Learning How To Fish: The Under $50 Collection

Professor · Apr 16, 2018

Haven't been keeping up with this thread. Here are some recent purchases.

The first three are all under eleven bucks each. I put the running movement from my old ZORRO watch in the new case and set that movement aside for detail cleaning. The tiny Speidel band is like the one that was on my watch when I was a youngster. Still have it around somewhere though broken. Nine bucks for the watch three bucks shipping.

The first Westclox runs like a champ. Cleaned up nicely. One area of damage on the bezel suggests that a broken crystal was replaced at some time in the past and the second hand seems to have been lost . Its quite a nice looking watch on person, brilliant gold markers. About the same cost as the ZORRO.

The second Wesclox I got for 5 bucks and fifty cents with free shipping. It began running the moment I popped open the case back but the stem seems to be buggered in some way. it will wind and turn freely backwards but can't set to time. feels like its not coming out far enough. can't figure out how to remove the stem yet.
The case cleaned up nicely and I began polishing the crystal but will leave that until I can free up the stem.

The Pobeda is in actual NOS condition, it came with its factory delivery box, never worn, very light near microscopic handling marks. Within less than plus two minutes per day for now, but I'll wait till I've worn it a month or more before trying to adjust it. Often a watch left untouched for years will run a hair fast but then settle down after a week or more of continuous use.

Clean as the day it left the factory. $31 shipped from Bulgaria

Waltesefalcon · Apr 17, 2018

sah
It is running well. Have placed about 25 small turns on the crown and it will go for about 12 hours. I am thinking it is closer to 1941. I will recheck the serial number on the movement.

The overall design is certainly mid century.

sah · Apr 20, 2018

Swap meet for $40. It runs well but the stem was broken. I still need to adjust the length a bit on the new stem as it is looking a bit long in the tooth. It is a 1432 quartz movement, but I am still happy.

Professor · Apr 26, 2018

Put in low ball bids on three different watches hoping to catch one at a decent price and ended up catching all three. All three are in much better shape than I'd expected and are keeping time very nicely.
The Benrus is my new baby. Always wanted one of the older dressy Bulovas but this Benrus has the Bulovas of that era beat for looks. Larger than it looks, a fair sized watch

The Bulova is an 80's presentation piece. Can't find info on the exact model yet. I may redial it later on. Runs fine. The band has lost a lot of plating but the case and crystal are like new.

The Midlands is in great shape and has a very nice 25 jewel self winding movement.
Very light and thin for a self winder. About 34mm.

GuiltyBoomerang · May 3, 2018

Within price point:

And extra bonus:

w154 · Jun 20, 2018

To be fair the auction house commission and postage will push this over $50 but the hammer price was around that. It was in a box with others so there might even be a nice surprise or two.

Professor · Jun 20, 2018

Nothing too rare but in decent running condition with the only very good condition dial of this type I've seen so far.
Every dial of this type I've found has one or more missing markers and are usually dirty and degraded.
Actually not even my style. I may give this one to a lady friend. Its technically a man's watch but she never went in for ladies watches. In size and styling I think this bridges the two since modern ladies watches run larger than in the past.
I had been watching a BB4 Movement in very good condition intending to buy it as a spare for my nice old Benrus, then found this watch with the same BB4 movement for not much more than the movement by itself would have cost. Just a hair over $30 shipping included.

More than a little wear on the band and some wear of the case but still presentable.

PS
I decided to clean away some dust from the inside of the crystal and dial. Wouldn't you know it, one of the rhinestones popped out of its setting. It took an hour to find it, they are a lot smaller than they look when on the dial.
I finally got it glued back in place. Not a perfect job by any means but not noticable unless you are looking for it and hold it really close.
Actually I can't believe I found that tiny bugger.

Accuracy is very good, perhaps -15 seconds in 24 hours.

I did some serious regulating on my Russian Pobeda. Its now so close to dead on after 36 hours that I appears to be accurate to within a fraction of a second per day. I'll know more after testing it for one week at least. My other Benrus is also near dead on, off less than five seconds per week.

w154 · Jun 21, 2018

If there are going to be any pleasant surprises tucked in with the Tudor then my best guess is that it will be this one (circled red). But no idea what it is ! Anyone care to guess ?

GuiltyBoomerang · Jun 21, 2018

Gee...if that's a Grana that would be wicked. Wouldn't be too bad if it was the IWC/Omega or one of the others.

w154 · Jun 21, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
Gee...if that's a Grana that would be wicked. Wouldn't be too bad if it was the IWC/Omega or one of the others.

If it turned out to be a Grana WWW I’d go straight out and buy a lottery ticket 😁

To be honest I think there’s no chance of it being a dirty-dozen watch though as the shape doesn’t look right for any of them. But it does look to be an interesting case, hopefully fully stainless, and in good condition too. And it looks bigger than the Tudor so good size too (at least >33mm I’d guess). Have to sit and wait now ☕

Tet · Jun 21, 2018

The upper case looks a little lacking in bevelled edge to be one of the dirty dozen but it is hard to tell. That's a pretty exciting lucky dip extra though, even I can't wait to see what it turns out to be. Good luck.

w154 · Jun 21, 2018

Tet
The upper case looks a little lacking in bevelled edge to be one of the dirty dozen but it is hard to tell. That's a pretty exciting lucky dip extra though, even I can't wait to see what it turns out to be. Good luck.

That’s what I think, it’s more of a tuna-can shape like the Longines COSD but unfortunately not one of those either. Long wait now...

GuiltyBoomerang · Jun 21, 2018

Tet
The upper case looks a little lacking in bevelled edge to be one of the dirty dozen but it is hard to tell. That's a pretty exciting lucky dip extra though, even I can't wait to see what it turns out to be. Good luck.

You're kind of right, though those fixed lugs...
Could quite possibly be an ATP.
My Record for reference from a similar angle:

w154 · Jul 2, 2018

w154
If there are going to be any pleasant surprises tucked in with the Tudor then my best guess is that it will be this one (circled red). But no idea what it is ! Anyone care to guess ?

Now... I think this qualifies as a pleasant surprise ::psy::

The job now is to work out what it is. Hands look like they’re from the Omega one, but the movement’s not Omega. Dial is obviously not the original one but I remember seeing this kind of dial before on 6B/159s before. Caseback number matches the case number so they’re an original pair. Size is around 31-32mm. Calling at @Syrte... any ideas ?

w154 · Jul 2, 2018

So I just figured out it’s an Ebel one with the AS1158 movement (Ebel cal. 101). That’s probably a good thing as I’m guessing the movement is easy to source parts for.

GuiltyBoomerang · Jul 2, 2018

Nice score @w154, that should clean up nicely. Even better that it's not an economy type and appears to be all stainless steel. Ebels came in both branded and unbranded versions, so no problems there.

So what's that $50 +% worth now...at least 30x? 😜

w154 · Jul 2, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
So what's that $50 +% worth now...at least 30x? 😜

I think that’s a bit optimistic 😲

The Tudor is pretty tiny but nice looking, but because of the size it’s maybe not worth the trouble of fixing up. There were quite a few silver cased pocket watches (all broken), a strange silver and enamel brooch watch, plus amazingly a gold Rolex 😲😲, so I think I’ll be able to sell everything else and end up with a serviced 6B/159 for free.

Syrte · Jul 2, 2018

Very cool, what size is the Tudor?
And what’s the microscopic silver one?

The handset definitely looks Omega on that 6B, and I agree the case looks stainless steel so a nice get.

PS- also curious as to whether there’s a brand on that enameled brooch...

w154 · Jul 2, 2018

Syrte
Very cool, what size is the Tudor?

Actually it’s not as small as I was guessing... it’s exactly 31mm.
Missing the second hand though, and it’s not running and these days I’m a bit more careful about opening up radium watches to investigate.

Syrte
And what’s the microscopic silver one?

The one in the picture is a wreck and seems nothing special. There’s another one that’s actually a bit nicer (but still not nice !) 😉

Syrte
PS- also curious as to whether there’s a brand on that enameled brooch...

Not identifying marks, at least nothing obvious.

GuiltyBoomerang · Jul 2, 2018

w154
Actually it’s not as small as I was guessing... it’s exactly 31mm.
Missing the second hand though, and it’s not running and these days I’m a bit more careful about opening up radium watches to investigate.

This was $50, and while not a Tudor, pretty sure it's radium lume...has a cracked crystal, so taking it on as one of my novice dismantle/service projects in my spare time. I should be more careful too, considering that Buren WWW of mine with lume dust everywhere on the dial...

Learning How To Fish: The Under $50 Collection

Professor

Waltesefalcon

sah

Professor

GuiltyBoomerang

w154

Professor

w154

GuiltyBoomerang

w154

Tet

w154

GuiltyBoomerang

w154

w154

GuiltyBoomerang

w154

Syrte

w154

GuiltyBoomerang

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