sounds like it was on the tip of your tongue.

 

Picked up a nice looking ST96-4 movement from a deceased watch maker's stash. Got no idea how good it is but looks fine. Been laying untouched in the shop since the owner left it there 40 years ago.
I have very little in it so if it is not workable I'll strip it for parts.

If it is as nice as it looks, apparently gilded or possibly Gold washed, I intend to try my hand at assembling a watch from parts I can find on line.

First a dial with the proper calendar window, then hands. I see complete watch cases with crystal for sale occasionally.

Not planing anything radical just a decent looking working watch.

I also have a NOS 138.311 movement still in original factory packaging. The small plastic drum with the plastic crowned stem sticking out the side.
The stem looks over long intended to be trimmed to suit the case. Its a couple of MM smaller in diameter that the ST96.

I doubt I'll have enough free time to start on this till spring.

PS
Found the seller of the 138.311 movements also has NOS Henri Sandoz watch cases with dial and crystal for 10 bucks and free shipping.
Might get one of those sets, but the shape is a bit odd. Beautiful dials. I'd rather have a generic dial that had no makers logo though. I want this to be a one off custom watch rather than a Frankenstein.

 

what is the first watch? its so pretty!

 

He had typed Zenith watch for U.S. Army Signal Corps.

 

Huge congratulations! A gorgeous watch from well respected member and valuable contributor. Wear it in the best of health.

 

I’ve been on the hunt for an honest 145.013 for the last year... today this guy showed up.

One owner, non running, in need of a service.

Just dropped it to STS, it’s got watchmaker marks inside from 1976 and 1979, but looks (from the degraded gloop that used to be the seals), to have been left alone for the last 38 years... which is nice.

 

That is just perfect

 

Found the perfect case for my FHF 138.311 movement for less than 9 USD with free shipping from the EU.
Its a NOS screw back chrome plated case with crystal and retainer ring.
The measurements are exactly right for my purposes, and I even like the style.

Here's the specs
Plexiglass crystal ( acrylic crystal)......26.60mm.......

Case is high quality chrome plated with STAINLESS STEEL case back......

Case diameter from 3 to 9..without the crown is...30.50mm.................and lug to lug 38.50mm .....

Inner diameter 26.20mm........

Movement ring holder inner diameter is 24.00mm..........

Distance between lugs is 16.40mm.........

Now to find the right dial and hands.
I'm considering trying my hand at making a hardwood dial. I've seen one on a Rolex, looked nice.

 

This little thing. Good looking and cheap

 

Can’t have a generic Buckle on this beauty.

 

Nice.
The case is shaped much like the sterile case I just bought for my project, no doubt much larger though. The styling reminds me of very old advertisements for Oris and Fortis. I wanted that classic look.

Fine looking band. The leather i set aside for my band will have the same coloring .

 

This little collection of Omega books, brochures and catalogues is now on it's way to me.



Keeping my fingers crossed (especially) for
1) the Seamaster/Ploprof brochure - I haven't seen this one before
2) the gold one, bottom right corner. Old-Omegas.com has a German brochure using the same artwork that Steve Waddington guesses is late Sixties/early Seventies but has pages missing.
3) the LCD Wrist instrument brochure - have missed out on a couple of these in the past.

I think the bottom left one is from 1983 (50 years of Olympic timekeeping) despite looking older.
Probably still older than many of the new OFers that have joined in the past couple of years

 

Arrived yesterday - late '60s SS Gallet (military?) 24-hour chronograph with Valjoux 7733 movement. Keeping very good time and the chronograph functions work perfectly. Really like the minimalist dial with just the Gallet lettering and unusual 24-hour format. Needs some getting used to at first, but digging it after a while...

 

Failed foster watch. Dre sent this to me two months ago for TLC at my watchmaker before shipment to OZ. The arrival of several amazing grails at Casa Dre has added this one to my stable. Looking forward to its emergence from the shop. DOA, loose tip on lower pusher and in need of a new crystal but will clean up well. They are also sourcing a crown. I have an extra upper pusher but we decided it would look odd. So will hold for future reference. Dre has dibs.

 

Black pulsations dial? Not bad. Not bad at all...

 

Oooh, gold and black work well together! That's very nice

 

I snagged a Speedmaster 145.022-69 with the 220 misprint bezel. Now I just gotta get it serviced before I wear it.

 

My first Alpina from a fellow forum member - thanks @peatnick. Massdrop with Horween shell cordovan straps right now, so this provides a great excuse.

 

A fixer up has arrived

Ref. 2577 - 6 SC, cal. 354 from 1952

Now the cosmetic have been done, it needs a service even though it runs ok, but that will be a job for my watchmaker

 

seiko skx031