The WANT Thread

[WRXtranceformed]

@ Rex - The band on this one can probably be sourced separately, it's a mix of cloth / leather: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Casio-PAG240B-2CR-Pathfinder-Triple-Multi-Function/dp/B003URWNTG/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1371758320&sr=8-9&keywords=casio+protrek">http://www.amazon.com/Casio-PAG240B-2CR ... io+protrek</a><!-- m -->

Also research NATO bands, they are popular replacements for a lot of watches:




@ Jon - I mean that is the watch world, there are way crazier, more intricate, cooler ones out there.

For example the incredible engineering in the Greubel Forsey Quad Tourbillon (~ $750,000):


Video of the motion: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU8GQL_Rl00">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU8GQL_Rl00</a><!-- m -->

[Cody]

This is shaping up rather nicely. Enter BMW 435 <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=856831">http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=856831</a><!-- m -->

[WRXtranceformed]

For those who are MOMO fanatics, did you know they make watches? Nice ones apparently. Jomadeals has a flash sale right now, probably the cheapest I have ever seen them.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jomadeals.com/Boutique3.aspx">http://www.jomadeals.com/Boutique3.aspx</a><!-- m -->

These aren't really my style but two that stood out:

Carbon fiber 1001BK-RB-01FCBK


1003BK-RB-08BKYW

[Mike]

All of these watches have so many buttons/dials/similar looks. I don't get it.

ditto. one "hobby" i don't understand.

especially since, you know, i always have my phone with me.

[WRXtranceformed]

So I'm turning into an old man by the minute. Picked up this pocket watch at the Ren Fair this weekend because I thought it looked cool and steampunkish. Wasn't sure I would wear it but it was cheap so I bought it off of a vendor there. Have found myself really liking wearing one, more than I would have thought.

Front closed

Front open

Back


I knew some of the background history of pocket watches and how important they were to the growth and safety of interstate railroads back in the late 1800s-early 1900s. I did some more research while watching football this weekend and it piqued my interest even more. You can find really nice examples of early 1900s "railroad grade" 21-24 jewel pocketwatches in the $150-$350 range, some of which still keep their time to within 1 minute / day. That's pretty impressive considering how old they are and the fact that even modern mechanical Rolexes can lose almost 10 seconds per day.

Here are a few examples of some of the most well known pocket watches that I think would be cool to own:

Howard:

Following a similar one but in a silver finish on Ebay right now. The blue hands are a great touch:


Elgin "Father Time", very art-deco-ish depending on the period:



My father is an antique dealer so I grew up surrounded by old stuff and I think the appreciation for them and the story behind well-built old things is finally wearing off on me.

[WRXtranceformed]

I will share this here as well. John Mayer gets a lot of mixed feelings from people but in this video he actually does a really good job of explaining the love of watches as something more than just to make sure you get to the boardroom on time. He obviously has a great passion for his collection, almost to the point of anthropomorphizing them as partners with him on the journey through his life (which judging from his resume is probably pretty ridiculous :lol. I am beginning to relate to that as I have two that already mean a lot to me as they are tied to big life moments (my wedding, accomplishments at work, etc)

Pretty good video if you have about 10 minutes:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://vimeo.com/75349508">http://vimeo.com/75349508</a><!-- m -->

[CaptainHenreh]

Elgin "Father Time", very art-deco-ish depending on the period:

I've got one of these.

[WRXtranceformed]

Same brand / style etc?

[CaptainHenreh]

Same brand / style etc?

Yeah. An Elgin "engineer" watch. Gotta screw off the crystal to set it.

[WRXtranceformed]

That is very cool!!

[CaptainHenreh]

That is very cool!!

I...guess? it's in a tupperware box in my safe. :dunno:

[WRXtranceformed]

Snap a pic and post it up if you get a chance! Would love to see it

[premiershine9]

Really nice pickup Lee! My grandfather who just recently passed supposedly had a collection of pocket watches, we're moving grandma out of the house soon so I'll be digging furiously. Other grandfather passed along a vintage Longines to my uncle thats at least 30 years old, only seen a pic.

I'm still wearing my Seiko sportura anniversary edition black and yellow but I've wanted a Tag since I was a kid. Looked at the new F1 auto last week at a new Tag store that went in at the local mall, still want a monaco so badly

[WRXtranceformed]

Really nice pickup Lee! My grandfather who just recently passed supposedly had a collection of pocket watches, we're moving grandma out of the house soon so I'll be digging furiously. Other grandfather passed along a vintage Longines to my uncle thats at least 30 years old, only seen a pic.

I'm still wearing my Seiko sportura anniversary edition black and yellow but I've wanted a Tag since I was a kid. Looked at the new F1 auto last week at a new Tag store that went in at the local mall, still want a monaco so badly

I am sorry to hear about your grandfather man but that is a great way to remember him...by continuing to appreciate and care for the stuff he collected :thumbup: Our family has a really cool history so I have always been fascinated with any heirlooms we have. My father has a bunch of old WWII stuff from my grandfather (decorated tank commander) that he took from dead Nazi zombies. They always gave me the creeps but created a lot of gravity to his stories.

I would still love a Carerra, it's just so hard for me to justify spending a few grand on a watch when I am responsible for two people now. After trying on one of my dream watches in the islands on our honeymoon, the Navitimer Blue Sky, I decided that that watch or the Rolex GMT-Master II Reference 116710BLNR would be a big one time retirement splurge possibility whenever I get there:
Navitimer Blue Sky:

Rolex GMT-Master II Reference 116710BLNR


I ended up pulling the trigger last night on this Elgin Father Time after I saw the seller drop his price a bit and a bunch of others watched it. Elgin created the first key-wound pocket watch that was specifically developed for the railroad industry. In 1893 the railroad industry changed its standards for watches due to a terrible crash in 1891 because engineers watches were being stopped and restarted. More competition emerged and Elgin began producing the Father Time model. The new standards were for watches to have a minimum of 17 jewels (jewels act as the bearings for the gears since they don't really wear; the more the better) and this particular model is a 21 jewel from 1920.

The blued hands were in the best shape of any I have seen, the double recessed face is nice and that ornate 14k white gold case sealed the deal. Very unique from a lot of the others I have seen so far:







Finding a vintage chain that doesn't cost more than the watch itself has been a challenge, so until I can find one I scooped a Charles-Hubert chrome finished chain with the more convenient belt loop clasp. I don't own any suits with vests so the T-bar is not as ideal for me ha

[ScottyB]

oh man...i'd feel bad covering this up. i could stare at that for hours.

i need to thank you guys for reigniting my interest in figuring out what to do with my grandpa's old Waltham which was handed down to me after he passed. its in very worn shape, but that almost encourages me to fix it more just due to wanting to see a "surviving" quality tool work again after so long, and to kind of honor his memory. i'd want it gone through to make sure nothing is jammed up or corroded - do clocksmiths normally accept pocket watch jobs or is that more something a jeweler would look at due to the size?

this appears to be a Waltham 17 Jewel with an Elgin "one quarter gold" case. serial number lookup states its an 1894 model hock: i'm terrified of trying to wind it up. i know nothing about these things and don't want to be the jackass that breaks it after its made it this far.

[WRXtranceformed]

Wow Scott that is seriously beautiful. For its age it doesn't look in bad shape at all! The Roman numeral watches are so cool. That Waltham is one of the first watches that came out after the rule changes. From what I have been reading you can absolutely service them, use them and keep them serviced. They were made for hot, harsh rough environments so they should last for a really long time. I'm still doing some research on who can properly service them so I will report back on what I can dig up. I get the feeling that it's best to take it to a specialist...I'm not sure I would trust a standard jeweler with something that intricate and old.
Thanks for sharing man that is awesome!!

[ScottyB]

I'm still doing some research on who can properly service them so I will report back on what I can dig up. I get the feeling that it's best to take it to a specialist...I'm not sure I would trust a standard jeweler with something that intricate and old.
Thanks for sharing man that is awesome!!

thanks! i really do want to use it...it would be a shame to tuck it away especially in its "workhorse" condition. definitely let me know what you find. so far I've found a local clocksmith but i think he may only do "tall" clocks and not necessarily timepieces. there is a Waltham repair company online as well but i want to avoid shipping it if i can.

love the history and tech you guys know about all this... super interesting stuff especially for the time. they are truly works of art.

i'll let you know how the revival of this thing goes...

[Ryan T]

My grandfathers Elgin Natl. Watch has been laying in a drawer at our house for a good 50 years at least. It doesn't work and the case/glass is in kinda rough shape but I figure a quality jeweler could get it back in order. Didn't even know these things were valuable.

[WRXtranceformed]

Nice! From what I have read the sidewinders were some of the earlier movements (definitely pre-1908) designed for "hunter" cases which had a second cover that closed to protect the crystal. Does yours have a hinge on it at the 9 o'clock position? If yes it might be missing the front cover. If not, the movement may have been installed into a different case at some point. You should be able to find an original seconds hand to reinstall. Otherwise the patina on the face to me is actually really cool, think about where that watch has probably been and how it was used!

[WRXtranceformed]

Another interesting fact I forgot to mention along the lines of showing off the movement. Some watches have glass back cases which were designed to do just that. They aren't necessarily rare, but watch dealers would use them back then to display the movement and then a customer would choose which case to have it installed in. Some people have had this installation done to their movements so they can watch it work. You can find examples of these on eBay every now and then.

Here is what one looks like: