Club Obi Wan

The wife was hitting me up for Christmas gift ideas and since I’ve been needing a new watch, I decided to poke around to see what kind of vintage style watches that would be in the “Indy” style of fashion. I know from other threads that the theory is that if Indy wore a watch he might use a WWI era trench style watch given the military experience he was shown to have in YIJ series. Anyways, I ran across this:
http://www.signals.com/signals/Jewelry_ ... i-1FB.html
which seems kind of basic until you compare it to these actual period correct pieces and see that they are in fact quite similar:
http://www.antiquewatchcouk.com/militar ... atches.htm
especially this one:
http://www.antiquewatchcouk.com/watches ... orgel3.htm

Anyways, it’s between this and a Stauer ’33 Graves model.

Feedback?

I happen to carry a 21 jewel Hamilton 1904 Pocket watch.It keeps better time than any modern watch I have. Wouldnt trade it for the world ! I hope you get a vintage watch, you wont be dissapointed !

Vintage for me......but then I'm as strange as Rip on that point.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Do we have to "watch" this thread, Michaelson?

I enjoy carrying a vintage Waltham or Illinios pocketwatch on the days the wristwatch stays at home.

I know I do. Good working vintage timepieces are another one of my passions, as you well know.

Heck, even my rotation of wrist watches date prior to 1952.....

Regards! Michaelson

Expensive hobby though. I was thinking about looking for a vintage wristwatch but woulnt know where to begin........

Oh REALLLYyyyyy......

Regards! Michaelson

Oh, great. NOW you got him started. Now we'll NEVER get Michaelson to stop ticking about the subject!

Regards! Michaelson

Getting back to the watch in question, it's a nice looking piece, and a mechanical self winder to boot, but see if you can find out if it's a Swiss or Chinese movement.

From what I've read, the Swiss movements are prime, but the Chinese versions pure junk. Be careful. You may have a nice looking paperweight to wear on your arm if you don't do your homework.

Regards! Michaelson

Yeah, that's my only reluctance about the repro from the Signals website - not a lot of info to know what I'd be getting. That's why I'm considering the Stauer-
http://www.stauer.com/itemd.asp?ItemNo=13372&CatID=5
Doesn't look exactly like the trench watch, but still has a nice old world look to it and seems a little higher quality for only $20 buck more...
Anyways, it's in my wife's hands now - I mentioned both ideas so we'll see which route she goes...

I have read mixed reviews of the Stauer's as well, but as you say, it's not your call now.

If you want new but retro, you might enjoy looking at what the current 'Hamilton' watch co. is offering these days. At least their movements are Swiss....

http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/webapp/en- ... ?c=ac&y=39

Regards! Michaelson

What if you want an "old" Hamilton ? We need a "Watch" section. Maybe we will see Indy use a watch in Indy IV, then we could justify a "vintage watch" section on our glorious forum.....

I happen to wear a 1936 Gruen Curvex wrist watch Now where in the world did the darn thing come from I'll think of somewhere along the line. Begins with and M ah...Mick,Matt ..naw that's not it, darn!!

GregrobberGreg's got a great 1950's wristwatch. He needs to post a pic of it. As a matter of fact he got his from the same source as mine.

See............ We need a watch section.

Curator Rick wrote:I happen to wear a 1936 Gruen Curvex wrist watch Now where in the world did the darn thing come from I'll think of somewhere along the line. Begins with and M ah...Mick,Matt ..naw that's not it, darn!!

George. That's it......George.... 8-[

Regard! Michaelson

Michaelson, what would you recomend for a wrist watch, Hamilton would be choice, I am kind of partial to that brand . Im sure there are diffrences in each watch, I have been parusing EBay and am not sure what would be a good choice ? No hurry on your answer, like I said, I am just looking.

All you need to get a nice vintage watch is eBay, Michaelson and patience! With his help I managed to snag a 1920s Elgin pocket watch for around $25 that was well worth plenty more. You just need to figure out exactly what you want and sit patiently watching auctions.

Kind regards,
Indy

Hamilton is great, but prepare for sticker shock. They're the best mechanical wristie's out there, and collectors fight tooth and nail to get the good models, and I mean BIG BIG bucks. Try 4 figures for the higher jeweled models. I ain't kidding either!

I'm partial to Elgins, and my rotation watches are either a 21j 1951 Lord Elgin, or a 1947 17j Elgin Deluxe. The LE's can cost a fair amount too (though I lucked out and found mine for a song on eBay, then had it overhauled), the 17j versions are fairly inexpensive, as they made so many of them.

Bulova's are always good if pre-1959 or so. Rock solid, lots of them, and parts available everywhere.

Gruens are ALWAYS great watches, and a bit pricey too. Like Hamiltons.

Those are my personal favorites, but there are a lot to choose from. It's the availability of parts that one must keep in mind should you ever need service. For example, if you find a good Elgin, they have parts everywhere.

My eBay acquired Lord Elgin required the replacement of the entire balance assembly, as some boneheaded watch maker from the distant past got his tweezers tangled up in the balance/hairspring, and totally buggered it up. That's why I got the watch for next to nothing. MY watchmaker had a drawer full of Elgin parts movements, and installed a NOS balance in my watch, making it as good as brand new!

So, think about servicability vs rariety, especially if you're planning on using the watch on a regular basis.

To add to what Indy said, or agree, patience is the key. Like I said, my LE cost me only a little more than $20 plus shipping. They usually sell in any kind of condition for well over $100+, so they're out there, and can be found for little money if you're patient and watch the auctions.

Regards! Michaelson

Yeah, I was planning on an "every day" wrist watch. I will take you advice and do A LOT of searching.
Thanks !

I have a deco Bulova wristwatch that belonged to my grandfather. It's a fantastic watch. Let's see... yep, the old Waltham is in my vest pocket today.

I had always wanted a pocket watch and wished there was a family one. Then one day out of the blue my grandmother produced a civil war era silver pocket watch! The darn thing actually started ticking after I wound it! Then the hands got stuck at a certain point, but one standard maintenance/cleaning with a watch/clock guy that my jewelers recommended and it works beautifully! I'm a little paranoid about regular use though... Maybe once I get the actual indy gear, I can look at a nice vintage wristwatch. Good luck finding one!

Excelsior!
Riothamus

Civil War era? Is it a keywind/keyset movement?

Regards! Michaelson

Sure is Michaelson! You have to open the back to do both. The time set hole is in the middle and the wind hole is offset. I can send you some pics later this weekend if you're interested.

Excelsior!
Riothamus

This is my Indy wrist watch. A 1940's Omega. If Bond has an Omega so can Indy!

Now THAT is a great watch!!

You're fortunate to own a period Omega!!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

riothamus wrote:Sure is Michaelson! You have to open the back to do both. The time set hole is in the middle and the wind hole is offset. I can send you some pics later this weekend if you're interested.

Excelsior!
Riothamus

I'd love to see it.

Rear set as well speaks of it being a Swiss movement, which was QUITE popular with troops on BOTH sides of the conflict. A U.S. made watch set in the front, and wound in the back.

American watch companies were just getting their feet wet when it came to production line thinking, and most folks couldn't afford what the U. S. individual watch makers were producing, so the 'common man' turned to the Swiss makers who were cranking out THOUSANDS of export movements to be recased in the U. S. during the War.

If I were a betting man, and without even seeing your watch, I'd bet it's a 3 bar Swiss movement, but the watch was actually sourced from a British cottage watch maker and cased in a British hallmarked case, then sold in the U. S. in the export market. Standard Practice for the time period.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Nice watch VP !

Ok, so here's what I ended up with - the Stauer 1933 Graves model - perhaps a little dressy for a field watch, but period correct and very classy vintage IMHO...

I carry an Elgin rose gold 1891 21 Jewel pocket watch.

I'm studying to be a Chiropractor, and you can't really wear a wrist watch when you're adjusting people (it gets in the way and you end up pinching your skin all the time).

So, when I have a vest on, guess where it goes! When I wear jeans, it goes in the watch pocket for which it was designed for.

Keeps perfect time!

When I DO wear a wrist watch, it's my 1945 Hamilton pilots watch, in which they were given to pilots at the end of the war as a commemoration. The hands even glow in the dark (from the radium that was used).

Sitting Rabbit wrote:I carry an Elgin rose gold 1891 21 Jewel pocket watch.

I'm studying to be a Chiropractor, and you can't really wear a wrist watch when you're adjusting people (it gets in the way and you end up pinching your skin all the time).

So, when I have a vest on, guess where it goes! When I wear jeans, it goes in the watch pocket for which it was designed for.

Keeps perfect time!

When I DO wear a wrist watch, it's my 1945 Hamilton pilots watch, in which they were given to pilots at the end of the war as a commemoration. The hands even glow in the dark (from the radium that was used).

Wow... that is so cool.

I have an Omega Speedmaster because I'm also a fan of the Apollo era of space exploration- I like winding a watch... it's not vintage though... a pocket watch sounds so stylish.

Is it expensive when you take it in for a service?

Ok, so here's what I ended up with - the Stauer 1933 Graves model - perhaps a little dressy for a field watch, but period correct and very classy vintage IMHO...

WOW... It's beautiful!

It's hard to find old watch makers to work on it anymore. Parts are hard to find. I waited a year for a guy to get back to me just to fix my stem. It still isn't right, and I'm not sure where to take it to get a new stem. It works, but it's not "right", if you know what I mean.

I love my pocket watch, and I wouldn't trade it. Someday, I'd love to carry a repeater.

You should join the NAWCC, my friend. I have NO problems getting my watches worked on, and I have examples that I carry that go back to 1883 (one a keywind/keyset!) and up in age and jewel count. I try and rotate them all at one time or another in my daily wear over the year.

Considering the watches you've mentioned, only the Hamilton wristie is getting a bit difficult to find parts for....but your Elgin? Your grandkids will be carrying it before parts become an issue.

Regards! Michaelson