Looking back: Worst or your most unusual watch purchase of 2013

Good initial topic that kicked this off, but what about the mutts?

You know, it's like when you go to the pound with the intention of adopting RinTinTin, or Lassie; and you come home with a bitsa that just didn't look right, but you couldn't resist.

Here's my opener 😲

Fortunate to have no regrets, apart from the ones I let go.
Onward and upward has to be my motto as truth be told I am a watch hoarder at heart. 👍

Glad its only 2013 as have nothing for you this year 😗

This year I didn't regret any purchases. Last year I bought an Illinois Major with a flawless green gold filled case -- but which had a redial (not really noticeable on the poor auction photos). I sold it at a loss, but got a great one to replace it.

You never know, there might be a lovely blue co-axial AT on the Sales Forum soon 😉

Well actually I was referring to post #5. But interesting you only "doubt" you'll sell yours Dennis 😜

Isn't that a Sapphette?

The watch gods have deemed that I am not to own a vintage Zenith. Back in July, I bought this Indian market Zenith Favre Leuba:





When I got this, I knew it needed a cleaning. I wanted to try a local watchmaker who came recommended. Big mistake. He's had it since late July. His boss first told me that the balance staff was broken. Odd, I thought, the watch was winding and setting when I brought it in. Then they couldn't find a staff. They could not figure out which movement this was. Took me two months of research to find that it was a cal. 10.5''' NSI. Thank you StewartH and Ernst Westphal in Germany.

Ordered a dozen staffs and brought them to the watchmaker. Next phone call was that the watchmaker broke all 12 staffs. That turned out to be false. However, this guy somehow manage to lose the minute hand and replaced with a non-matching one. No one can find a replacement. Good news is at least they've refunded my money and I'm only out $20 for balance staffs.

I give up, and I'm picking it up tomorrow and will try someone else. I think I've found hands on eBay that are close, but I don't know the hole size on this movement

Well, at least it was running the last time I saw it a couple of weeks ago.

Yes, this is the worst purchase of 2013. Maybe that Hamilton Otis with the drilled out lugs was worse, but I returned that puppy right away.

Happy 2014 to all!
gatorcpa

Yep, that's the one.

18K WG still sporting a signed crown and buckle.

Should flip for a tidy profit.