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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: Vyr1s on Thu, 13 September 2012, 18:16:31

Title: Pocket Watches
Post by: Vyr1s on Thu, 13 September 2012, 18:16:31
No wrist watches here, them be for the working man!

So my GF got me a watch about a year ago, and I love it.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

Since then, I have also inherited my great grandfathers watch (he passed ages ago).
As he was in the navy, the watch was very damaged.
[attach=4][attach=5]

I just got it back from being restored (or repaired with authentic old parts) and thought I would share!
[attach=6][attach=7][attach=8][attach=9]

We tracked down the serial and the watch is from ~1922
It's actually gold, but the photos make it look silver with the red backdrop.

POST EM IF YOU GOT EM :P
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Calade on Sat, 15 September 2012, 07:21:46
Nice! I've been thinking of getting one myself sometime, but I kind of don't like carrying a lot of stuff in my pockets. I also like to get the best there is, and when it comes to watches, that does not come cheap. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: 1stGenRex on Sat, 15 September 2012, 07:36:30
Pocket watches are the equivalent to a Fedora. People think they look cool, but they certainly don't dress appropriately for the accessory. IMO, if you're going to reach into your pocket to pull something out and check the time, it may as well be your cell phone.

I'm very into watches. Mechanical watches mostly, but of the wrist watch variety. I've worn a watch almost every day since the age of 12 (28 now). Pocket watches went the way of the dodo bird, because wrist watches were just more convenient, and made more sense. If you're wearing a 3 piece suit, and you keep the pocket watch in your vest pocket, COOL!
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Malphas on Sat, 15 September 2012, 17:04:40
Pocket watches are the equivalent to a Fedora. People think they look cool, but they certainly don't dress appropriately for the accessory. IMO, if you're going to reach into your pocket to pull something out and check the time, it may as well be your cell phone.

Exactly what I thought when I saw the thread title. Don't get me wrong, pocket watches and mechanical watches in general are really cool, and a nice thing to own and collect, but if you were to actually carry one around with you to use to tell the time then it reeks of attention-seeking and trying too hard, in my opinion.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Lord de Seis on Sun, 16 September 2012, 04:00:57
i'm into pocket watches and titanium, but there are no pocket watches made in titanium ;-;
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Elrick on Sun, 16 September 2012, 05:21:31
Pocket watches went the way of the dodo bird, because wrist watches were just more convenient, and made more sense. If you're wearing a 3 piece suit, and you keep the pocket watch in your vest pocket, COOL!

You need to wear a vest and/or coat that has that specific pocket to hold that type of Watch.  Hence it was suitable to wear it in Cooler climes but as the World is slowly becoming warmer and heating is freely available everywhere you go, the Pocket watch just disappeared.  Plus the wrist watch took over.

I liked them due to their huge size, easy to read and totally functional.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: 1stGenRex on Sun, 16 September 2012, 05:36:32
They're cool pieces, and some people even convert pocket watches into wrist watches for some pretty cool results

(http://www.pacifichrono.com/images/R16_800.jpg)

but not something that makes much sense to carry around anymore. Vintage pocket watches tend to be a lot more delicate than modern, mechanical wrist watches, because most modern wrist watches have methods of shock absorption built in that vintage pocket watches did not.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Elrick on Sun, 16 September 2012, 05:52:05
Vintage pocket watches tend to be a lot more delicate than modern, mechanical wrist watches, because most modern wrist watches have methods of shock absorption built in that vintage pocket watches did not.

I saw this watch selling on Ebay, but chickened out.  Simply because it wasn't totally sealed against water.  It has no protection from moisture since the earlier watches weren't made to go under water at all.

But it is quite Sexy to look at.  Big, Large and Heavy doesn't get any better than that.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: ra7c7er on Sun, 16 September 2012, 21:51:21
I've always been a fan of pocket watches and have a couple cheaper ones. I always hit up flea markets and estate sales and pick up old ones to resell to a local dealer/repair guy. I'm just waiting for the one that strikes me enough to get fixed and keep.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Rumudiez on Mon, 17 September 2012, 02:00:33
I got my first pocket watch last year and it's pretty boss. It's a Danbury and it's not keeping time accurately anymore (loses 2 minutes per day), but I'm looking at getting another one!

I do agree that they don't work with every style, but I like to wear it when it appropriate. :)
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: 1stGenRex on Mon, 17 September 2012, 05:40:14
You shouldn't need to get another one (that is, unless you want one), taking it to a local watchmaker might be a cheaper route.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Vyr1s on Thu, 27 September 2012, 22:23:03
Yeah they don't always work but I rather enjoy it.

Alternatively jeans, have this little pocket in the pocket, tentatively a watch pocket ;) so I'd say it works!
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Will@Drop on Thu, 27 September 2012, 23:22:35
It's kind of a shame that watchmaking is more commercialized than it used to be. I'll all for business development but at the same time there's something to be said for having Mr. Péclard in Geneva custom make a pocket watch to your individual specifications. 

Craftsman ship is what it's all about.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: 1stGenRex on Wed, 03 October 2012, 14:51:55
It's kind of a shame that watchmaking is more commercialized than it used to be. I'll all for business development but at the same time there's something to be said for having Mr. Péclard in Geneva custom make a pocket watch to your individual specifications. 

Craftsman ship is what it's all about.

There are still a few out there that are all about craftsmanship, but you'll definitely pay out the nose for it.
Title: .
Post by: esoomenona on Wed, 03 October 2012, 15:21:21
.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: dorkvader on Fri, 05 October 2012, 00:40:11
I have been after a molnija (Preferably a kristall) for some time now. I just don't ever see any I like online.

I had a pocked watch, decent movement, cheap-as-hell chinese case. I gave it to a friend who is now EDC'ing it.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Findecanor on Fri, 05 October 2012, 14:54:07
Bah. There is a simple reason why I have a watch on my wrist, and that is because it is easy to look at the time. A real man has a real watch, not (just) a cell phone.

When I am looking for a watch, I want one that is both functional and good-looking, but (as with gamer keyboards), that is hard to find. My last watch was both analog and digital, but the only such watches that I can find these days are "sports watches" that look like crap. No fake carbon fibre on my wrist, thank you!
Some more expensive watches have more functions, but they are not only expensive but also big and heavy. I did find a Tissot model in a catalogue, and it should have cost about 400 €, but it turned out that it was discontinued (hard to find), and that it was discontinued because it was not waterproof (gah!).
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Viz on Sun, 07 October 2012, 09:00:56
Holy... That reminds me that I found an old (1800-1900's) pocket watch at our vacation place.
Hmm. What to do?
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: NikoGasm on Mon, 08 October 2012, 17:01:26
My father bought this incredible pocket watch/chain combo from Guam when I was just a baby. He wanted to have something to pass down, starting with me. Unfortunately I don't have it on hand right now, but I'll snap a picture this weekend and post it. (:
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: slueth on Wed, 10 October 2012, 06:05:17
I got a couple elgin pocket watches. 
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Internetlad on Thu, 11 October 2012, 16:33:40
I got an inscribed, automatic mechanical pocket watch for my wedding day from my wife. I left it in my inside breast pocket of my tux and (the tux) got returned to the rental place. We called the cleaners/rental place/etc. but somebody along the line must have quietly lifted it without telling their manager because it was gone.

On the upside there was no sentimental value (yet) as I had only owned it for a half day but still, makes me sad to think about it.

Then I think I'd probably just chuck it in a box and look at it once a decade. I'm not a very sentimental person.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: MechKey on Thu, 11 October 2012, 16:49:53
Have my granddads old railroad watch but it doesn't work.
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: Alessandro on Sat, 01 December 2012, 06:18:37
I'm currently having my 1904 Waltham Traveler restored. It's a beautiful watch, full sterling and got it for a song on Ebay. We're just having a little trouble finding an impulse jewel for the balance.


(http://forums.bit-tech.net/picture.php?albumid=1917&pictureid=30998)
(http://forums.bit-tech.net/picture.php?albumid=1917&pictureid=31000)
Title: Re: Pocket Watches
Post by: TheShining on Sun, 02 December 2012, 16:15:29
Nice picks op :0.