Recommended Good Value / Vintage - New Deals On EBAY & other Auctions

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I really like this one! If I decide to go hunting, what do I type in - "Benrus Military?", or is there something more specific that might help?
Thanks
Give that a shot, or search Benrus Mil or add a year. Honestly, James knew I was lusting after these, and in his searching frenzy remembered and served it up on a platter to me. I missed out on a few, tried to show restraint on a couple, and then just couldn’t pass up the condition on this one, made a somewhat cheeky offer, and the seller accepted.

Somehow the planets aligned! (Let’s see if anyone gets this reference…;-)

edit edit Post.Script. the Hamilton Khaki and KonTiki send their Holiday Cheer! Two pieces that always put a grin on my face when they are picked to match the wardrobe of the day. Cheers!
Edited:
 
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Cheap Chrono alert!
Chrome plated Wakmann, with Val 7730.
Case isn’t perfect but not horrible, dial is pretty by not perfect, seller says chrono hand won’t stop running so needs service (could be a simple issue or not). Best past, it’s under $300!
At least someone won’t say “hey, your watch stopped”.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Wakman...=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
 
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On the military theme here’s another genuine issue ATPwatch that isn’t that ridiculously priced, if you find the dial deterioration within tolerance.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ATP-WW-99-...p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

If I didn’t have my Lemania I’d buy it, one of the few ATP watches with a steel case and a genuine piece of history.
This is a sweet little watch. Love the large pips like the German issued Alpinas of the period and of course- who doesn’t love Cathedral hands 🥰

As you said, on these watches, it’s all a matter of how much patina you can tolerate, not if you can or not.
 
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Well belated bargain brag:

About 2 years ago I bought a fabulous white gold filled Elgin tank with the most gorgeous case shape and black dial as a gift for my then girlfriend (now wife). The seller said it has been fully serviced before he shipped it. Needless to say, it arrived with a broken balance staff (thanks USPS!). I got a great deal on it (truly a bargain) and didn’t want to send it back, so I sucked it up and bought another NOS balance on eBay and gave it to my watch handy friend Justin (not a watchmaker). Well, he has a 4 year old (was 2 then) that has sucked up most of his evening time when he should be working on my watches!
He asked me two week ago what we wanted for Christmas (he doesn’t have a lot of expendable income). I said “fix my shit” he kept says “no, really dude, what do you want?” I told him, I can buy anything I want within reason, but I don’t know how to fix watches.

Tonight I got these pictures
He fully serviced it, replaced the balance staff (which sucks to do) and said it’s running within 6-8 seconds per day…not bad for a 70 year old watch.
I know what he’s giving my wife for Christmas!
 
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The current “Bonklip” by Forstner is awesome, has nice heft and weight, silky smooth on the wrist, modern lug sizes (19-22), the bracelet itself is wider so less lolipop effect and the clasp is far better than the originals. Plus they kept the slotted endlinks which allow you to “Klip” them over fixed spring bars which was their whole design for military watches.


But the Vintage ones have their charm- slimmer and very light, a little jingly and fussy, and can really give the lolipop look when you get the ones with the 12mm bracelet width and 16-18 endlinks. On real vintage military pieces (particular European ones) there is nothing era appropriate that comes close


Bit of 'drift' was it Firths Stainless BHB & S that the coffee blocked?



James, (excuse my familiarity) I would like to add my thanks for your input on this thread, and indeed the forum in general as others have said.

However I seem to be gathering watches and straps that I did not know I wanted or needed.
An old Devil Diver that I bought cheap from Costa Rica just because you made me laugh ... that I had to send for a service that makes it no longer a cheap laff!
A 17 jewel incabloc Rone I had never heard of for its Bonklip which I now own and have to find an RAF WW2 watch to go on the strap.

Anyway have a great Christmas and keep on enabling me and others. Paul.
 
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Bit of 'drift' was it Firths Stainless BHB & S that the coffee blocked?



James, (excuse my familiarity) I would like to add my thanks for your input on this thread, and indeed the forum in general as others have said.

However I seem to be gathering watches and straps that I did not know I wanted or needed.
An old Devil Diver that I bought cheap from Costa Rica just because you made me laugh ... that I had to send for a service that makes it no longer a cheap laff!
A 17 jewel incabloc Rone I had never heard of for its Bonklip which I now own and have to find an RAF WW2 watch to go on the strap.

Anyway have a great Christmas and keep on enabling me and others. Paul.
Nice score on that one. I paid around $200 for my 18mm from a fellow member here a while ago (it was pretty damn flawless so worth it).
Of course you would want to put that on a dirty dozen maybe a Smiths w10…or you can try it on any 40’s-50’s sort watch until you fill that hole in your collection. I wore mine 18 on my black&tan (stainless case, black dial, gold furniture) Certina for a while and it was lovely. They are right at home on any sport watch of that era (if it has 3 hands or more, it’s a sport watch- true dress wrist watches were slim and small, usually of a precious metal, with 2 hands only).
And you need to show us you Bulova…and “bargain” is always relative.
 
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This is calling me,



…see above. Not sure of sizing.


..and I am sure you have seen this…

 
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This is calling me,



…see above. Not sure of sizing.


..and I am sure you have seen this…

That Ebel is cool, but verify size- he didn’t mention it. If it’s under 33mm, it may look rather dainty on the Bonklip.
Love the red snorkel! I don’t have one like that.
 
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or you can try it on any 40’s-50’s sort watch until you fill that hole in your collection.
I can confirm 1) Bonklips are great in quality and 2) they look amazing.
1942 Eterna.
 
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That Ebel is cool, but verify size- he didn’t mention it. If it’s under 33mm, it may look rather dainty on the Bonklip.
Love the red snorkel! I don’t have one like that.

Love it too, don’t wear it much because the bracelet pins are 60% worn through and I am scared one will break - been doing some research on replacements as they are not standard but can’t find any yet.
 
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Our military watch friend just posted another Hammy (and again is trying to maximize key word exposure- the “khaki” line was their civilian line- military didn’t call them that).
Forgiving this seller for his sins once again becuase his watches are nice-this one is close to as good condition as the previous, but is engraved on the back (I assume by the GI to whom it was issued- and for me that’s fine). This one is on the period correct military issued nylon pull-through 16mm strap (although they look good on, these don’t belong on 18mm NATO’s. The straps never changed from the 50’s-the 80’s- the weave and stepped sides are the give-away on the real ones and 16 was always the correct size even though the lugs on the Hammy and Benrus were 18mm (they just used the same straps they always had- never changed the spec). So you get the spring bars showing- which is the correct period look. We know this guy will accept offers, so worth a shot. Again, he is priced higher than most- but condition, condition, condition.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hamilton-K...=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

 
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It’s a ‘78 like mine. And for anyone keen to see the movement looks like, here is mine.



 
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Nice one! I have been looking for one like that but from 1981...
 
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Nice one! I have been looking for one like that but from 1981...
Birth year? I have passively been looking for an ‘82 gg-w113 for @Mad Dog as I remember him saying that was his year of enlistment and he never got one issued to him. Since he was a pilot, he would have gotten the hacking 113 and not the 46374
 
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Birth year? I have passively been looking for an ‘82 gg-w113 for @Mad Dog as I remember him saying that was his year of enlistment and he never got one issued to him. Since he was a pilot, he would have gotten the hacking 113 and not the 46374
Yes and for the moment I gave up looking for a nice Speedy from then and thought this would be a great idea... love the H3 and symbol.. usually I find nice ones from '82, '83 or earlier of course... or rubbish ones from '81, maybe that means something ::facepalm1::
 
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Yes and for the moment I gave up looking for a nice Speedy from then and thought this would be a great idea... love the H3 and symbol.. usually I find nice ones from '82, '83 or earlier of course... or rubbish ones from '81, maybe that means something ::facepalm1::
Ok guys- 1981, H3 dial, nice shape. If you find one, send the link to Alex. If you have one and don’t have any sentimental (birthyear) attachment, send it to Alex and he will find you another in comparable shape with a different year.