Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Be very careful with the day and date adjustment on those. The wheel and gears are plastic and they are notorious for stripping and then not working.

Thanks fir the caution Nelson.
I may open it up for some ultrasonic cleaning, depending on how it performs over the weekend.
My zodiac, which was my work watch for almost 20 years, has developed link play all around the metal band, and the crystal is pretty scratched up so I wanted to retire, and maybe restore it for my son for when he can appreciate it.

Watch repairers who are in the wrong business do that to "clean" a mvmt and it is not good practice. The mvmt might look nice afterwards but you may just loosen some crud which may gunk things up and it can really mess up the escapement and mainspring and various jeweled pivots.

The only true way to clean a mvmt is to totally disassemble it including the jewels and mainspring and then use the ultrasonic on the parts and then relubricate and reassemble.

At what level is a watch considered a throw away or maintainable movement?

I know that is an open ended question but at what point does it get economical to toss it?

Originally Posted by 32t

At what level is a watch considered a throw away or maintainable movement?

I know that is an open ended question but at what point does it get economical to toss it?

In my opinion, if a watch has a lot of sentimental value, then really there is no limit in order to bring it back to health and life, regardless of its monetary value.

If there is no sentimental value, then look at cost of a full vintage restore, BigS is right, only way to properly "clean" a watch is to fully disassemble, ultrasonic clean each of the parts in a basket, treat the case, gaskets, make sure lubrication is to spec upon assembly, pressure test, and since you're down that path, you'll want the bracelet (if it has one) also sent for a restore so it doesn't break on you and you lose the watch. This can be very, very expensive if you send it to a good vintage shop.

So at that point, is it cheaper to toss it (or sell it for spare parts for a few bucks on eBay) and buy something new....

The sentimental end of it I certainly understand.

I have a few things in my life that I keep for no other reason.

My present watch has been worn everyday for about 8 years.I see the movement is worth about $20.

If it stops working I will have to keep wearing it to prevent sunburn................

Originally Posted by 32t

At what level is a watch considered a throw away or maintainable movement?

I know that is an open ended question but at what point does it get economical to toss it?

My dad’s old Seiko that had been in a drawer in my desk after he died. It’s value is a lot less than what I paid to have it cleaned up and running again.

but you can not put a monetary value on memories.

I agree if a watch has sentimental value as long as you can afford it cost doesn't enter into the equation. However sometimes time is the limiting factor. I bought a Zodiac back in the 70s when it was a real quality Swiss watch. I wore it for many years and then gave it to my dad who wore it for 20 years. When he died a few years ago I got it back. I had intended having it restored however the stem was gone and there were no replacements for it and the xtl needed replacing badly and that was unique and there were no replacements for that and once the stem broke well sitting in a drawer in Florida for years and there was considerable rust on the mvmt. It was a period ETA mvmt and I could have had it repaired but I chose not to so I just keep the watch as a collectable piece.

When I used to follow goings on at the Seiko/Citizen Forum a few years ago I used to see these guys who would spend plenty for a rare Seiko Diver and then proudly display it and it was so beaten up and not really fixable it used to make me wonder. To me a beat up watch is just that absent a good reason to keep it.

My old Zodiak, also from my dad, is working still, but the strap clasp locking clip broke and the crystal is pretty scratched up from being on a mechanics wrist for over 20 years.
I will probably have this watch forever..
My daily driver however needed an upgrade. Thanks to some tips from you gents I went to a few sites and did some research on various new and older mechanical and automatic watches.
Some very strong tool watches being made in Germany right now, and I almost pulled the trigger on one before seeing the below watch from Seiko.

A no longer in production automatic with a 50+ year production run called the Alpinist. Seiko is a name that, to me, just slips under the radar, but they really have made some amazing timepieces..
Only produced for the Japanese domestic market, with all the features I would ever need in a watch, plus an absolutely beautiful dial face that ultimately was the reason I bought it.
A mid tier performer with a touch of refinement that will work in the office, boardroom, or back roads.
Got mine as an open box return at an acceptable price. But still the most expensive watch I have ever bought myself.
A personal indulgence that shouldn’t scream indulgence with a name like Seiko.
Happy father day men.

Remember if you use the compass bezel during daylight savings time you have to compensate an hour.