Personal OCD, I got the buckle today and it came with the leather pouch.

 

This one.

 

Just arrived, my fourth CWC but first RN Diver. Will it become a keeper like my G10 Fatboy, time will tell but early impressions are I love it!

 

Shipped directly from the family of the original owner to my watch maker so I was impatient enough to have it delivered to me while traveling for work. Luckily enough it has original chronometer papers as well as the usual ones. 1.8m serial Mark 1.

 

Very nice catch. Lovely patina on hands and dial and beautiful faded insert. Wear it in good health.

 

Oyster, Shmoyster, I just acquired a Zell Brothers Turtle De Luxe. Never heard of one? Neither had I. Some findings of my research and photos are included below.

Early in Rolex's history it was a minority shareholder in the manufacturing facility that produced its movements, Aegler, Société Anonyme, Fabrique des Montres Rolex & Gruen Guild A. The facility also produced movements for Gruen, another shareholder in the facility. This arrangement prohibited Rolex from selling its movements in Gruen's market, i.e., the U.S..

Rolex's reputation grew significantly after it acquired patent rights to the oyster case. Rolex wanted to cash in on its success with the oyster by marketing it in the U.S. market. To get around the above mentioned agreement which prohibited marketing its movements in the U.S., Rolex sourced movements from FHF (Fontmelon), placed them in oyster cases and marketed their watches in the U.S. through the outdoors outfitters Abercrombie & Fitch. This arrangement was short-lived.

Rolex then entered a similar arrangement with a high-end jewelry chain, Zell Brothers, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Zell sold the watches under the name, Turtle Timer.

When I stumbled across an auction for a Zell Bros. Turtle De Luxe I thought I might have found one of these early U.S. Rolex imports. The info and photos provided by the seller were short on detail. The watch was not running. I took a shot and won the auction with a modest bid.

The watch turned out not to be a Rolex but, rather, a handsome Movado powered by what I believe to be the company's 470 movement. The case is a stainless Borgel and has a screw-in case back. My watchmaker opened the case, got the watch running, and gently cleaned the dial of deteriorated lume from the hands....gratis. Thanks Mac!

If anyone has more info about these watches I would greatly appreciate being educated. Cheers!

 

I'm a Longines magnet of late. Never having bought or sold one before, here's the third in a month:
Originally purchased in 2010, it came along with inner and outer boxes as well as papers and warranty card.

Then, back to our usual programming:

Dating around 1951 this is super clean (I mean, apart from the dirt). Steel mid-case, rolled gold lugs and bezel, hobnail dial with arrow markers. I'm pretty sure the text is right and there seems to be no wear. The lume on the 10 o clock has crumbled a little and that seems to be floating around on the dial. There's also evidence of a worn rotor bearing ... so, this one's going straight to the spa. I also had to overpay for it ... but not so much to make it uncomfortable.

 

Great watch and great way to remember that milestone

 

1952 Bulova Academy Award with original case!

 

Just arrived today, my first Eterna! Tough to photograph but it has an awesome black waffle dial.

 

Tudor 58

 

AND?????

 

Looks great, but what do you think in the flesh?!?

 

Recently aquired a Nivada Chronomaster / Chronoking Ref. 85017 from the late 60s in great original shape and unpolished condition. This Ref. came also with the Singer PN dial in panda and Reverse Panda Version and the are very sought after models today
V23 inside and great condition ovrer all !

HAGWE

 

Its what everyone has been saying times 100, proportioned well and looks even better in flesh. Absolutely amazing.

 

Picked this up at a yard sale this weekend. LNIB, protective plastic still on the crystal. My 3rd Victorinox in a row. Guess I am in a rut. I already have one quartz, so I don't think I will be keeping this long, but in trade or sale value I will pick up a few dollars towards a proper, vintage watch.

McK

 

Second Speedmaster; sourced locally:

 

I am happily humming along at 360Hz

 

I was inspired by some vintage lady Seikos posted by @Syrte so I decided to hunt one down. A 2205 hailing from Argentina found on eBay. We thought it was lost in the mail so the seller refunded me...it popped up 8 weeks later!