Watches

I am mixed. I like watches for the motorsports tie in, like a Schumacher Speedmaster or a BAR Honda F1 Seiko. I aso like them for their history, such as my Rolex Submariner non date, because James bond wore one. Like David, I also love the mechanics. I have a few watches with display backs and they are just fun to see working.

Gary wrote: … not too long ago I made a somewhat ignomious decision to buy a Chinese knockoff Chopard Mille Miglia for $219. I know, I know, it’s heresy. But I couldn’t justify the price for a real Mille Miglia. And there’s no way the knockoff could be passed off for the real thing. But it has the right look, so I’m happy with that.

Cool. Does it have the tyre-tread strap? I've seen some neat Chinese Panerai knock-offs, that I could barely tell from the real thing.

David mentioned Slava's earlier. I'm bidding on one at the moment, (from a Ukrainian Ebay'er.) ~$40 and the 2427 movement is still used today by Lum-Tec in a watch of theirs that costs upwards of $600.

The replica Mille Miglia doesn't have the tire tread strap but it does have a black leather strap with lightening holes, to replicate the spokes of a steering wheel I suppose. I was happy to see that Chopard was spelled correctly. I was prepared for Chapord or something like that. And the map of the Mille Miglia route is nicely etched on the back of the case. But the little red "1000 Mille" arrow logo is a not as bright red as the real thing. But for $219, who's going to quibble about that?

On a semi-related note, I'll be in New York soon. I'm not sure if finding this article was good or bad: http://www.departures.com/articles/in-search-of-the-perfect-vintage-watch

An affinity to watches definitely has a connection with an affinity to cars, especially vintage cars. Earlier in this thread somebody said he didn’t understand the reason why watches generated so much interest in this forum. I say that if people don’t understand the connection then there’s no use trying to explain it to them. They'd never get it anyway.

Gary wrote: An affinity to watches definitely has a connection with an affinity to cars, especially vintage cars. Earlier in this thread somebody said he didn’t understand the reason why watches generated so much interest in this forum. I say that if people don’t understand the connection then there’s no use trying to explain it to them. They'd never get it anyway.

It keeps getting more and more similar to cars every time I think of it... That being said, I refuse to let myself get into watches... My money has enough holes to fall through as it is! And this lousy thread isn't helping matters.

David S. Wallens wrote:

plance1 wrote: hmmm, Im surprised to see this much interest in watches in a car magazine. When autoweek started turning into a lifestyle magazine and tried to broaden their scope, most of the feedback on their board was negative. But then again they started getting into fashion, expensive pens, face painted race car drivers, wine, etc, etc. To each his own I guess.

For me, personally, it's the mechanicalness of the watch--all those small screws, weights and whatever doing their thing. (By the way, I'm wearing my Swiss Army automatic--an eBay score--today.)

Ok, just promise me you won't start doing articles on $6,000 pens...

Here's the Slava I bought.

Not bad, for 40 bucks, I reckon.

On $6,000 pens. You can get a nice sportscar for that kind of money. :)

I am not a watch guy, but along the way have picked up several, including an old Omega, a Unitied Colors of Beneton, a Tag Heuer and my grandfathers solid gold wrist watch. How the hell did that happen

Steve

Luke wrote: Here's the Slava I bought. Not bad, for 40 bucks, I reckon.

Very cool. I have one just like this:

http://timex.homestead.com/russianmedicalwatch.html

Hey, who said that a distinctive watch has to cost real money?

Thanks, and that doctor's watch is awesome. Interesting to wonder who might've owned it before you. A renowned Russian surgeon, some back-street Ukrainian "specialist"?

Also, this arrived yesterday. Another Accutron:

Yeah, an Accutron is on the short list. Nice score.

"...the perfect timepiece for every sports car driver" :D

I have a watch "problem" also, I use the Rolex submariner most of the time. I wear either the Heuer Carrera or the Speedmaster while driving and I use a Luni Nox for surfing, shooting, etc. This is a dark place, do not follow... there is no way back. The only plus to this situation? possible release from a third world prison.

Andy Reid wrote: On $6,000 pens. You can get a nice sportscar for that kind of money. :)

I wouldn't spend over $1500 - 2000 on a pen, but I have a phono cartridge that is worth the equivalent of 40 Chev Vegas.....

I think it's the "machinery" aspect. I have a watch fetish as well...

My daily wear watch for 20 years was a late 50's base Rolex that I traded a $20 "new" Bulova for (bought it at a pawn shop in the original box... turned out to be one of the last real Bulovas and had 14k and 24k trim, etc... guy offered me $500 for it before my counter offer was a Rolex)

More recently I've been wearing a 50's manual wind Tudor (lighter, bit less flashy)... and scored a pair of ladies Tudors from the same dealer for my wife. I also bought a broken Bulova chrono for parts from him... all shipped in the same package. Guess which watch got the attention of US Customs and I received a huge Customs bill for?)

But aside from the one-offs (Glycine Airman, a Russian manual with windup alarm, etc) about everything else is Bulova... 1930's through 1973. It's difficult to pass up a 23 jewel 1950's watch in nice shape for $50... which is what I paid for my last Bulova...

Of course vintage stereo/vinyl is a whole other discussion ;-) Bill