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Which is the rarest watch you’ve ever owned?

  1. Mtnmansa Dec 16, 2018

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    B36ABAAF-F020-43C4-84B5-E477FDBAE0F3.jpeg
    Found in 1999, restored and went to a better place in 2001 :thumbsup:
     
  2. Bill Sohne Bill @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 16, 2018

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    heavenscloud likes this.
  3. Fritz genuflects before the mighty quartzophobe Dec 16, 2018

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    Given the very nature of vintage watches each is pretty much every one of a kind, attrition, modification, wear, the environment, everything thing assures that each of our older pieces is the only one like it. American pocket watches are even better in this respect because so many were sold as movements only to be cased by the jeweler in the customer's choice of metal and style, so many of these were one offs from the day they were sold.

    So here's some of my rarities

    Waltham model 92 CPR, this railroad grade watch was sold through Eaton's stores in Canada.
    P1000994.JPG P1000049.JPG
    Illinois model 6 Bunn Special, 24j, if more is better lets throw more jewels at it.... part of a "horsepower" marketing war these things topped out at 26 jewels before sanity took over
    P1010480.JPG P1010482.JPG
    1893 Waltham 14K pendant watch, this thing was basically NOS when I bought it... how the hell does something last over 100 years with barely a scratch? And yes, it gets worn.
    P1000463.JPG P1000461.JPG

    Elgin combat diver's watch, only about 1200 of these were issued during the war with maybe another 2000 issued in the early fifties.

    The survival rate is low at best, this is from 1944

    P1010087.JPG
     
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  4. jimmyd13 Dec 16, 2018

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    In my research earlier this week, I saw the listing for that watch and the seller described it as a 26,5.
     
  5. Professor Dec 16, 2018

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    Is this the same as the BUSHIP Bureau of Shipping diver's watch?
    Has the same appearance near as I can tell, but perhaps made to a different specification?
     
  6. Screwbacks Dec 16, 2018

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    Bovet, 1st mono rattrapante 1940s

    IMG_20180823_155513.jpg
     
    Edited Dec 16, 2018
  7. tikkathree Dec 16, 2018

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    Thanks. The strap is a sanded ray strap made for me by Sandra Visser who operates through facebook.
     
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  8. Bill Sohne Bill @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 16, 2018

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    Hi

    they were first produced with the 26.5 , the last part of the run Omega changed it out to an original "30" thought not from the first run of 600.....

    but a killer at watch at 39 mm , i had one and traded it on in the 1990s.....


    Good Hunting

    bill
     
  9. jimmyd13 Dec 16, 2018

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    I bought one earlier in the week ... a speculative buy considering the dial but looking forward to seeing it running again.
     
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  10. Raymondo5508 Dec 16, 2018

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    Hi Bill,
    It had a 26.5 cal movement.
    Cheers Russell.
     
  11. Syrte MWR Tech Support Dept Dec 16, 2018

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    Do we vote at the end on what’s truly rare?
     
  12. jimmyd13 Dec 16, 2018

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    No, we simply never end .... The quest to find rarer and more obscure watches continue ad infinitum!
     
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  13. Fritz genuflects before the mighty quartzophobe Dec 16, 2018

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    One and the same. I didn't see the BuShips marking on the dial (black on black) until a week after I got the watch. I happened to check the time about noon when the sun was at its meanest and noticed some writing on the dial. As I didn't have my specs on I handed it over to my son and told him to play the sunlight off the dial and see if he could read it. It was a bit of a surprise when he read the Bureau of Ships marking off to me.
     
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  14. qboa Dec 16, 2018

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  15. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Dec 16, 2018

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    Thanks, a couple of more shots for your nice words..

    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
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  16. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Dec 16, 2018

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    This is the only example of this particular 18k Heuer (Valjoux 22) that I’ve ever seen. Rare condition too.

    8B3A467C-4780-4164-BD2F-62E0BBE40ED2.jpeg
     
  17. boat2dan Dec 16, 2018

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    Here's my Indy, had to settle for my hel end links those hl are impossible to source.
     
    IMG_3535.jpg
  18. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Dec 16, 2018

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    My God, what is the point of amassing an incredible collection if you’re not rubbing other people’s faces in it on the internet?
    Who are these watch-hermit psychopaths?
     
  19. Rman Dec 16, 2018

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    It’s been almost a year since I was fortunate enough to spot this and swoop in. Not sure there is another scarab with this dial in this condition out there. A rare specimen. 1B4D1F42-8AC2-41AD-B7A6-C94F40228EF6.jpeg
     
    Edited Dec 16, 2018
  20. Davidt Dec 16, 2018

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    Seamaster DeVilles aren't rare, in fact they're common as muck, but you don't see the Sigma dial configuration too often.

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