Vintage watch help

[lendaddy]

I'm looking for a daily wear watch since my 1 year old threw my nice one away a few months ago

Anyway, I don't have the money right now to replace it but I was scanning eBay and notice that some pretty nice looking watches from the 30's, 40's & 50's go very cheap <$200

At that price I'm willing to take a risk but I'm wondering if these pre quartz watches are reliable for everyday wear.

I'm really shocked at how inexpensive some of these beautiful pieces are but if they are totally unreliable that would explain it. Any advice?

[Joeaksa]

Send me your address, will send you something to wear. It will be a copy of a good watch but will work for a long time...

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Send me your address, will send you something to wear. It will be a copy of a good watch but will work for a long time...

Very generous Joe, though I'm not sure I can accept it. Promise you'll take something for it and we'll go from there

[javadog]

I think that an old watch would not be a great idea for a "daily driver." Most aren't waterproof, most have easily damaged crystals and all of them will have been worked on by a bunch of different people of varying talent. A Rolex would likely be waterproof, if Rolex had serviced it, but the issue with the crystal would remain. They just get scratched too easily and they look crummy with scratches. In any event, $200 wouldn't buy an old Rolex.

Aside from Rolex, there isn't a watch out there that you could easily get factory service for, which means either a pain in the *ss getting work done (Omega, for instance) or you get to use an independent. I'm not going to say that independent watchmakers are all lousy, just that I've never found a good one. I have met enough that did a lousy job that I won't likely try another.

Finding parts for some of the lesser-known brands, or those that have been out of business for a long time, will likely be interesting. I once went down this road with an old gold watch my father owned for most of his life. Lot's of money spent, it never worked well and I couldn't tell you where the watch is today. That's how happy I was with the deal.

I have some old watches and would suggest you buy something newer, that has a vintage look, if that's what you are after. If cheap is the main goal, buy a new Seiko, or the equivalent.

Cheers,
JR

[lendaddy]

Thanks JR, good info. Interesting that you mention Omega as those were some that had me scratching my head as to value. Some of the Omegas from the 50's are just stunning, but now the low prices make sense.

[javadog]

I once waited the better part of 6 months to get a couple tiny pieces to retain the pins in a band of an Omega watch I own. I found out from the jeweler that that was normal for Omega in this country. The watch was all of 5 years old and still in production. Imagine what I would have gone through for a fifty-year old one. I do have a rare Omega that is worth some money, although it doesn't actually run at the moment. I suppose I'll send it back to the factory if I can. What a joy.

JR

[Joeaksa]

JR,

Did you ever get rid of that watch you were thinking of putting on Ebay?

Joe

[MRM]

Go to Timezone.com and TURF.com and you'll find a wealth of information and watches galore.

[javadog]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
JR,

Did you ever get rid of that watch you were thinking of putting on Ebay?

Joe

Joe,

I've been swamped with work and haven't gotten around to putting any of them on Ebay yet. If you still have an interest in the Heuer watch, let me know. I start a long term out-of-town project next week.

JR

[Wickd89]

Never had any trouble getting old watches fixed; even chronographs.

Old watch repair guys really know their stuff. Just do not go to a new jewelry, they are into production numbers not quality.

I have my grandfathers 1930's chrono (swiss), dad's 1960's Longine, etc, etc.. All easily maintained. Just have to wear it to avoid having the inerts from seizing (normal)...

[stomachmonkey]

My wifes cousin is a bona fide old world watchmaker.

Studied in switzerland for a number of years.

He builds them completely from scratch, makes his own gears, springs, everything.

He also does repairs on rare/antique stuff.

Good guy in his early 30's.

If anyone ever needs a trustworthy source for a repair let me know.

FWIW, his wife is a clock maker. Specializes in coocoo clocks.

Scott

[holtjv]

Go for it. I bought an old rolex in the mid 80s (winder) had it restored for the astronomical fee of $25.00, and it's been bulletproof. I think I paid $185.00 for it. Jack

[alf]

Go for it. You could find less popular old Swiss brands like GP, Tissot, Movado etc for that price. Might even get a decent Omega for that price.

Key is getting one that is already serviced and in good working order. Service will run about $100. I wear old vintage watches most of the time. Got a 50s Omega Chronograph on now.

[lendaddy]

Hmm, conflicting reports. I guess I'm not out much if it doesn't work out. Also, I would love to mess with the movement if it died.

[javadog]

lendaddy,

I guess what it boils down to would be how picky you are about your watches. I am probably more anal about mine than some of the people on this thread. In fact, you could even call me a watch geek.

I can't stand to wear a watch with a badly scratched case or crystal, or one that keeps time poorly, as every time I'd look at it, I'd get pissed. I also don't like to worry about water resistance, as mine get wet from time to time. Therefore, I spend a little more money to maintain mine, and have learned the hard way that you get what you pay for.

I think the days of buying a $200 Rolex are long gone. I haven't seen many under a grand lately, and those are pretty rough, at least by my standards.

As you said, a couple hundred bucks lost wouldn't be the end of the world. Just be happy with what you get if you buy one. You don't want to buy a $200 watch and then sink a bunch of money into it to make it better/shinier/more accurate.

JR

[CurtEgerer]

Len - check this out:

http://www.pmwf.com/main.htm

(Poor Man's Watch Forum )

LOT's of cool stuff in your price range.

[lendaddy]

Thank guys, lots to look at.

[scottmandue]

Len,

I have got a lot of good advice from PMWF and bought a bunch of stuff off their for sale board. They are sort of the PP of the watch geeks.

Having said that you can get a lot of watch new for $200 in a Seiko or Citizen auto. You might check overstock.com for starters, most of my watches are in the under $200 range, here are a few.







Luis g.
I sent you an email, this is the watch I want to get serviced. It runs okay but is not very accurate. If you know of a good service shop where I could get it cleaned, lubed, and adjusted please let me know. Thanks

[CurtEgerer]

Nice collection Scott - those Seiko Divers are excellent automatic watches for the money!!

[stuartj]

Originally posted by lendaddy

Anyway, I don't have the money right now to replace it but I was scanning eBay and notice that some pretty nice looking watches from the 30's, 40's & 50's go very cheap <$200

At that price I'm willing to take a risk but I'm wondering if these pre quartz watches are reliable for everyday wear.

I'm really shocked at how inexpensive some of these beautiful pieces are but if they are totally unreliable that would explain it. Any advice?

Len- The seiko auto divers are fanatastic, sub two hundred bucks. What rolex used to be. A robust waterproof beater.

Vintage watches are wonderful. I own two Omega Seamasters , one from auto 1951 a Cal. 501, 20 jewel full rotor, one manual from the early 60s. I also have 1950 Cal 88 IWC. The qulaity of the "everyday" watches is phenomanal. Thats just how they made them then. You pay many thousands for equivalent watches today. A refurbed Seamaster or Constellation with either a manual or auto caliber will serve you very well.

Be careful on ebay with old stuff. I'd head to Timezone.