I love that strap! Where did you get it? Crown & Buckle?

Just showed up in the mail….



This one will be step two if I can get the Gruen back together. This one is currently running, so it will be the real test, unlike the Gruen, if it’s not running when I’m done, it’s all my fault!

Bill R

Do a few more to work your chops out before you take on that one. It is a beautiful example of American watchmaking. It would be a shame to damage it.

RMD

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
I love that strap! Where did you get it? Crown & Buckle?

It's from BluShark:

https://www.blusharkstraps.com...ections/alphapremier

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Do a few more to work your chops out before you take on that one. It is a beautiful example of American watchmaking. It would be a shame to damage it.

RMD

Agreed. I'm willing to donate an Invicta with an NH35 that isn't running to the cause. Just shoot me your mailing address, stylophiles. I don't care if you get it working or leave it in pieces.

quote:

Originally posted by stylophiles:
Just showed up in the mail….

Very nice.

In watchmaking school, I was "the railroad watch guy." I'd try to grab every pocket watch that came through the door, and when not working on assignments I'd go deep into the pocket watches and try to get them precision timed to better than new. Poising those big balance wheels was my favorite part.

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Do a few more to work your chops out before you take on that one. It is a beautiful example of American watchmaking. It would be a shame to damage it.

RMD

Yeah, I’m a ways out from starting on this one. Still using the Gruen to get used to the scale and pace of this stuff! I am definitely easing myself into this a bit at a time.

I agree about the of this Waltham. The amazing part was the price, $75 on eBay. It’s crazy how they can be priced when you consider the workmanship in them.

Bill R

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

Agreed. I'm willing to donate an Invicta with an NH35 that isn't running to the cause. Just shoot me your mailing address, stylophiles. I don't care if you get it working or leave it in pieces.

Thanks, but I am a loooooong way from even thinking about trying a wristwatch sized movement!

Even the relatively giant size 18 pocket watch movements feel incredibly tiny, I still can’t imagine trying something half the size.

The other plus to the pocket watches is the very reasonable pricing for both working and non working movements. I have been able to get a couple for as low as $35, and even this Waltham was under a hundred.

Going to stick with them for a little while at least, plus I still have a few projects going in the modification end of things….

Bill R

Looks a bit like mine...though my pic is old and not as good...

That Waltham has a Verge escapement and not a Swiss Lever.

A nice quiet morning with my Costco Seiko 5.

I really like that watch. Simple strong graphics.

So, cruising the parts and pieces, I found this and ordered it just because it seemed completely weird… A Seiko tuna can style case, in bronze.



It showed up, and yeah. Pretty off the wall.

Then I was on eBay. And looking around at parts to practice on, I found something. A busted up pocket watch. A bit small to be useful for practice, but it had a dial. It took about two seconds for the connection to click in the artistic bit of the brain, and I was hitting buy it now.

Found some nice fancy pants blued steel hands, grabbed an NH 35, and after the necessary language, a bit of tinkering, and the apparently obligatory breaking of the seconds hand (always order hands in pairs of sets!) I end up with this.



Now, I am not sure what you would call this, style wise.

And in terms of practicality, it’s about as useful as the least useful thing you could think of that was then broken and left to rust for ten years.

But for coolness… I’m thinking it rates high enough to put me at risk of “hipster status” if I wear it in public.

Bill R

Yup. Kind of growing on me!



Bill R

quote:

Originally posted by stylophiles:I am not sure what you would call this, style wise.

Eclectic. Avant-garde. Unique. Maybe even neo-steampunk

I like it.

quote:

Originally posted by stylophiles:
Yup. Kind of growing on me!

Me, too. It's the kind of diver's watch Captain Nemo might have worn.

quote:

Originally posted by stylophiles:
Now, I am not sure what you would call this, style wise.

What that is, is bad ass. It gives me a serious 1920's art deco vibe. I don't know why, but I really want that watch lol. If you ever get bored with it, shoot me an email.

Kinda Steam Punk - cool.

Call me a fan too, time to start a crowdfunding website.

Nice work, Bill. Very unique.