Watch of Today

[AndyHull]

A very nice example, and another watch with an interesting history.

  https://www.fratellowatches.com/tbt-the-unstoppable-tissot-mediostat-chronograph/

Edited August 23, 2019 by AndyHull

[JasonND]

15 hours ago, AndyHull said:

I thought to myself, "That is a very striking watch.", so much so that I did a little digging around.

I wasn't aware of the history so this was an interesting read.

https://wornandwound.com/review/zodiac-super-sea-wolf-68-review/

Zodiac has a very rich history. At one time zodiac divers were in competition with Rolex. The worn and wound article was great thanks!

[AndyHull]

The 99p Avia quartz went back on its own band today.

When I cleaned up the watch initially, I put it on a new band, as the one it came on was a bit grubby, however the original is a very nice, fairly high quality band and suits the watch, so I gave it the leather cleaning treatment.

This consisted of steeping it in a mix of white vinegar some disinfectant and a little detergent, and giving it a good scrub with a toothbrush.

The initial cleaning solution was then replaced with fresh, and the band was left to soak for a few hours. This allowed the vinegar to "tenderize" the collagen in the leather gently, softening it up. Next it was dried on a radiator overnight, sandwiched between sheets of  kitchen roll, and pressed flat with a couple of scraps of plywood, with a weight placed on top.

Finally the sued side was freshened up with a tiny amount of sued cleaner. Not enough to make it greasy, just enough to make it feel new. The top surface sheen was restotored with an equally tiny rubbing of silicon grease.

The result is a strap that looks like it just came out of the packet, and smells fresh and new.

This also frees up the replacement band for one of my Timex Automatics.

 

[AndyHull]

Today I'm sporting a textured dial Vostok 2614.2H based Soviet era Sekonda.

The 26XX is relatively easy to work with, and almost indestructible,  which is just as well as this one had quite a number of issues.

Fixed and scrubbed up, and with that textured dial, it exudes classical dress watch charm.

[JasonND]

6 hours ago, AndyHull said:

Today I'm sporting a textured dial Vostok 2614.2H based Soviet era Sekonda.

The 26XX is relatively easy to work with, and almost indestructible,  which is just as well as this one had quite a number of issues.

Fixed and scrubbed up, and with that textured dial, it exudes classical dress watch charm.

I've been thinking about getting a Russian watch myself. Nice piece Andy.

[AndyHull]

20 minutes ago, JasonND said:

I've been thinking about getting a Russian watch myself. Nice piece Andy.

Thanks.

A small correction to my earlier post,  it is a Poljot 2614.2H, not a Vostok.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Poljot_2614_2H

Edited August 25, 2019 by AndyHull

[Dpastl]

This is my watch for today, my recently repaired Pierce 103 (SC?).  I absolutely adore if and it was easier to get parts for it I would wear it every day!

 

Edited August 25, 2019 by Dpastl

[yankeedog]

On 8/16/2019 at 8:45 PM, JasonND said:

Chinese movements are completely foreign to me! Pun intended. Love learning something new! Keep the input comming!

looks like a reverse engineered pin lever.

[yankeedog]

12 hours ago, AndyHull said:

Thanks.

A small correction to my earlier post,  it is a Poljot 2614.2H, not a Vostok.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Poljot_2614_2H

Anyone considering getting a Russian watch , Should get a Russian watch  I have had good luck with the raketa 2609ha but not so much with the 2609, I also have had better luck with the vostok 2209 vs the 2409.

[JasonND]

4 hours ago, yankeedog said:

Anyone considering getting a Russian watch , Should get a Russian watch  I have had good luck with the raketa 2609ha but not so much with the 2609, I also have had better luck with the vostok 2209 vs the 2409.

Thanks for the advise!

[yankeedog]

As for the Slava,they are ok, but they seem to have weak balance staffs .Stay away from the day/date slava , overly complicated,engineered like they were trying to avoid patent infringement.Poljots can be good runners, but they seem to have poor metalurgy in the keyless works.

[JasonND]

Today is my vintage 1950s Gallet Multichron 45 fitted on a vintage 50s Gemex rice bead stainless bracelet. 

Edited August 27, 2019 by JasonND

[AndyHull]

Something a little more refined today (not a 404 club member obviously, although I picked it up a while back before the 404 club started, and it cost me almost exactly the same as you would currently pay for a new "Starking" dress watch). 

It does have a couple of minor nicks on the edge of the crystal, and a few minor scratches on the case, and the strap it is on currently is not the correct size, but other than that, it 'aint half bad.

Don't get me wrong, the Starking is not a bad watch for the money, but I know which I would rather have.

Edited August 29, 2019 by AndyHull

[JasonND]

2 hours ago, AndyHull said:

Something a little more refined today (not a 404 club member obviously, although I picked it up a while back before the 404 club started, and it cost me almost exactly the same as you would currently pay for a new "Starking" dress watch). 

It does have a couple of minor nicks on the edge of the crystal, and a few minor scratches on the case, and the strap it is on currently is not the correct size, but other than that, it 'aint half bad.

Don't get me wrong, the Starking is not a bad watch for the money, but I know which I would rather have.

It's a very elegant watch. The crown reminds me of Cartier. 

[balaton]

Another bit of old GDR nonsense, this 1950s UMF, liberated last week from the dark recesses of a tiny bric-a-brac shop in a Central European capital.

Runs on a surprisingly large (12.5’’’) Thiel/UMF 54-31, an agricultural movement and totally unacquainted with any jewels whatsoever.

Regards.

[AndyHull]

An interesting caliber. Not one I've seen before, and in remarkably good condition.

[balaton]

56 minutes ago, AndyHull said:

An interesting caliber. Not one I've seen before, and in remarkably good condition.

Thanks Andy. It kinda scratches my itch for left-field things.

Bryan

[JasonND]

The plates are very intresting! A citadel for years!

[JasonND]

Just went to a wedding and decided to wear my vintage Heuer Ref. 73473, circa 1971-72. This watch is very unusual when compared to other Heuers, and not many made. But interestingly not very sought after by Heuer collectors. As for me, I love the Classic 70's look. It is powered by the Valjoux  7734 and fitted on a vintage beads and rice bracelet. 

 

Edited August 31, 2019 by JasonND

[dadistic]

TV Dial!

From a couple of days ago, but I'm still wearing it.

[bettyswolloks]

Today I've been giving my '96 Accurist some wrist time. Had this since new, its cost me £100 from argos. Its lasted well though the alarm has stopped working, which is nice!

Daz.

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

[AndyHull]

Its a 1970s Poljot 2906H based Soviet era TV face for me today, on an authentic Poljot steel bracelet.

Edited September 3, 2019 by AndyHull

[AndyHull]

You can never have too much Sekonda...

.. but I think this comes close.

Not sure of the caliber, it may be Russian, I'm no expert. Someone here may know.

It does have jewels, and it does have screws, so it isn't a cheap modern Chinese disposable, which is just as well, as it grunchy and crunchy when I first pulled out the crown and tried to turn the hands.

I didn't go overboard, just a little lighter fluid, a quick out and back in with the gears, and a tiny spot of oil, and now it is running fine and quiet as a mouse.

It has a bit of an excess of bling, especially now that it has been cleaned and polished, but is also very well built, and the strap is a work of art. When laid flat, you cannot see the joins. 

It is a gents sized watch, but not something I would generally wear. Interesting none the less. 

Another freebie picked up in a batch of stuff with one watch that I actually wanted, joins the Russian contingent of the 404 club. 

 

[AndyHull]

Its a Timex Automatic TV face day today. A slightly strange one this, it appears to be a Dundee mechanism, french case (this is stamped clearly on the inside of the case back), but the outside of the case back states "Assembled in Taiwan", so probably an early to mid eighties watch, from the period when the Dundee factory was going through a bit of an upheaval. I must confess,  I wasn't paying attention when I cleaned it, so I didn't take a note or picture of the dial number.

The thing got a quick ' Duncan Slunge™ ' Timex service, and a great deal of polishing and cleaning, and is now running nicely. I'll take it a apart again and photograph the dial, when I've finished restoring the band and am ready to put it all back together.

Its original factory fitted Timex steel band is still in the process of getting cleaned and polished, so I popped the watch on a new old stock embossed real leather band, for that late seventies early eighties vibe.

Don't worry, that date works fine, it is just in the process of changing.

Edited September 6, 2019 by AndyHull

[yankeedog]

This rather forlorn looking thing is a Waltham. The logo was so poorly printed that it washed right off when I cleaned the dial.It came with an AS1686 with a rusty keyless works,which I swapped out with one previously serviced.the spiedel band came with the watch it has a '63 production date. I had to remove 5 links. The previous owner must have been a pretty large man.