Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I have a 1964 Rolex Submariner "meters first" that needs some work. It was given to me by my Dad who bought it from a guy when my Dad was in Vietnam. Incidentally, my Dad was shown in a pic around that time in LIFE magazine and the watch is shown on his wrist. Kind of neat, that. The watch needs quite a bit of work so I don't wear it that often.

As such, I'm looking for a new mechanical watch. Don't care if it's automatic; I would rather prefer the winding ritual each day. Leaning toward a Hamilton Field watch but I'm wondering if there are any mechanical watch hybrids out there that combine a field watch with a rotating diver type bezel? I like a field watch style more than a diver watch, but keeping track of elapsed time using a rotating bezel is really handy.

Budget of around $500 or less.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

ChrisL

That's a tough one. Most sport type watches are autos especially with diver type bezels and they have screw down crowns for water resistance and you won't find many manual winds with a screw down crown. That's not to say there aren't some out there. I used to have one but it didn't have the bezel you want.

A good place to start searching are some of the grey market guys like Jomashop. They carry many brands and models and are valuable just for scoping things out.

By the way that Rolex is worth thousands these days. You can probably get it overhauled by Rolex for around $1500 depending on how bad a shape it's in but it will be returned looking like new.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's a tough one. Most sport type watches are autos especially with diver type bezels and they have screw down crowns for water resistance and you won't find many manual winds with a screw down crown. That's not to say there aren't some out there. I used to have one but it didn't have the bezel you want.

A good place to start searching are some of the grey market guys like Jomashop. They carry many brands and models and are valuable just for scoping things out.

By the way that Rolex is worth thousands these days. You can probably get it overhauled by Rolex for around $1500 depending on how bad a shape it's in but it will be returned looking like new.

Thanks for the info.

I wondered about the Rolex. It has issues. Acrylic crystals are nice for being able to buff out small scratches, but there are some pretty deep ones. I assume they'd have replacements for that, but the other issues:
Minute hand deteriorated. Most of the interior portion, the luminescent portion has disintegrated so it's almost just the outline of metal only, filigree.
Missing the original band
Interior has aged to a very nice vanilla patina. I wonder if Rolex matches replacement hands based on age to match that patina?
Time is off, but that's to be expected after all this time....

I may consider sending it off to them. From what I see they have an office in NY and in Dallas for service.

Thanks again for the info.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I have a 1964 Rolex Submariner "meters first" that needs some work. It was given to me by my Dad who bought it from a guy when my Dad was in Vietnam. Incidentally, my Dad was shown in a pic around that time in LIFE magazine and the watch is shown on his wrist. Kind of neat, that. The watch needs quite a bit of work so I don't wear it that often.

As such, I'm looking for a new mechanical watch. Don't care if it's automatic; I would rather prefer the winding ritual each day. Leaning toward a Hamilton Field watch but I'm wondering if there are any mechanical watch hybrids out there that combine a field watch with a rotating diver type bezel? I like a field watch style more than a diver watch, but keeping track of elapsed time using a rotating bezel is really handy.

Budget of around $500 or less.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

ChrisL

Chris:

If you are shaving with a straight razor, go the whole nine yards and get a pocket watch!

If you are willing to go all the way to $500, you can get some phenomenal pocket watches.

Take a look at Charles Hubert of Paris for starts.
http://www.charleshubert.com/store/i...ket-watch.html

Lots of good pocket watches on e-bay too!

WARNING: Pocket watches are just as addictive as straight razors!

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Thanks for the info.

I wondered about the Rolex. It has issues. Acrylic crystals are nice for being able to buff out small scratches, but there are some pretty deep ones. I assume they'd have replacements for that, but the other issues:
Minute hand deteriorated. Most of the interior portion, the luminescent portion has disintegrated so it's almost just the outline of metal only, filigree.
Missing the original band
Interior has aged to a very nice vanilla patina. I wonder if Rolex matches replacement hands based on age to match that patina?
Time is off, but that's to be expected after all this time....

I may consider sending it off to them. From what I see they have an office in NY and in Dallas for service.

Thanks again for the info.

Chris L

That's a very popular watch still being made today. My brother has the same watch. He bought it in the PX back in the 60s too in Nam. It cost around $150 back then. He recently sent it back to Rolex and it had issues too. it came back looking brand spanking new including case and face and hands. They'll just replace the shoddy looking parts on yours.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I have a 1964 Rolex Submariner "meters first" that needs some work. It was given to me by my Dad who bought it from a guy when my Dad was in Vietnam. Incidentally, my Dad was shown in a pic around that time in LIFE magazine and the watch is shown on his wrist. Kind of neat, that. The watch needs quite a bit of work so I don't wear it that often.

As such, I'm looking for a new mechanical watch. Don't care if it's automatic; I would rather prefer the winding ritual each day. Leaning toward a Hamilton Field watch but I'm wondering if there are any mechanical watch hybrids out there that combine a field watch with a rotating diver type bezel? I like a field watch style more than a diver watch, but keeping track of elapsed time using a rotating bezel is really handy.

Budget of around $500 or less.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

ChrisL

Chris, There are plenty of very inexpensive $200 or lower mechanical watches from Russia & China but frankly if I were you I would think carefully about your dad's watch. Even if you don't feel a connection to it and don't like the style if it's carefully restored it does have good value in the vintage market. You could then sell it and buy what you like. If you decide to restore it I would caution you to not send it to Rolex for this repair. They have a nasty reputation for replacing some original parts with new ones that would have a detrimental impact on it's vintage value. Instead there are some very reputable private watchmakers that will restore it while keeping it's vintage value in mind. They work almost exclusively on vintage collections. I've owned a half dozen vintage Rolex watches over the past 20+ years and have used a few of these watchmakers to service my collection pieces. I would be more than willing to help you by pointing you to reputable people who can give you an estimate of service costs and vintage value. Let me know if I can help.

As far as the rolex is concerned it's a matter of what you want. If you send it to a vintage repairer and it's done right they will use a "parts" watch to match what you have and it will look old but be better looking. The down side is you will never be sure where the parts came from and if at some point you do send it to Rolex for repair one look and they will not touch it. If you send it to Rolex it will come back looking brand new so it's a matter of what you want.

Nothing wrong with going the vintage route. I don't own any Rolex pieces but I have many pocket watches and have used a vintage repairer for years and have been very happy with the work but in most cases the watches after repair don't look new and that's what I want.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

As far as the rolex is concerned it's a matter of what you want. If you send it to a vintage repairer and it's done right they will use a "parts" watch to match what you have and it will look old but be better looking. The down side is you will never be sure where the parts came from and if at some point you do send it to Rolex for repair one look and they will not touch it. If you send it to Rolex it will come back looking brand new so it's a matter of what you want.

Nothing wrong with going the vintage route. I don't own any Rolex pieces but I have many pocket watches and have used a vintage repairer for years and have been very happy with the work but in most cases the watches after repair don't look new and that's what I want.

Given this is way out of my area, can anyone answer or give their opinion on the following?

Assuming the watch was sent to an expert at restoring as vintage or the watch was sent to Rolex for a complete "as new" overhaul, in which option would the watch be worth more?

ChrisL

What would make the watch more valuable is for it to be as close to the original in every way as possible. If it is restored and original parts are used a collector could never tell it was restored as long as they were original and not some made in the east parts of lesser quality. If it is sent to Rolex they will replace with modern parts and that will decrease the value. That includes the bracelet too. Rolex would advise to replace it with a modern one which would be far better quality however that would really decrease the value.

You also have to watch things like re luming the dial and hands, That's a real no-no for a collector piece.

Here she is: 1964 Submariner

This watch has been in Vietnam, was worn by a paratrooper (my Dad), has never been serviced and still keeps good time! I'm wearing it now. Sacrilege, I know, to have an inexpensive leather band, but it will have to do until I decide which band should be more permanent. The original band is not to be found.
Pretty amazing that even though this watch has clearly taken some beatings, after 52 years with no service and still running well. Wow.



ChrisL

Seiko SKX007J or the SKX009J built like a tank movement built to last can go many years between servicing, here's my two.