The watch thread: pocket, wrist, sporty, showy? You name it!

Today was Oris Day, but going into the kitchen, I was trying to carry too much and dropped the watch on the tiled floor. It kept going, but where was the second hand from the subsidiary dial? Answer, rattling around the face. So, I pedalled down the hill to the factory (yes, really). Now previously the door into Oris led to a vestibule where there was a phone, so that you could ring for attention, but to my surprise, I found this:


Really nicely set up - that opening led through to a coffee machine. The guy said, almost apologetically, that a service would cost CHF300. I pointed out that a service on the Rolex GMT-Master would cost more than three times that. Nevertheless, he said that, if all the work came to more than CHF550, they would ring me. Nice watches at a nice price.

https://www.baselland-tourismus.ch/poi/erlebniswelt-oris-hoelstein

 

"The guy said, almost apologetically, that a service would cost CHF300..."

He looks a bit like a bear?!

Well done Bazza for taking up your hobby as a job, i've been reading Longitude by Dava Sobel this week, watched the TV series a years ago.
Remarkable what John Harrison achieved.

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/harrisons-clocks-longitude-problem




Don't know if you've seen the movements photographed by Guido Mocafico






https://www.guidomocafico.com/work/movement/

 

^ Now that's the kind of thing we should be judging mechanical watches on and against. Lovely.

 

Innocent bystander. Perhaps also a confirmation that prices are bearable.

 

... ensures you didn't Grizzle..?

 

We had to study the history of time keeping and the marine chronometer in the search Longitude and then give an essay on it.
In March we are of to the the Royal Museum at Greenwich for a behind the scenes look at his timepieces which should be really interesting

 

Although I understand that virtually nothing that Harrison did was passed on into everyday watch- and clockmaking. But they are fascinating things to look at, especially H1 with its spring-loaded oscillating bars (Harrison's equivalent of a pendulum).

 

That sounds great! It's a 30 min walk away from me and you've reminded me that have interesting stuff like this. I've not popped in for a good while so will make sure to visit soon.

 

According to the book, clock maker Jeremy Thacker who developed a clock ensconced in a vacuum chamber coined the term chronometer...in 1714

"In a word i am satisfied that my reader begins to think that the Phonometers, Pyrometers, Selenometers, Heliometers, and all the meters are not worthy to be compared to my Chronometer."

Harrison was a pioneer of precision engineering a machine that changed our world, a contemporary of Newton, Halley etc, who were also looking to solve the issue through astronomical observations. It gives some scale to Harrison's accomplishment.

That little machine on your wrist isn't just a bauble, but the relation of a machine that changed history.

This is interesting book for those interested in engineering.

 

Sounds like he was the polar opposite

 

Guys, I'm looking for ladies skeleton quartz watch (if there's such a thing) under £50 if possible.

Any pointers appreciated.

 

The guy in question:

https://img.chmedia.ch/2022/05/30/0....jpeg?width=560&fit=crop&quality=75&auto=webp

As you can see, only a slight fur, so clearly an Ursa Minor in his starring role.

 

Took me a minute..

 

I have this Tudor gold watch dating from 1964 which was awarded to my Grandad on his retirement. It’s working OK and was worn daily up till 28 years ago when it became mine. I don’t know if it has ever been serviced. I only wear it occasionally but I want to make sure it keeps going.
Should I get it serviced, how much would I expect to pay. Should I only take it to an authorised dealer eg Goldsmiths?
Thanks for any info.

Tudor watch by Ian Matthews, on Flickr

 

The little machine on my wrist for the past couple of years has been mostly my Mido Ocean Star Diver 600. It’s a bit dark to take a photo in customary style on this thread so I’ll point to this link in the meantime https://www.wristwatchreview.com/mido-ocean-star-diver-600-review/?utm_content=cmp-true

I have continued to look at all sorts since then and mates have various watches but I’m constantly happy with this and my Christopher Ward C9 SH21 spends most of the time in the watch winder.

My question for Bazza or others here if I may is whether a specialist would be able to adjust the Mido to run slightly faster which is my preference? It’s about -2 daily and thought I read at one point that with its silicon hairspring couldn’t be regulated the way some mechanicals can.

 

Hi Paul being its just -2 I really wouldn't bother
There are 2 screws on the balance wheel which are used to adjust the time keeping
Sometime to try is if you don't wear your watch when you sleeping try leaving with the crown pointing up over
night as that should speed the watch up a little , give it a go and let me know how you get on

 

I believe Goldsmiths for vintage 3 hander can be up to £450 some other places around £300 , where are you based ?

 

Bazza is the resident expert here but I normally don't have my vintage watches serviced unless they have a problem e.g. not keeping time and you intend to wear it. It's expensive and finding a reliable watch tech is often difficult. I've had watches messed up before e.g. watch dying shortly after 'service' (but was running before service) and cosmetically damaged.

'Experts' will tell you a watch should be serviced regularly e.g. every 5 years. My own view is, it all depends and I would only do it when it is not running properly.

 

Very kind Bazza and thanks , I’ll try it and monitor

 

Thanks. I am SE of London.