On a lighter note

[PBI]

Anyone going to the OGCA show this weekend? If so, do we want to have a meet and greet and talk about watches?

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[DaveHH]

It's self winding you know. Bring your Omega Observatory Chronometer.

[INLAND44]

Funny about watches; I used to think Rolex, Breitling and Omega were the tops. Then I gradually learned that there are several levels above that. That's when I decided to concentrate on guns.

[DaveHH]

AP, Patek Phillipe, possibly Vacheron Constantin, these companies make very few watches and make their own movements. Most are cased in 18K and are made to last a lifetime or several. Others like Breitling, buy ebauche movements from another company and put their name on the movement as if they made it themselves. Rolex falls into the first group but produces many tens of thousands every year. They make their own cases and movements and really are a very superior product. Comparing a Rolex with a Patek would be like comparing a Corvette to a Ferrari. Corvette is nice and fun, the Patek is all of the above and exclusive.

[Mizzouboy]

But my cheap Seiko keeps better time than all of them. The last Rolex factory rep I spoke to personally in Atlanta got all offended when I asked him to quote an accuracy figure....

[DaveHH]

most quartz watches are extremely accurate. Seiko makes fine watches and some of the best cased watches around. The problem of most cheap quartz watches is they die after a few years because they are poorly cased. Seikos can last for decades. The mechanical Seiko movements are well designed but do have weak points. But by and large, they are an excellent value. I have several (all mechanical). Most major companies offered quartz movements, in fact the industry embraced them to their detriment. Almost all ebauche movement companies (there were 19) are now gone and major makers like Omega, abandoned their mechanical departments, jumping into quartz in a big way. And then the quartz technology failed them miserably. People did not care to own a $1000 watch that died in a few years, especially when their old automatics were lasting 30-40. In a few short years most major quality manufacturers were again offering automatic movements and slowly moving away from quartz. What we have left are brands like Gucci that sell $400 watches that are essentially $30 Chinese flea market watches with a better name. The entire quartz movement can be replaced for $20 including new battery. The common automatic movement is made by ETA and is either a 2824 or a 2892. Expensive companies like Omega trick them up, but they are essentially a $120 movement selling in a $800+ watch. Rolex never deviated from their game plan and that is the key to their success. They make an ungodly amount of watches each year, most chronometer rated, and sell everything they make for $4500+ Every pawn shop or jeweler in the world know what a Rolex is and what it is worth. It is not a watch, it is a commodity. While your Seiko can compete, it does not have this cachet.

[painter777]

Man I could use someone like DaveHH around to help ID the pocket and wrist watches passed on to me from my Father. I have a army foot locker here that took 2 of us to carry in. Daughter stopped counting at 1,000. I pulled these to try to research, but it takes a lot of time for a novice to try to ID them.
Here's a picture of the first handfull I'm still working on...It's going to take forever.

JimF4M1s,
Any oil watches I find (if I do) I'll pass along to you.

Charlie-painter777

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

JimF4M1s,
Any oil watches I find (if I do) I'll pass along to you.

Charlie-painter777


Thanks Charlie.

I probably have 12 to 15 Shell pocket watches. 8 Girard-perregaux Shell Oil Pocket Watchs from 1940, the others made by Clinton from the 60's.

My grandfather gave me his wrist watch on my 10th birthday (1959). It is an Omega Seamaster, self winding. I had the face restored a few years back. It's a great watch with tons of personal memories. And still working perfectly I might add.

Jim

[DaveHH]

Only about 10-20% of the pocket watches were railroad grade 19j+. I see an Elgin BW Raymond and what looks like a Hamilton 992 (or 992B) with crossbar case. These will be your best most valuable watches. If you want, send me a photo or description of them and I'll tell you what I know about them. Do not judge a watch by its case as the really good ones are often in cheap silveroid cases. Remember a premium railroad grade watch in 1900 was $100+ without the case. Engineers, firemen and others were required to have these expensive watches. Most of the larger 18s cases will be 7J "turnips" used by everyone else. Premium brands were Hamilton, Waltham, Elgin, Rockford, and if you really had money E.Howard and Company. Some of those 12s gentleman's watches could be valuable as well, Hamilton made a Masterpiece in 12s that was platinum cased. Contact me with questions.

[DaveHH]

you can send me photos of say 6 at a time along with a description (name etc.) I will let you know if you have something or if it is just a clunker. I'm not looking to buy anything from you or try and capture the whole deal. I already have dozens of watches. You seem like a good guy and I'd be glad to help because it is fun looking at stuff like this.