Bravo Maratac! Splendid look and the watch is a great looker for a great price point. But RATS on the 46.2mm case. Waaaaay too big for me. The curse of being a smaller chap. I'm jealous. I love it.

That is a nice combination.

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
Bravo Maratac! Splendid look and the watch is a great looker for a great price point. But RATS on the 46.2mm case. Waaaaay too big for me. The curse of being a smaller chap. I'm jealous. I love it.

Thanks r0gue. I too haves small wrists and was worried at first. Due to the configuration of the lugs, it wears small though. So much smaller and more comfortable than a Seiko 007 for example. I think my next strap will be one of the Suigeneric waxed cotton straps that you have. My girlfriend loved my Maratac so much that she wanted one for herself. I found a heck of a deal on a worn once SR-1($160.00 shipped) and now we are twins. Suigeneric has just introduced some new patterns, btw.

quote:

Originally posted by Snailfan:
I too haves small wrists and was worried at first. Due to the configuration of the lugs, it wears small though.

I've got 6.5" wrists. You?

SUIGENERIC is a great little brand. Neat stuff. Fair prices. I have two and love em.

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:

quote:

Originally posted by Snailfan:
I too haves small wrists and was worried at first. Due to the configuration of the lugs, it wears small though.

I've got 6.5" wrists. You?

SUIGENERIC is a great little brand. Neat stuff. Fair prices. I have two and love em.

6.75"- 7.0" depending on where measured.

Couple of nice vintage rollers! Have you owned them over the long haul, or recent acquisitions? I had a 1997 ExpII and let it go. It was my first good watch. I suppose I'll really regret that one day. Alas... Under the bridge.

The 2 tone I bought in about 1979. The Pepsi was my father's he bought in 1961 I believe when we lived in Saigon. It is mine now. Both have been reconditioned. They stay on a winder in the safe. I wear a $40 Timex. Didn't want to keep beating up the good ones at work or worse, lose one overboard.

Owch! If you're not wearing them, why subject the mechanics to the wear of running all the time. Let em rest. They're classics. It's one thing if you need em at a moment's notice (especially the GMT which is harder to set the date on). But if you tend to not wear em. Shut down the motors!

Just my opinion anyway

I wear each one about once per week.

r0gue wants to start the age old debate of wind/run vs. sit in box!

I've been following this thread for several months now, and promise to chime in as a contributor. You guys make it really tough though.

At first I was pleasantly comforted by the stalwarts you'd expect from a bunch of Sig fanatics; Rolex, Omega, Casio. Then you bled off into the world of Doxa, Sinn, IWC and Panerai. Then the vintage guys drop in and really start pulling the heartstrings!

Great thread, love it.

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
r0gue wants to start the age old debate of wind/run vs. sit in box!

I certainly do not. He didn't indicate in his first post that he wears them. As I see he does now, I see no reason not to keep em wound. But if you let them set for weeks on end winding, and wear the cheapo all the time, I see no reason to let em run.

Hard to argue against that, though I realize this is the Internet, and some will take up a challenge for a hard-argue at the drop of a dime!

rOgue, your opinion -

I've been wearing my GMT Master since I bought it in 1983, except when it was out for service once and twice for a period of months each when I was doing a lot of scuba diving and bought a cheapie dive watch.

Thinking about finally changing out again, temporarily of course, for something else, would it be harmful to let my Rolex sit idle for several months? I'm concerned because in the past when I've left lesser watches sit for long periods they didn't want to run again.

quote:

...would it be harmful to let my Rolex sit idle for several months? I'm concerned because in the past when I've left lesser watches sit for long periods they didn't want to run again.

I'm not rOgue, and I don't play him on TV, but I am a WOSTEP-certified watchmaker, and once worked at a Rolex service center; so if I may be so bold as to offer my opinion...

Like a car or any other machine, a mechanical watch needs periodic service. A Rolex should be serviced every five years ideally (although I know many people who go longer). That service includes disassembling the movement, cleaning out all the old lubricant in a series of cleaning solutions (usually in an ultrasonic machine), reassembling, re-lubricating, and adjusting the timing. Normally a new mainspring is installed as well.

If a watch hasn't been recently serviced, the oils can get thick, the oil on the pallet jewels can wear away, etc., and in that case once the watch stops it may not start again. But running such a watch is also hard on it, as parts can wear if not properly lubricated.

So, bottom line, it won't hurt your watch to sit idle for a few months; after all, they sit idle at the dealer before they are sold, and no one worries about that. But if you haven't had it serviced recently you might think about sending it off during the time it would otherwise be sitting idle.

HTH.

Brian, I really appreciate your expert opinion! Thanks!

I had it serviced about 10 years ago, and frankly haven't been able to afford to since then. I believe I was told to expect service costs in the many hundreds of dollars.

From what you're saying, I'd expect that it wouldn't restart if left to sit too long, so if I get a replacement I'll still wear it once a week or so.

I bought this 25 years ago. I know is should have been serviced over the years but I just never did. It stopped running a few months ago. I sent it off to David Troung for a complete service.

I really like how timeless it is. I'll pass this one down.

I don't think BrianO said that at all. I think he said that it is possible, if a watch hasn't been serviced in a long time and also sits unused, it MAY not restart. It may restart but be subject to excessive wear as it is no longer properly lubed.

Rolex service isn't cheap - it will cost many hundreds (like $700 or more) to have a complete service done by a factory shop. Lots of watchmakers can do a good job and they may be less expensive, but it will still be in the many hundreds range. They do completely disassemble, clean, clean up the case and bracelet, replace worn parts, lube, reassemble, and test. I don't know how many hours that takes, but it is a considerable task requiring skilled work.

quote:

...I had it serviced about 10 years ago, and frankly haven't been able to afford to since then. I believe I was told to expect service costs in the many hundreds of dollars.

Yes, it's not cheap. For a watch costing $200 or less I'd suggest just replacing it; but for a Rolex I'd think it to be a good investment. If you can't afford it, though, then you can't. If it starts gaining or losing time I'd just let it run down and then put it away to hold for the future (or sell it).

quote:

...From what you're saying, I'd expect that it wouldn't restart if left to sit too long, so if I get a replacement I'll still wear it once a week or so.

It's hard to say; too many variables. But wearing it from tie to time sounds like a good idea.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I don't think BrianO said that at all. I think he said that it is possible, if a watch hasn't been serviced in a long time and also sits unused, it MAY not restart.

Yes, I understood that, which is why I would not let it sit more than a week. MAY is strong enough for me to be cautious.

quote:

Originally posted by BrianO:
It's hard to say; too many variables. But wearing it from tie to time sounds like a good idea.

Understood. Thanks!