Hello All, when I join a forum I usually say hello in the new members area but I don't see one on Omega Forums, so I'll say hello here. I'm more an Omega Collector but bear with me as a I tell a brief story first.....
My watch collecting got started in a most unexpected way 40 yrs ago:
I'm on my way to school (6th grade) back in 1976, and passing through a supermarket parking lot I found a watch on the ground that had been run over by a car. It sounded funny when I shook it (like something was broken) and almost tossed it away but then thought better and put it into my pocket. Later I found that it kept time despite the clunky sound, so I took off the broken band and put it on a wide leather band I got for $3 at the local Woolworths (remember them?). I wore this watch through 8th grade, and through all the trials and mischief a young teen can get into (this was during the Evil Knievel era when all the neighborhood boys would jump their 3 speed bikes over the biggest possible obstacles). Going into high school I got an electronic calculator watch for my birthday, so the old parking lot watch went into a box in the closet, and later when I went to college that box went into the attic.
Fast forward 30 years to two years ago when my mom finally sent me that box. 30 years in a dank Northeast US attic. I opened the box to sort through the stuff... grade school report cards...program from when I was the lead in the 5th school play, notes from childhood friends (long before social media, children actually wrote notes and cards by hand!!!). Anyway, found a box with the two old watches. Picked out the parking lot watch, shook it and it started ticking for the first time in 30 years...and the same for the old memories that came flooding back. Hearing the clunk from shaking it I still thought it must be broken somehow and I almost threw it out (again)! Since I now have poor vision, I put on a pair a strong reading glasses and looked at the face...Universal Geneve. Took the back off, found 6 service marks....and the markings 14k gold. By my research, it is 1967 UG with a 138SS bumper movement (hence the noise I thought it was broken). The leather band by this time was toast so Ithrew that away and temporarily put on a cheap gold plated band that my local jeweler gave me for free (he loved the story). Yes, it needs a service but the movement is in great shape. Its a small miracle it never broke it with all the childhood antics it went through! Got a timegrapher for Christmas, put this on it and got avg 18secs/day accuracy(but varied immensely). BE was huge, cant recall at the moment but think it was around 2.7. Honestly, its just accurate enough to wear, and I don't think I am doing damage by wearing it (someone smarter than me please weigh in).
Little did I know I was struck by the Swiss bug so long ago.....I have worn it to many important occasions over the past two years, and now will never give it up. I believe it has transcended time for a reason. BTW, the crack in the crystal has been there since I found it in that parking lot way back when.
Now I'll saunter over to talk Speedmasters....
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