Does that destroy the value of the watch? I'm not sure if having it professionally redone would be cost-effective.

 

Yes, it pretty much completely destroys the collectible value of the watch. Having it redone again is usually not worthwhile, unless you inherited the watch or otherwise got it for free. Even a good re-dial has minimal value to a collector, and the quality of dial restoration is notoriously unpredictable. You could pay top dollar for a dial refinishing and it might come back looking pretty bad. You are much better off continuing to look for something original.

 

Thank you, I appreciate the info.

 

I just purchased this simple but classic timepiece 10 minutes ago on OF.

 

Picked up my first Omega today.
‘86 Seamaster “pre-bond” auto.
Pretty happy about it!

 

Heuer Classic Chronograph Re-edition CS3111 2001. I'm a bit pleased.

 

Just received this 1960s Zenith Automatic 2552PC today from the minefield that is eBay. Nice original dial, crown, and even buckle. Case has some scratches but looks unpolished. Losing fewer than 3 seconds a day -- better than any of my others. Replaced the rotting (original?) strap, polished the crystal with a buffing nail file, microfiber cloth and toothpaste (thanks Youtube!) and Bob's my uncle. I think this one is going to get a lot of wrist time.

 

Had been looking for something to replace the SubC that now belongs to Mrs. Darlinboy.

A lucky find @ < 1/3 retail & barely worn. Naturally it arrived the day I left town for a quick trip, but the aforementioned was kind enough to make sure all was in good order.


I only hope it’s still mine when I get home.

 

One can hope!

 

This arrived yesterday. Sinn 256. I used to have the 356, and found the handset hard to read. This watch solved that for me and is the same size case. So far, so good.

 

My wife and my daughter crapped out on me this afternoon and took naps. I looked online to see if there was an auction this late afternoon in the next town over and lucked out....there was. I got there in time for the viewing and in a small cigar "junk" box were these two Hamiltons.....





......and other miscellaneous junk. I knew the Nautilus needed a crown and maybe more and probably wouldn't work and that the K-503 automatic wouldn't run either. That didn't stop me from eyeballing the table the box was displayed on though. I noticed that no one else seemed particularly interested in them, but it didn't stop me from also trying to size them up and judge if they were watch collectors also. LOL. Again, further proof, like it is needed, that I have the sickness. The box came up for bid fairly early and at $10 I was the opening bidder and I bid up to $30, but then stopped, as there is a 12.5% buyers fee and 5.5% state tax, and I am just cheap. And don't forget, neither will run. Well, at $50, a woman 2 rows back won the little box lot. She almost immediately started complaining to her daughter, a young teen, I would estimate, that she couldn't believe she had spent $50 so her daughter could have a stuffed baby alligator head. Stuffed baby alligator head, thinks me, I didn't even see that, my eye was so caught up with the watches. LOL. I turned to the lady and said, "Well, I just wanted those 2 old watches in the box. I will ease your pain a bit and buy them from you if you want to sell them." She asked, "How much will you give me?". I replied $20. She said, "A piece?......I paid $50 for the box." I am thinking, "That's your own fault, lady"....but I replied politely, "No, $20 for the both of them. The auto is over wound and doesn't run and the electric is missing it's crown. The movement is probably a 505 and my watchmaker is just going to shake his head at me when I bring that in". So, in the end she agreed to my offer. And, I didn't have to pay the 12.5% or the 5.5%. They don't run and may never in my possession, but I removed the metal bands and cleaned the old man cheese from them and I am happy, I fed the beast for small money today.

 

Got this today at a antique shop for nearly nothing, a manual wind Timex watch! Paid only 5 bucks for it, replaced the broken flex band that was on it and good as new!

 

A Genève came home with me today after I collected it in person from @omegaswisst .

 

That....is truly beautiful!

 

WOW! Dibs.

 

Now that’s minty fresh

 

Cheap thrills today....I saw this competition "prize" watch on an online auction recently, and the case looked vaguely familiar...a Taubert/Bogel waterproof case like those used by Mido for their Multiforts in the 1950s and early 1960s, perhaps? Alas, no.

The watch is a product of the Harper Watch Co. of New York City. It is powered by a seventeen jewel AS1700/01 movement, and has been keeping very good time since it arrived a few days ago. The architecture of the stainless steel case is actually rather nice -- i.e., relatively thin case, decatagonal screw down case back, long beveled lugs, round bezel, case is sculpted flat at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

In the event you become a contestant on the TV program "Jeopardy" and choose the category, "Defense Minutiae" for $1,000, the U.S. Air Defense Command existed between 1947 and 1968, and was responsible for the air defense of the continental U.S.. The "Champions" appearing on the dial might refer to skeet shooting competition. The Air Defense Command hosted the first Armed Forces Skeet Championships in 1961. Apparently, for decades, the various branches of the U.S. armed services used skeet shooting as a means of gunnery instruction to teach "leading" a moving target.

Though nothing particularly special, this piece will make a nice "knock around" watch Christmas stocking stuffer for my younger brother who is a private pilot, military aviation buff, and all around propeller head.

 

This 16013 with a very uncommon boiler gauge midnight blue dial

 

Early 90’s Explorer.
A watch I’ve sold enough times over the years to have finally learned better.

Cheers,
-GW

 

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