My Dad's Watch.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by DasBoot

Not anymore, if the factory replaced the movement. If it is a 321, I hope he received the old movement back. A 321 mov't is $$$, working or not.

Nope, when I got the watch back and the old movement wasn't in with it, I asked about that. The watch maker on site told me that the movement was completely refurbished not replaced.
I wasn't familiar with how the watch operated, so I was a little tentative on winding it fully. I took it back and the watch maker on site showed me some things about the watch and he kept it for a few days to make sure that it was OK.
When I asked about the quoted price vs what I had to pay, he said it was due to the extra labor involved in refurbishing the movement.
I am not going to open it up to look!

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by billybek

I received the quote just after post #25, and it wasn't too bad!
$1200. Canadian dollars includes new movement...

I'd open it up just to be sure. Wanna make sure they didn't replace your "S" motor with a "T"...

[billybek]

That is what the movement looked like when I took it in anyway!
Edit: It still has a 45 or 48 hour wind down time that the spec book on the watch calls for. I don't know if that is significant or not...
Now where is that (sorta) gulf blue car???

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by billybek

That is what the movement looked like when I took it in anyway!
Edit: It still has a 45 or 48 hour wind down time that the spec book on the watch calls for. I don't know if that is significant or not...
Now where is that (sorta) gulf blue car???

Here's an 861 mov't for comparison. They all look alike...



It would be interesting to know if your watch has the 321 mov't and there is also a date-code stamped inside the back cover.

You wanna see some idiot's idea of "Gulf blue"? Here it is :

[billybek]

When I get the watch back, I will definitely have a look inside.
I am going to go with dad to the shop where it was sent from to get the bracelet sized.
Maybe I can ask them to open it up to get the date code for insurance purposes?

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by billybek

Maybe I can ask them to open it up to get the date code for insurance purposes?

Well, to some people it's "just a watch", but I like to know what I have. If you found a 1969 Porsche in a barn, how long would you be able to resist opening the hood to check the numbers? WIS's* like me get just as excited about the numbers...


* WIS - Watch Idiot Savant

[billybek]

I have just received the best "re-gift" that a guy could hope for!
A bit of back ground first. My dad had a small accident this past summer and the watch was damaged by what was his drivers side mirror coming through his open window and hitting him in the face ( he scored some stitches in the deal) and also striking the watch crystal, breaking it. I returned it to have the crystal replaced and after it was returned, I noticed that dad wasn't wearing it anymore.
I was a bit disappointed, but I think that he was too nervous to wear it after it was returned.
Anyway, as a Christmas present, it was given to me. I will wear it proudly for as long as I can.
Thanks dad!

[stogie25]

Excellent. Wear it in good health. One of the vintage Omega's that I wear often is a 1970 Speedmaster MKII. It is a timeless design. I get comments on it a lot.

[Cornpanzer]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I've enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Probably because it really isn't about just another expensive watch...

But it is totally about an expensive watch that was purchased with the right intentions and attitude and because of that has survived 40+ years to be given as a family heirloom.

Whenever a watch thread comes up, we hear the "my Timex tells better time" comments, which is nothing more than reverse snobbery...and its especially disingenuous coming from people who drive Porsches, BMW's and Bullit Mustangs. How many 40 year old Timex's were given as gifts to sons by thier fathers or fathers by thier sons today?

I have loved this story too. I dont have a son of my own, but I have nephews that mean a lot to me and when I kick off, they will get my watches...both of which are 40 years old already. They will prbably end up giving them to thier sons and the thought of that makes me happy.

Billy, thanks for sharing! Its a great watch and a great story.

[Sapporo Guy]

40 years old is about the right time to get an heirloom

[Cornpanzer]

The watches are 40, not the nephews. They have a long time to wait if I have anything to say about it!

[billybek]

Just for those that were keeping score on the movement refurbishment or replacement, today I was in to get the bracelet re-sized and had the watchmaker on site open up the watch for the serial numbers and the date of production and found it was indeed the caliber 321 movement still ticking away inside the case. Production date was 1967, movement serial # 25007XXX,
case back reference # 14XXXX-67.
Thanks for your comments. It is a simple pleasure to wear this watch and to not have to take out my cell phone to check what time it is....
All the best to you in the new decade!

[m21sniper]

Dad's watch?

[billybek]

I had to pull that movie from the archives to check that scene out again!
Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead.

[m21sniper]

Yep, an absolute classic!

"No way your dad was gonna let those filthy stinkin' slopes get their grubby little hands on this watch. It's your birthright. So he hid it in the one place you can hide something in captivity...."



PS: Do NOT do an unfiltered google image search for the term "Dads watch" unless you like gay porn. Ugh....

[billybek]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Yep, an absolute classic!

PS: Do NOT do an unfiltered google image search for the term "Dads watch" unless you like gay porn. Ugh....

Ewww.
It is good to know what not to look for!

[billybek]

A little update on the Speedy Pro.

I had knocked a pusher off the watch while wearing at work and took it back to have it repaired and to check the movement as it was losing time.
They opened it up at the shop to have a look and noted that there seemed to be too much moisture within the case and the seals were maybe somewhat questionable. They had suggested sending it back to Omega to have it looked at.
Here is where the story gets interesting.....
The Omega facility in Montreal said they couldn't fix it and wanted to send it to Switzerland to have it examined and would I spring for the $150 secure courier costs to send it. So the watch goes back to Switzerland.
The quote comes back about 6 weeks later that the case is extremely corroded and will not seal and if the repairs are done to the movement, they couldn't warranty the repair if the case isn't replaced!
When I took the watch to these people to have it refurbished for my Dad, the owner/manager assured me it was going back to Omega for the work to be performed. In reality it went to an "authorized" repair facility (pm me if you want to know who) but it wasn't Omega.
Anyway I ended up spending about the same amount of money having the watch repaired as I did to have it refurbished in the first place.
I received the parts back from them including the old case, crystal, dust cap, hands (need to really look at the ones that have been installed) and some very small gears and axles.
There are two things that really kind of piss me off about this. One is that I don't think that I would have had to do another significant repair if the watch had gone back to Omega in the first place.
The second is that except for the movement and the face, this isn't the watch that my Dad wore on his wrist everyday for 30 years.
Still an nice watch, but it doesn't seem the same.
If you are local to me and would like to know the name of the jeweler that I was dealing with so you could avoid this type of service/treatment PM me.

[Chocaholic]

Bill,

Don't let this tarnish the reality of what you've done. It's still your dad's watch. When your dad puts on new shoes, he's still your dad, right? The watch on your wrist will serve as a constant reminder and connection with your father. Doesn't matter if it has some new parts, or how they got there. It's a "symbol" of something that's part of who you are. That's what counts here. Take great care of it, wear it for a lifetime and then pass it to your son. Make sure he knows its history and let him know that it's okay to restore it...even if it requires new parts.

Congratulations on what is still a very good series of events.

[pavulon]

can you post some detailed images of the original case?

[billybek]

Originally Posted by pavulon

can you post some detailed images of the original case?

Sure, I will take some photos with my wife's camera during the week when I get more time.