage items "it is what it is". Anyways I hope that this clarifies the situation at hand.

 

[1955mercury]

1952 Westfield today.

 

[1955mercury]

A Wittnauer today. It has a 17 jewel 9WN movement. I'm guessing on this one that it's from the early 1950's.

 

[VintageEveryday]

a 1945 Bulova Squadron B with the original velvet presentation box, warranty and outer cardboard box belonging to either my grandfather when he turned 13, or to my great grandfather.

a 1936 10K gold Bulova

1938 Bulova Minuteman

a 1960 14K gold Longines that I bought for 5 dollars!

and about twenty others. Notably a rare 1904 Elgin pocket watch with the second hand at the three o clock position, a 1925 Gruen watch, a 31 Hamilton, a 37 Elgin, several early 40s ones (Gruen, Hamilton, Longines and Waltham) etc. Several of them have gone MIA, which I'm upset about, like my grandfather's 1943 Circular Gruen (i thought it was 1960s, because to this day I've never seen a round Gruen from the 40s, but the case, hands, numbers and movement are all 1940s).


TL/DR: I'm a watch addict.

 

[viclip]

Nice collection, you're fortunate to have a family heirloom in the form of that 1945 Bulova.

I'd love to see a few shots of your 1904 Elgin pocket watch including one of the movement!

 

[VintageEveryday]

1952 Westfield today.
View attachment 55763

1952? with that level of engraving? That's amazing! I've never seen that before!

 

[VintageEveryday]

Nice collection, you're fortunate to have a family heirloom in the form of that 1945 Bulova.

I'd love to see a few shots of your 1904 Elgin pocket watch including one of the movement!

Unfortunately, I don't know where it is. I left it with my mother this past March when i went back to school, and she doesn't remember where she put it.

 

[VintageEveryday]

Here's a 1951 Bulova Allerton model I found in the graveyard.
View attachment 55487

After putting it on life support and giving it a lot of TLC it came back to life.
View attachment 55486

do you mean a literal graveyard? Regardless, you certainly brought it back from the dead!

 

[VintageEveryday]

m

Very sweet Elgin! The dial is in amazing condition - I don't think I've ever seen one that clean on a watch that's over 50 years old.

I wouldn't worry too much about the overdue cleaning. I know the experts say you should have a vintage watch cleaned and oiled every 5 years, but I have a sneaking suspicion that's a bit of mythology begun and spread by watchmakers. IMHOP, as long as a watch is running fine and keeping accurate time, the oil hasn't started to gum up and all's well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

my grandfather's watch hasn't been worn in over 50 years, and it still works perfectly. and the dial is flawless.

 

[VintageEveryday]

Forgot I had this picture. This is about 1/4 of my collection. This pretty much represents the number of watches I actively wear though. Several are broken, and several have somehow gone missing. But these pale in comparison to many of yours! I have a serious case of watch envy over here, especially that diamond Longines!

 

[VintageEveryday]

Tank Watch

I know it is a bother to wind every day, though I just love the look and the feel of having something mechanical strapped to my wrist.

Vintage Hamilton Boulton wristwatch.

First and only vintage watch I have had. Gold filled and keeps time very well. I wear it daily.

that's beautiful!!

 

[Talbot]

Forgot I had this picture. This is about 1/4 of my collection. This pretty much represents the number of watches I actively wear though. Several are broken, and several have somehow gone missing. But these pale in comparison to many of yours! I have a serious case of watch envy over here, especially that diamond Longines! View attachment 58631

A fantastic grouping. I love 'tank' watches. Wear them in good health!

Reminds me of the time I tried to sell a Bulova Director on eBay a few years back. I described it (wrongly) as a tank watch.

I got pinged because eBay claimed Cartier owned rights to the word 'tank' as applied to watches.

I have seen others get away with it since....

 

[VintageEveryday]

The watches I carry on a daily basis average at 100 years in age...most in the 120 year old age bracket. I do have a couple vintage 40's/50's tank watches, and personally favor Bulova's myself. The newest 'vintage' watch I own is a 1955 Elgin Shockmaster. They're all great timekeepers (I insist on that), and have been a mainstay of my daily timekeeping ritual. The watch I'm carrying today is an 1881 Elgin G.M. Wheeler 18s Hunter. Regards. Michaelson

wow! My oldest is a 1904 Elgin. How much did your 1881 cost?