Crap, think I killed my watch!

masraum · 06:02 PM

I've got a nice Swiss automatic watch, Glycine Airman, or at least I did. The screw down crown apparently came unscrewed, right before I went into the water at the beach, so salt water. Theres a bunch of rust inside the watch now. The water almost instantly was yellow with rust. I guess the metal is a high carbon steel. Tomorrow morning I'm going to express it to a factory service center and cross my fingers.

I am very upset.

Oh well its only an item that can be replaced. But crud

5String43 · 08-22-2011, 06:03 PM

Factory service center is the right move - but my experience is limited to a couple of Omegas.

BeyGon · 08-22-2011, 06:33 PM

Yes, I feel your pain. Good luck.

John Rogers · 08-22-2011, 06:40 PM

If you want a "racing watch"., I have a Heuer Monaco for sale that was worn by an old vintage race car driver when he won a bunch of races and championships.....

HHI944 · 08-22-2011, 07:58 PM

Ohhh man, no experience with having em repaired, but I had a vintage airman for a while and it was an awesome watch.

Jrboulder · 08-22-2011, 11:01 PM

If it is a newer one it should have an ETA movement. Those are usually pretty inexpensive compared to a new watch. I have a mechanical Hamilton Khaki from 25 years ago that had never been serviced and then one day the retainer for the crown broke so I just bought a new movement for $105 instead of a $190 service plus fixing what broke.

Jackson
Hamilton mechanical Khaki 33mm (c. 1987ish)
Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm
Hamilton 992b

masraum · 08-23-2011, 05:38 AM

It is 7 years old and has an eta movement.

masraum · 08-23-2011, 11:45 AM

Well, I called the factory service today. They had to call the factory to get a price on the movement. Retail on the movement was $1200, but the guy was willing to cut me a really good discount.

My mom bought me the other watch as a birthday present several years ago and had insisted on getting me a new one instead. I think I'll keep the dead one and get it fixed for my son in a few years.

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-23-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Well, I called the factory service today. They had to call the factory to get a price on the movement. Retail on the movement was $1200, but the guy was willing to cut me a really good discount.

I'm sure, since you probably can get a new Glycine Airman for about 10% more (depending on the model) and other watches with the same movement for under $1k.

Normy · 08-23-2011, 06:10 PM

The most expensive watch I own is actually a $250 fake Rolex from Hong Kong. It has a Casio movement, and a real gold band, though none of it is actually real Rolex. It fooled a jeweler at Mayor Jewelers at the Fort Lauderdale galleria last spring however- they were going to accept the watch for repair, and the lady at the counter stated that they were going to insure the watch for $15,000! I laughed, and stopped the whole thing before it got ugly. For her....!

The second most expensive, and probably the best watch I have ever owned is a Swatch "skin" that I purchased in June of 2000 at a mall in Tempere, Finland.

Yeah, I just like going to malls in weird places around the world, so I went there just to buy this timepiece.

NOT! In any case, I still have and wear this watch, and the first battery lasted 8 years. I'm on my second battery now- I sure hope it lasts 8 years; I'd hate to have to jumpseat back there and complain about poor battery life to people who don't have a clue what I'm saying....

The best watch in the world are cheap disposable digital watches from Wal-Mart or Target. They are as accurate as Rolex, but if you break them, you throw them away and buy another one. For $10-

N!

Jrboulder · 08-23-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Normy

The best watch in the world are cheap disposable digital watches from Wal-Mart or Target. They are as accurate as Rolex, but if you break them, you throw them away and buy another one. For $10-

N!

They are many many times as accurate as a Rolex or any other certified chronometer.

Jackson

ErVikingo · 08-24-2011, 06:56 AM

Same as Porsche's vs. Toyota's yet we drive Porsche's.

MattKellett · MattKellett's Garage

I'd find out from the watch service center what eta movement it uses, and then buy one from an online retailer, then take it all to your local watchmaker and have him install it.

You'd be surprised how affordable the most eta movements are and I'm going to take a guess and say the movement is certainly going to be less than $200.

masraum · 08-24-2011, 09:57 AM

Got the new watch...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Oh, I love those watches. But my eyes are failing and I can't read those without glasses anymore.

masraum · 08-24-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

I'd find out from the watch service center what eta movement it uses, and then buy one from an online retailer, then take it all to your local watchmaker and have him install it.

You'd be surprised how affordable the most eta movements are and I'm going to take a guess and say the movement is certainly going to be less than $200.

Unlikely that it would be that cheap. Its a very unusual 24 hour only movement. The guy implied that he'd give it to me for about $500 - 600.

masraum · 08-24-2011, 10:14 AM

Not the actual old one, but what it looked like.

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-24-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Unlikely that it would be that cheap. Its a very unusual 24 hour only movement. The guy implied that he'd give it to me for about $500 - 600.

$240 at ofrei.com.

DARISC · 08-24-2011, 10:53 AM

I have two 10 year old aviator style Swiss automatics, a 50mm (huge, but oh so easily read) that cost $650 and a 38mm, all titanium, including strap, that cost &250.

Neither are COSC certified chronometers.

The 50mm, 1.5 sec/day, the 38mm, well within COSC specs.

Both watches use the exact same ETA movements.

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-24-2011, 11:03 AM

I just stick with my Seiko Orange Monster or my Citizen Promaster Titanium. Around $200 and take a beating.