Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Guess I should have posted this here...in the right forum!!

...aside from my RAD sickness, I also have a deep sickness for mechanical watches. Been a busy year for me that way....

This one is in the mail, fascinating piece from the Soviet Union, an automatic Poljot Signal Alarm Watch:



Check out the video...alarm rings at 1:24:

Originally Posted by jleeg

The Cricket...loudest of the alarms.

Wow - a Vulcain Cricket AND a JLC....two absolutely superb watches, and with the alarm....awesome.

I've been looking at a Seiko Bellmatic Date/Day Alarm watch....another cool one.

But the Cricket...doesn't get any better.

Only compilation I like better than an alarm, is a "minute repeater" wrist watch. Putting $100 aside every month, I figure in about 250 years, I'll be able to start looking at a mid-tier model....

Originally Posted by Phrank

Wow - a Vulcain Cricket AND a JLC....two absolutely superb watches, and with the alarm....awesome.

I've been looking at a Seiko Bellmatic Date/Day Alarm watch....another cool one.

But the Cricket...doesn't get any better.

Only compilation I like better than an alarm, is a "minute repeater" wrist watch. Putting $100 aside every month, I figure in about 250 years, I'll be able to start looking at a mid-tier model....

You can get a quarter repeater in a vintage pocketwatch for a very affordable price. They are out there.

Tremendous variability in Poljot timpieces. Depending on the era and who owned them they can be junk and they can be damn fine watches. I have a marine chronometer made by them from the 70s which was used as a backup on Naval Vessels. Probably one of the finest things they ever made.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

You can get a quarter repeater in a vintage pocketwatch for a very affordable price. They are out there.

Tremendous variability in Poljot timpieces. Depending on the era and who owned them they can be junk and they can be damn fine watches. I have a marine chronometer made by them from the 70s which was used as a backup on Naval Vessels. Probably one of the finest things they ever made.

I've looked at a couple of pocket watch "minute repeaters", story behind their use in the railroad was fascinating - a way for conductors to tell the time in pitch black, dark train corridors.

Looked at some very nice ones, thought of getting one for my desk, saw some stunning pieces from the 19th century...much more affordable than the $1,000,000 + for a Patek....

Yep repeaters were invented specifically as a vintage substitute for lume in modern watches. I have a Swiss made 16 size quarter repeater pocketwatch with a 14k case and face. I bought it around 25 years ago and it ran me around $1400.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Yep repeaters were invented specifically as a vintage substitute for lume in modern watches. I have a Swiss made 16 size quarter repeater pocketwatch with a 14k case and face. I bought it around 25 years ago and it ran me around $1400.

Awesome - consider that phrase stolen....LOL....vintage substitute for lume....love it!!

Wow! I never knew.. 1 million on a watch? Holy moly!

Just stumbled on this thread, no real experience in watches considering it is a serious rabbit hole I'm sure.

My favorite is an old gold Bulova that my Dad gave me before I went over seas. Never used it to tell the time. When things got hectic and I needed to get my head ready, I would put it up to my ear and the sound, that humming, would stop time for me. Powerful.
Probably saved my rear! Lol

Sorry guys I can't post picks yet. Thank you for the cool info and picks. Great thread!

Sounds like an old Accutron with the tuning fork movement. They are getting increasingly rare. If it still works take good care of it. Parts for it don't exist anymore.

I've had several. None work anymore except for an Omega f300 which I use all the time.

Back from my favorite watchmaker after a change of gaskets and service.
Ready for dive season again.

Beautiful Rolex Sea Dweller, an astounding piece of engineering, and the 5 digit reference as well, which in my opinion is a much nicer design than the 6 digit maxi-case.

I've always liked the fact that Rolex makes superb "tool watches", and in fact they are not part of "high horology", just incredibly well made tanks to do anything with.

Great article hear from Hodinkee, Inside Rolex - Manufacturing, that details the incredible engineering and details that go into each watch, you've probably read it, but for others, an amazing read:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/inside-rolex

Rolex Sea Dweller is rated for 4,000 feet, Rolex Deep Sea (the one James Cameron collaborated with Rolex on) is 14,000 feet, the Submariner is 3,000 feet, and then every other Rolex watch (except maybe the Cellini) is waterproof as well to 330 feet - incredible pieces.

Blancpain is another beautiful dive watch if I recall correctly and some serious horology history.

Water and pressure tested and ready to go - enjoy and congratulations!