| Author | Message | ||
     Ft_bstrd |
Phantom, The details are on the inside of the case back. It would indicate much more about the watch and many times would have a history of who serviced the watch. Many times watch masters would engrave their initials and a date on the backside of the watch back. The gold filling appears to be in good shape. The band appears to be Gold Filled as well. If it is original, it adds to the value. If you decide to swap bands, please don't lose it. If you haven't had it serviced recently and are not currently wearing it, I would recommend you have it serviced and wear it proudly. It's a nice example. One of the things that is fun (if you're a watch retard like me) is to have the watch master to take photographs of the movement as they service it. It's interesting to see the condition of the watch as they open it, as they disassemble the movement, and what it looks like reassembled. Depending on the condition of the movement, they may only need to partially disassemble it. Many times, though, it requires complete disassembly to properly clean and lubricate the movement. Otherwise, you are leaving dust and gunk in the movement, shortening the life and affecting the accuracy. The gold filled does not fetch as much as the solid gold. Here is a similar era but in a different case configuration: http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-GIRARD-PERREGAUX-GOLD- FILLED-CIRCA-1940-17_W0QQitemZ300056467762QQihZ020 QQcategoryZ31387QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem The second link is for a different GP. The case back shows engravings by servicing watch masters. Kinda interesting: http://www.ewatchshow.com/newest/watch/key_search. php3?action=1&watch_id=21_071906135827&vendor_id=1 The best way to determine the value of your watch is to look at open market auctions to see what it goes for. You can probably watch this auction and get a good idea of what your watch is worth. Keep in mind that the case on this is in slightly better shape, but yours has the gold filled strap (I am assuming it is signed GP). More than likely your watch is quadruple signed (crown, face, strap, and movement). This is like having matching serial numbers for engine, transmission, frame, and body. It increases the value of the watch. I would say that your watch would probably range in the $150-500. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
HEUER STOPWATCH Found your link: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cloc kmaker.com.au/w/heuer_9.jpg&imgrefurl=http://clock maker.com.au/w/heuerc.html&h=400&w=300&sz=23&hl=en &start=14&tbnid=J5rMKbCyKBFwEM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&p rev=/images%3Fq%3Dheuer%2Bstopwatch%26svnum%3D10%2 6hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG Here's another: http://cgi.ebay.com/Heuer-vintage-race-rally-Stopw atch-like-NOS-in-box_W0QQitemZ250056547832QQihZ015 QQcategoryZ63818QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewI tem Old stopwatches like that have become collectors items. They range anywhere from $100-750. Sure you can get a digital, but why when you could take times with this? The first link actually shows the breakdown of the watch movement. Very cool! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Buellshyter, That "Zenith" can't tell time worth a crap! Old digital watches are weird and cool at the same time. They are everything not mechanical and yet intriguing at the same time. I think it's the "past modern" aspect of them that is cool. It's like a car with fins. Those fins signified everything modern and forward looking of the 50's and yet, they are so dated today. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Corporatemonkey, I know jack squat about audio equipment. You wanna talk about High Definition TVs, and I'm game! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
UNIQUE WATCH Longines 17 jewel manual wind. Instead of the normal hands, there is an arrow for the hours and a dot for the minute.  Check out the "T" next to the SWISS MADE. http://www.ewatchshow.com/view/watch/2_022106165215-comet-w-steel Very cool watch! | ||
| Interex2050 |
-Ft_bstrd, This is true, although they could have simply put a different face on it and made the seconds dial at the 9 o'clock position. -Humboldtblast almost got it though, it was actually worn on ones thigh/above the knee area. -This would allow the pilot to get a quick glance of the time without taking their hands off the controls. Although I do not know for this certain, this is simply what I was told by the elderly gentleman who sold me the time piece several years ago. But... Although the reasoning behind the design of the watch could be: the manufacturer simply did not want to design a more robust mechanism; so instead they used a mechanism which has been tried and tested over the years in the pocket watches. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Interex, Cool. I knew there was some practical explanation. I have found that some of the most complex problems in "watch world" have some of the simplest solutions. The solutions themselves become elegant. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
NEW RIDDLE  DARTH VADER  LUKE SKYWALKER WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP? | ||
| Interex2050 |
Quick question...  My watch has the T notation which would imply that it has the tritium paint. Yet when tested whether it is actually radioactive, the Geiger Counter did not indicate anything. Why would that be? Does the crystal sufficiently block radiation or does it not emit enough to be detectable? PS What is that image of for the Darth Vader part? (Message edited by interex2050 on December 06, 2006) | ||
| Samiam |
Going out on a limb here FtB, would the "Darth Vader" mechanism be the father to the modern quartz movement in the "Luke Skywalker" watch? Sam | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
This will cement my geek factor, but I have to admit I actually bought an MS spot watch. I got one when they first came out. What a waste... The service is intriguing, and actually worked fairly well (as it should in MS home territory) The downside was a 3 day battery life, and a size that would make an Omega blush... The part that is interesting is spot is a dying gadget. B Gates personally wanted the technology so Microsoft is still funding the technology. They have gotten to the point of giving watches away. I did not renew my service this year, and I get a monthly letter stating if I come back (with service - ~$60yr) they will give me a new spot watch. Still I think down the road the spot watch will be a oddball collector items like the 1983 seiko Tv watch (the James bond watch from Octopussy). FTB, as for HDTV Santa is coming early this year. I just ordered a 46in Sharp LCD to go with my Tivo s3. I hope it doesn't have the lcd banding issue... | ||
| Swordsman |
I have to say, this has got to be the strangest thread ever to be posted on a motorcycle board. Who would have guessed that there were so many Watch Nazis around here??? Personally, I find this very disturbing. You guys are entirely too concerned with knowing the time.  ~SM | ||
| Djkaplan |
I actually stopped wearing watches in the early 80's. If by some circumstance I need to wear one (usually only for travel or time sensitive projects at work) I have to find one of my watches and shake it for a minutes to get it to come back to life. | ||
| Djkaplan |
This is the only watch I've worn so far in the 21st century. Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS Running Watch  As a joke, I wear it on dates sometime. No one ever thinks it's funny but me. | ||
| Phantom5oh |
WOW, thanks Ft-bstrd, that's great info! From what my Father told me about the watch, it was a high school graduation gift to my Uncle from my Grandparents in the early 1960's. My Uncle replaced the original black leather band with the gold stretchy band. I don't know if the band is a GP band or not, but I would highly doubt it. After my Uncle passed away, my Aunt had the watched serviced before giving it to me. I don't know how thoroughly it was cleaned, but that was about 10 years ago. I've only worn the watch a handful of times. How would you recommend I find a reputable watch repair shop? Is there anything specific I should I look for? Thanks again! | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
  Swiss mechanical watches can certainly be fascinating, and as so often happens, many of the most interesting mechanical inventions have been developed after the quartz movement rendered them somewhat obsolete, if not frivolous. Many students of horology believe that the most important portable timepieces are not Swiss, but English, and that the greatest achievements not wrist watches, but the early marine chronometers. Perfected by John Harrison, who was awarded 20,000 English Pounds for his work, they first allowed men to solve the problem of longitude in a practical manner aboard ship, and contributed in no small way to the establishment of the the Empire, and British control of the seas. Here is an example from my collection, a Charles Frodsham marine chronometer from about 1850, when the firm operated at 84 The Strand, London. The fusee chronometer movement is entirely different than the lever escapement type of today. Not only is the escapement different, but power is transmitted by a tiny chain from a tapered drum, rather than by toothed gears. These clocks had wonderful accuracy, even aboard ship. Some traditionalist sea Captains still carry one of these on board. The were made in this pattern well into the 20th century, and played a key role in World War Two. Frodsham also made very elegant watches. He was related to Harrison by marriage, if I remember correctly. Wristwatches, an invention popularly ascribed to Patek Phillipe, did not come into fashion until the end of the 19th Century, and really did not become popular until the early twentieth, especially after the first World War when they proved to be very practical in the field. After World War l, the center of watchmaking moved from England to Switzerland, as the wristwatch replaced the pocket watch. To address the original premise of this thread, how is a Buell like a fine timepiece, may I suggest these similarities? 1. The best examples are chain drive. 2. They both allow men to go more rapidly and safely than they had gone before. 3. They are beautiful to behold, but designed strictly to be functional. 4. The right kind of oil is critical for proper operation 5. Compared to lesser devices, they are quite rare. 6. They elicit admiration from specialist and layman alike. 7. Can be tempermental, but usually come through when the chips are down. 8. Generally possessed by men who thoroughly understand their design and operation. 9. They are best repaired by specialists who not only understand them, but revere them. 10. One's life is perhaps enriched by owning, using and maintaining one properly. | ||
| Rubberdown |
Well done, Jon!  | ||
| Midknyte |
Marginally related... did'ja know that a "digital" sundial exists? http://www.digitalsundial.com/  | ||
| Sleez |
here is a link to some interesting timepieces; http://zorigami.free.fr/odd_watches/ | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Interex, I don't know why it wouldn't set the geiger counter off. Easy test for the markers is that if they require another light source to "charge up", it is luminova. If they glow all the time, it is tritium. Do your markers glow all the time? I have seen watch faces that were market with a T but were luminova. I think the manufacturers get lazy. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You guys are entirely too concerned with knowing the time. Yes. And motorcycles are merely conveyances from point A to point B.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Phantom, I checked on the GP website. In your area, I found this Authorized dealer and service center for GP: http://www.alphaomegajewelers.com/v1/ They have locations in Boston, Natick, and Burlington. They list their services to include: EXPERT WATCH REPAIR Alpha Omega is a one-stop source for any watch repair needs! Whether you need a simple repair or a special service from a watch company directly, Alpha Omega will be happy to accommodate your needs. The e-mail addresses gathered on this site will be added to the Alpha Omega mailing list. Information regarding events, special promotions and sales will be extended to all individuals on the Alpha Omega mailing list. Furthermore, Alpha Omega has a firm commitment to maintaining the privacy of its online patrons. Services include but are not limited to*: watch overhauling polishing (of case, crystal and bracelet) strap replacement bracelet sizing watch battery replacement watersealing | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Jon, That piece is awesome. The marine clocks were the key to navigation. Well done! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Sleez, Very cool. I love to see engineers get imaginative. It's cool to see what people come up with when there is not "box" to think out of. I try to live by the motto "there is no spoon". | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
NEW RIDDLE HINT  This is a picture of one of the first generation of oscillating quartz movements. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP?" Isn't the Swatch the first successful Swiss quartz watch? I'm going totally off memory (no googling), but I thought the Swiss invented the quartz watch and never capitalized on it, thinking that mechanical movements were more important for quality watches (which ultimately proved correct). Japan jumped on quartz movements and almost killed the Swiss watch industry with volume... but years later, the Swiss got into the quartz game with the Swatch. The first gen quartz movement is the father of the Swatch? | ||
| Court |
>>>Japan jumped on quartz movements and almost killed the Swiss watch industry with volume... but years later, the Swiss got into the quartz game with the Swatch. I recall hearing that story and it was amazing. I hope someone has the details. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
NEW RIDDLE ANSWER!!!! In the 1970's, quartz movements were created. They were more accurate, sleeker, and more importantly cheaper than their "old fashioned" mechanical cousins. From the early 1970's to the mid 1980's, the mechanical watch market was all but obliterated. No one wanted those old school mechanical watches. 85-95% of the mechanical watch market ceased to exist. If you look at vintage watches, you can find several dating back from the early 1970's backward, but virtually none after that date. Some have made a resurgance and so have modern iterations of their former glory. You can think of the emergence of quartz movements as the PK Boundry for mechanical watches. At the same time, watches went completely fashion. In the early to mid 1980's a new watch was ushered in by the MTV crowd. Fashion was much more important than function. It wasn't uncommon to find an individual wearing 5-15 Swatches, some of which were nonfunctional. Swatches were so inexpensive to manufacture and so profitable, that Swatch became a multi-billion dollar corporation and the largest single watch manufacturer in the world. In a twist of fate, the technology that spelled the downfall of mechanical watches, quartz, became its savior in the form of Swatch. With all of the success, and surplus capital, Swatch began to buy up defunct and nearly defunct mechanical watch houses. Swatch Group now represents 75% of the watch market either directly or indirectly. In addition to Swatch, Swatch Group operates the following brands: Breguet Blancpain Glashutte Jaquet Droz Omega More importantly Swatch Group owns all of the major exterior watch movement houses including: Lemania ETA Valjoux Valdar SA Comadur SA--High End watch parts supplier Frederick Piguet SA Nivarox Lascor--Case manufacturer Universco--Hand manufacturer Georges Ruedin SA--Case manufacturer Nearly all mechanical movements not produced in-house are one of three varieties: ETA, Valjoux, or Lemania. Those that produce in-house movements, buy many of the components and cases from Swatch Group. In a strange twist of fate, were it not for 1980's VJs, Cyndi Lauper, and Duran Duran, we would not have Omega, Breitling, Fortis, or even Rolex. Thank you 1980's "Fashion Mavens"!  (Message edited by ft_bstrd on December 06, 2006) | ||
| Djkaplan |
Never had a Swatch. If I bought a watch for fashion though, I'd go the local military surplus store and get a mil-spec Timex.  | ||
| Perry |
What a great thread. I've never been so proud to own a "sub luxury" watch.  In addition to my Tissot, and my Buell, I confess to owning and loving fountain pens - the kind with real ink. I own pens from Waterman and Cross. cheaper than a Buell or a nice watch - only the price of a decent set of tires! There is just something cool, elegant, and old school (yet cutting edge) about all three - created by craftsmen for those who appreciate not just what they do, but how they do it. |
