Converted my family Omega demi-hunter into a wristwatch - here's what happened

reggie_v

I think that looks fantastic. Do you have any wrist shots? That’s the only thing. You need beefy wrists to pull it off!

gatorcpa

This is nothing new. People have been converting pocket to wrist watches for well over 100 years.

The style of the lugs on this example have kind of an unadorned art deco 1930’s vibe to it, even though the watch and case date from 1904.

I see nothing wrong with repurposing items that are no longer used into items that can be easily used everyday.

The NAWCC guys are just upset that there will be one less pocketwatch for them to sell.
gatorcpa

reggie_v

I think that looks fantastic. Do you have any wrist shots? That’s the only thing. You need beefy wrists to pull it off!

gatorcpa

This is nothing new. People have been converting pocket to wrist watches for well over 100 years.

The style of the lugs on this example have kind of an unadorned art deco 1930’s vibe to it, even though the watch and case date from 1904.

There is an American company doing this exact type of work.

https://vorticwatches.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop5MAjP6_wTdMsNo0yIAudzIJrGq7v6Y21sZ0650pBCgLiYHXOc

I see nothing wrong with repurposing items that are no longer used into items that can be easily used everyday.

The NAWCC guys are just upset that there will be one less pocketwatch for them to sell.
gatorcpa

G___

Brilliant work, please share more or link to the other thread!

This is something where, surely, your relative (and those who passed it along) would be proud and pleased with the attention to detial in your work and making something not very useful, highly useful (unless you rock 3 piece suits on the regular, that is).


The stick-in-the-mud doofuses at the NWACC forum can toddle over to the nearest body of water and jump in. If they have an artifact that they want to save, then THEY can do it. Take heart, 75% of the haters will be dead in 8 year

nicks

Have to say…I’m an NAWCC guy, and definitely getting on in years.

I think this was a great project with a great result.

The lugs in particular are a treat. Tip of the hat from me, for sure.

antiquewrist

My great-great-grandfather left me a silver Omega half-hunter pocket watch. Over a hundred years old, keeps perfect time. For years I just wound it and listened to it tick. But I wanted to wear it.


The problem was the lugs. Wire lugs on a 50mm case look wrong. Full-size lugs had to be welded exactly parallel - even a fraction off and the strap sits crooked. It took me three years to build a jig precise enough to do it right.


Nothing was replaced. Original movement, original dial, original case. The demi-hunter cover still opens fully. The only changes: precision-welded lugs, stem shortened, crown repositioned to 3 o'clock. Fully reversible.


When I posted it on NAWCC the thread went sideways - half loved it, half said I'd destroyed an artifact. The moderator wrote a whole post about it. His take: less than 10% changed, fully reversible, and a hundred years ago this was just normal practice.


Happy to answer any questions about the process.