Hmm, what are you wearing? (watch related topic)

Stampie said:

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Thanks, I've gone down a deep rabbit hole the last few weeks.  Don't think I've hit rock bottom yet.

Then keep digging! :) 

Stampie said:

After a mistyped tracking number caused me to think it was lost, I got a 1941 Gruen Veri-thin today.  Good timing as the band arrived at the same time.  Band is a little more orange than I expected but I'll see how it wears on me.

That's so cool!

I have a Gruen Curvex that my mother gave to my father for Christmas in 1950. It runs but needs some work. I'm looking forward to having it repaired and wearing it myself one day.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Thanks.  I reread this thread while waiting on it to ship and wondered if you ever got your Curvex going.

In reply to Stampie :

Sadly no, although I haven't made much of an effort. I bought an new crystal, but I need to find someone to install it.  

In reply to Stampie :

I'm waiting for someone to point me toward the go-to Gruen guy... whoever that is.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

FWIW, the place I mentioned in Millbrook does crystal replacements, and has at least one Gruen listed for sale, so they might be able to do what you need.

In reply to 02Pilot :

Thanks. I've been dragging my feet on this, but I'll contact them today because I want to get this done.

In reply to 02Pilot :

I submitted a request to have the watched serviced and to have the crystal replaced. I'll let you know how it turns out.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

I hope it works out. I've got a few that I need to bring up there to have evaluated.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Just for giggles can you post the numbers inside the case back and the movement?

EDIT - I just noticed that the case back isn't off.  NBD if you don't want to open it.

In reply to Stampie :

I'm not comfortable opening the case back on this one, but I'll ask when I send it out for repair.

What is the lug width on your Gruen? This one measures a little over 17mm, which might be tricky because that's an odd size and I usually need to get long straps.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

I put a 16 on this one going off the seller's measurement of 5/8ths.  It was a little tight.  I just verified with my caliper and 5/8ths it is at 15.85mm.  11/16ths  comes out to 17.45ish.

Now you've peaked my interest.  This is my Bulova which measures at 17.74mm.  The strap appears to be a 16mm one.  I wouldn't have even noticed until you brought it up.

After great success cleaning and lubing the movement of a broken Seiko diver with my brother in law's help:

I decided to start lowballing on all sorts of interesting broken Seikos I find on eBay. That's how I found my next project: a smaller 4205 with a rare yellow dial. The watch seems to be very original and runs well, but has crown issues that prevent it from being set. For $50, I figure I couldn't go wrong. I'll tackle this project as soon as I get some better watch screwdrivers--Christmas is coming!

Tom Suddard said:

After great success cleaning and lubing the movement of a broken Seiko diver with my brother in law's help:

 

I decided to start lowballing on all sorts of interesting broken Seikos I find on eBay. That's how I found my next project: a smaller 4205 with a rare yellow dial. The watch seems to be very original and runs well, but has crown issues that prevent it from being set. For $50, I figure I couldn't go wrong. I'll tackle this project as soon as I get some better watch screwdrivers--Christmas is coming!

Pogue colorway!

In reply to Tom Suddard :

Lol, stop bidding against me!

I want to do a movement swap and put a NH35 into my old SKX007, but want to practrice on some junkers first. 

The NH35 seems to be the k-swap of the watch world right now. Lots of them are going into stuff like this:

Very cool! Yeah, I've got a brand new NH35 sitting on my shelf right now, just looking for the right broken watch to put it into.

In reply to Tom Suddard :

I love that yellow dial.  My Seiko daily right now.  It was a $20 pawn shop watch.  New battery and strap and it'll do even with the crappy crystal.  At least until I can find a daily mechanical one.

Nice!

Yeah, cool and classy.

Sorta similar (maybe), I have this:

I like that one David!

wawazat said:

I like that one David!

Thanks. I should fix it one day. 

After AW gave me what she lovingly calls "a big boy watch" for my birthday yesterday, I read this thread from start to finish and realized OMG I am a watch nerd in some small way. So here's what's in my jewelry box:

Dad wore the Accutron every day. On the back he etched the number 218 at the top and his drivers license number across the middle, between "(illegible) Butts" and "May 1980". Must have been a pawn shop find or collateral for a micro loan, LOL. I inherited it when he passed in 1990. I can get the crown to change the date, but not the hand positions. It is also not running. From as obviously removable as the back is, I'm assuming it is battery powered. I've never looked into it.

The Mickey Mouse Timex was a birthday gift to me from my Aunt who lived in Orlando, I'm guessing 1975-ish? My Dad etched my name on it in two places.

I also inherited the two Elgins when my Dad died. In about 1995 I had them cleaned and adjusted, and I carried the one on the chain until I got tired of having it in my pocket. I think that love affair lasted about a month. They haven't been wound in years. Today I wound them and set them at 11:05AM, and they're keeping pretty good time so far.

i can't read that fancy script on the back of the unchained one, but if it says HPC then it belonged to my Grandpa after whom I am named.

The Swiss Army pocket watch was a gift from AW on my first Father’s Day. It's the same watch I gave my groomsmen when we got married in 2000. It doesn't currently run. I pulled the crown and was able to set date and time, but it doesn't wind so it's either (1) battery powered or (2) broken.

I'm keeping the big boy watch to myself.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

I love the Accutrons. They're on my list of look out for. This one came in today. Late 50s Elgin waffle dial. So far it's keeping good time.