The Grail - Another Watch Thread - What's your grail?

[RKDinOKC]

I like these...



Probably because I also like this...

[Oracle]

Not the holy grail but the one on my wrist.. and as a data junkie and trying to be fit, I love this thing..

[wayne robson]

I found this interesting piece in the financial times September 2014.
thought it would interest most watch collectors.Very interesting to read.
Sorry about the photos from the old news paper.






We often use the term, they dont build them like they used to.
900 parts, 430 screws,wow.

[wayne robson]

Sorry the missing page.

[sc_rufctr]

[vash]

Originally Posted by Oracle

Not the holy grail but the one on my wrist.. and as a data junkie and trying to be fit, I love this thing..

Haha. At this point; the Felix 5x sapphire IS my grail watch.

I can’t see it happening with my current CFO. and my beater Casio simply won’t quit.

[Jims5543]

I posted this in another thread on here. Years ago I asked on here about a watch my grandfather purchased for me and gave to me for my HS graduation present. It was a 1971 Heuer Autavia Viceroy. He purchased this watch 13 years before I graduated and saved if for me. It cost $80 back then with a coupon off a Viceroy Cigarette pack.

Being a stupid 18 year old I trashed it in about 3 short years wearing it like a timex that tabs bought at a thrift store. Lesson learned never take a movement watch to a mall for repair.

Some of you pointed me to a forum to post on, I was trying to get the watch repaired or restored. All I found were people telling me it was hopeless and they would buy it from me for $50. I put it back away and forgot about it.

2 years ago my wife found a really good watch repair shop near Jupiter Island. (near Tigers florida home) The owner an older Italian gentleman knew the watch well. Sadly he had bad news for me.

Seems 20 year old me felt I could fix the watch, I took off a large piece of the watch, which went missing. He told me it would be too much to fix and impossible to find the parts.

I posted this info and a pic of the watch on another car forum where a member there knew the watches well. He gave me links to adds and to a forum / for sale board where the same watch was being sold. As well as a link to a company that sells part for the watch.

I ended up finding a guy in Belgium that was selling one just like mine and purchased it. Now I am trying to track down parts for the one my grandfather gave me in order to restore it. Ideally, if I could find a complete movement I would be set.

30+ years after I was given this watch I am able to wear one again, that is my holy grail. With my grandfather passing away in 2001, the watch means that much more to me. Even if I purchased another example, I am OK with that, I hope to one day have the OG one back on my wrist.

[sc_rufctr]

Thanks for the story Jim. I hope you get that watch fixed.

[rwrink]

Jim

Talk to Craig at Chronodeco.com. He knows the cal 12 movement well.
For more info, take a look at On The Dash.
OnTheDash Heuer Forum - Message Index

Great watch, great history.

Rob

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I posted this in another thread on here. Years ago I asked on here about a watch my grandfather purchased for me and gave to me for my HS graduation present. It was a 1971 Heuer Autavia Viceroy. He purchased this watch 13 years before I graduated and saved if for me. It cost $80 back then with a coupon off a Viceroy Cigarette pack....

Great story. Its why these marvellous miniature machines still hold our fascination and will continue to long after the technology de jour has been consigned to the draw of obsolete plastic.

[sc_rufctr]

Getting my first watch was a personal milestone for me.

When I was about 9 my father decided that I was mature & responsible enough to own a watch.
So he took me to a shop and the gentlemen that served us was a Jewish immigrant with a thick German accent. He was the owner of the shop.

Years later my father told me he was a holocaust survivor.

[aschen]

Lovely Heuer. Enjoy in good health. Do you know what movment is has? There werent all that many chronograph movements in these times. I am sure your original is fixable. It might be pricey but would be worth it for the sentimental value. Worst case is find a functional watch as a parts doner with the same mvmt, Find a good watchmaker and get her fixed I say. Leave it banged up as well resist the urge to do invasive cosmetic resto.


I am currently doing a full mech overhaul on the porsche design / Orfina chronograph my mom gave my dad in the late 70s. $800 for a major service of a watch that may not be worth much more than that, but sentiment trumps economics for it.

[sc_rufctr]

[Steve Carlton]

Wow- cool story! I wonder if his Sgt is still available for a big thank you.

[Paul K]

Decided my next watch will be one of these. I’ve had 2 Carreras in the past, and really like them.



I thought I wanted a Submariner or a Daytona, but was underwhelmed when I tried them on.

[wildthing]

I want a good quality mechanical watch that is not from one of those conglomerates like Richemont or LVMH... I'm not in the market right now though.

[Steve Carlton]

Put a leather strap on the "Tintin." Like it so much better than the stainless steel bracelet.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Put a leather strap on the "Tintin." Like it so much better than the stainless steel bracelet.

Wow!! That looks sharp. That strap really looks perfect with that watch.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[sc_rufctr]

[Steve Carlton]

^ that's a Grail watch for me!