I think it's a crazy idea to make a frankenwatch. Sell the manual wind and buy an automatic.
Even though this is all sound advice I have to admit that I've had the same idea.... I love my manual Seamaster and it has special meaning to me, I just sometimes wish it was automatic. Of course, I wouldn't want a donor to have to scrap things from but it would be nice to know what movement to look out for in case one turns up so that if it does, bam, I'm on it. Never going to sell this watch anyway so what harm could there be?
It's a better use of money and both watches wll thank you.
Or will they? Since two watches would then be worn half the time that one of them would that means the other one would have to spend an unreasonable amount of time crying itself to sleep unworn in some drawer.
....
if not two why not ten. If not 10 why not 100, 1000 might be a bit much (I have never counted.) As I have noted elsewhere it is not difficult to start a watch breeding farm.
Most of the watches we will get (unless lucky enough to afford a new one.) will have had a prior owner and a history. When I look at boxes of scrapped movements I think these were once shiny and complete. Displayed in a fancy store. Were these ladies movements a gift or a reward. The owner must have been proud of them. While ladies watches are somewhat ephemeral, gents watches were meant to last, to be passed onto the next generation.
The idea of the disposable drugstore watch was a real game changer in the late 1950s early 1960s. Such should not reflect on the treatment of the old war horses, which could easly last a few centuries. Predicting the future only leads to misery (just ask Cassandra.) So we can not predict what will or will not be acceptable. (Back in the 1990s collectors wanted repainted dials. Now that practice is frowned upon.)
This is turn makes us only caretakers. Even if we have certain watches were there is no intention or intent of selling. I have my favorites which I wear and have no plans to part with. Others sit lonely in the box waiting for their chance to once again become whole and see the sun and use once more.
-j
You Julie, are a romantic. I cannot but tip my hat.
Or will they? Since two watches would then be worn half the time that one of them would that means the other one would have to spend an unreasonable amount of time crying itself to sleep unworn in some drawer.
I think it's a crazy idea to make a frankenwatch. Sell the manual wind and buy an automatic.
611s are a dime a dozen so I'm not ruining history. I have plenty of other all original pieces laying around to impress the great grand children with one day 🙄
So in typical innerweb forum style, instead of 1) answering the question or 2) not saying anything and simply moving along....80% of you chose to uselessly chime in with your $0.02 that I didn't ask for or need. Kewl...
At the end of the day I have a rare dial and I wanted to put it to better use on an automatic. I suppose a better question would have been, "What movements will accept the dial of a 611?" That's it, that's all. But you all probably would have chastised me for that too all while refusing to answer the question.
So in typical innerweb forum style, instead of 1) answering the question or 2) not saying anything and simply moving along....80% of you chose to uselessly chime in with your $0.02 that I didn't ask for or need. Kewl...
At the end of the day I have a rare dial and I wanted to put it to better use on an automatic. I suppose a better question would have been, "What movements will accept the dial of a 611?" That's it, that's all. But you all probably would have chastised me for that too all while refusing to answer the question.
I have a vintage Seamaster 600 date (136.011) with it's original cal 611 manual movement. Is there a comparable automatic movement from that era which it could be swapped out for without any real modification? Maybe a 565? I'm spitballing here and could use some expertise!
I have a vintage Seamaster 600 date (136.011) with it's original cal 611 manual movement. Is there a comparable automatic movement from that era which it could be swapped out for without any real modification? Maybe a 565? I'm spitballing here and could use some expertise!
