I am donning my industrial grade ear protectors as I post this. You’ve seen this watch before. I offered this watch for sale about 40 years ago, and thankfully, nobody took me up on it. I happened upon this 60s vintage, Gruen manual wind day/date in a dusty box. I’d forgotten all about it. Dull finish on the case, a crystal you could hardly see through. Ratty bracelet. I thought, “why not”? I took it to my shop and went through it, fitted a new crown, crystal, and an age appropriate gold filled expansion bracelet. I have worn it continually for about six weeks. After a minor regulation, I set it to the second by my iPad. That was about one month ago. Since then I have not reset it or forgotten to wind it. As of now, it is six seconds slow! It has not been more than 6 seconds slow or fast it the last month. “So what”, say you. On my timing machine, it varies from about +5 seconds per day in one position, to - 16 seconds per day in its worst position. Many of you with timing machines would reject a watch with a very average rate like this. But on the wrist? I find it hard to believe how accurate it is.
A full day's yard work requires a proper beater -- ETA 2824 powered ref. 9937 -- and a proper reward at day's end....
Wabi sabi diver. I'm learning to be appreciative of what I have and remembering that *good enough* is OK.