Post pics of your watches Part II

Fitz II · 04-02-2021 5:28pm

micks_address wrote: »

Just into today from Croatia. I know fitz will shake his head but ...........

Well wear Mick, when you have a moonwatch you remember why you sold it, and when you dont have one you remember why you bought one in the first place.

unkel · 04-02-2021 6:04pm

That's deep Fitz

david · 04-02-2021 7:29pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Haven't worn this one in a while. 1941 Alpina KM

Issued by the German Navy in 41, Kriegsmarine, hence "KM". Teenyweeny these days at 33mm, but normal man's size back then.

Some sort of "nato" style strap goin on there.

Great little movement in these.

15 jewel, Breguet balance spring and incabloc shock protection. Invented in '34 but already making its way into a fair number of movements. German specs in the late 30's for their issued infantry watches specifically stipulated anti shock. There were other anti shock systems on the go too, but incabloc carried the day* Runs 6 seconds a day slow. I can live with that. Sadly(and like the majority of German issued watches) these came with nickel plated brass cases so don't wear the years so well. Also and considering their purpose they were about as waterproof as a teabag so most have buggered movements and ropey dials. Mine has a good dial for a nice change. Issued infantry and air force personnel watches were actually better waterproofed.

*don't get me started on interwebs bloggists and dealers saying shock protection didn't come along until the 50's...

Love that KM Wibbs! Probably blasphemy but I think that watch would look exceptionally well in a nickel-less brass finish.

Tub of acid and a 12v battery, be grand. :pac:

Time · 04-02-2021 9:19pm

Fitz II wrote: »

Well wear Mick, when you have a moonwatch you remember why you sold it, and when you dont have one you remember why you bought one in the first place.

I used to think i wanted a speedmaster until you convinced me otherwise

Wibbs · 04-02-2021 10:06pm

david wrote: »

Love that KM Wibbs! Probably blasphemy but I think that watch would look exceptionally well in a nickel-less brass finish.

Tub of acid and a 12v battery, be grand. :pac:

but yeah I've kinda been tempted D, or get it replated, but I've yet to see a replating job that didn't look like one and they never get the warm lustre and colour of the original plating. Maybe the original process has been shown to cause California in the state of Cancer so they can't use it, or they're all home setups with acid and 12v car batteries?

Here it is this very eve with its slightly larger army issue stable mate. The latter in really nice quality stainless steel* and with better waterproofing. It's slightly better made overall with the gilt dial etc. I've clattered the feck out of it a few times by mistake. I can guarantee it would survive a few rounds of golf anyway.

Funny enough the Alpina is one of the most radioactive watches I have. Must have been a strong lume mix.

*Doxa, Longines, Zenith and Mimo were the only DH issued watches that were in steel. The Longines gets the big money, though the Mimo is the largest and harder to find. Mimo's parent company Gerard Perregaux sought them out after the war to destroy them...

hitemfrank · 04-02-2021 10:09pm

I think I need a KM watch now after seeing that one Wibbs.

If only just because its my initials nevermind the cool factor of it.

The Floyd p · 04-02-2021 10:38pm

Cheap piece I got on Adverts a few months ago. I got it mostly for the NATO strap tbh! Handy as a basic day to day piece.

https://imgur.com/gallery/LnhlDBJ

Wibbs · 04-02-2021 11:32pm

hitemfrank wrote: »

I think I need a KM watch now after seeing that one Wibbs.

If only just because its my initials nevermind the cool factor of it.

Time was H, they could be had for between 100-200 quid depending on condition, now 4-600 for something half decent, more with dealers. Here's one on ebay for 240 quid, pretty ropey though at least all original. Here's another for a 100 quid on top of that, nearly as ropey and with the wrong hands. I can keep a beady out for you though...

hitemfrank · 05-02-2021 12:44am

Wibbs wrote: »

Time was H, they could be had for between 100-200 quid depending on condition, now 4-600 for something half decent, more with dealers. Here's one on ebay for 240 quid, pretty ropey though at least all original. Here's another for a 100 quid on top of that, nearly as ropey and with the wrong hands. I can keep a beady out for you though...

Yeah those two look a bit rough around the edges.

If you happen to see anything certainly drop me a PM but don't be going out of your way.

oknepop · 05-02-2021 12:17pm

Gone utilitarian today. Love seeing all the military watches by the way!

barney shamrock · 05-02-2021 1:14pm

The "other" moonwatch today...

micks_address · 05-02-2021 1:26pm

barney shamrock wrote: »

The "other" moonwatch today...

Its really nice in the black pvd - for the money compared to the Omega its awesome. I had it in silver but i might pick up a black one at some point.

Wibbs · 05-02-2021 3:06pm

oknepop wrote: »

Love seeing all the military watches by the way!

Wearing the one on the left today.

1943 Wagner RLM(Air force ministry). When Germany started to run out of hard currency to pay the Swiss they went to local German manufacturers in Glashütte for issued watches. Though why they didn't go that route from the get go always puzzled me. These were issued to paratroops and other air force staff. There are also examples issued to the navy but they're mad rare and the air force ones aren't exactly common any more. They come from different brands(Nila/Wagner/Artcos etc) but are essentially the same watch. The dials are painted more like aircraft instruments. Very matt.

In Glashütte it seems they didn't have a suitable round movement so these actually contain a rectangular movement from 1930's tank style watches of which the German brands made many around this 15 jewel Urofa 58 movement. This makes them larger than most of the issued watches at 36mm.

Double cased in brass, originally with lead seals for dust and water resistance. I've three of these(2 Wagners and a Nila), but the balance is broken in two of them. It's easy to get NOS ones, but replacing one of them is way out of my wheelhouse. Something that was the bread and butter of watchmakers before shock protection really took off.

Pablo_Flox · 05-02-2021 4:16pm

My weekend watch:

IrishPlayer · 05-02-2021 7:20pm

Sticking with the military watches, wearing my 1930s Silvo today

Was thinking back to my trip to Prague last March, hard to believe it's been already nearly a year ago that I was standing outside frantacily waiting for the shop to open before leaving for the airport :rolleyes::D

Pictured beside the Roamer that he wanted €596 ,mine was €194

Also a Doxa he was looking for €312 with (thanks to Wibbs for the guidance

) the wrong hands

Also a treat getting to see this IWC in a different shop, can't remember what he wanted but it's way out of my reach! :pac:

Wibbs · 05-02-2021 9:05pm

... and the Roamer has the wrong minute hand* and crown. You got the best out of that lot and for a great price too.

*compare the hands to yours. Yours have the same patina, the Roamer's have been touched up with black. The lume is recent too. Radium of that vintage tends to turn a muddy grey with a hint of pale green(the original colour), not the tan of the earlier Trench watches(and some post war radium mixes), but restorers usually miss that. Yours is the right colour. Note the IWC has the same colour as yours on the numerals, though the hands are incorrect and have been relumed. The length and width of your minute hand is correct, the Roamer's is too thin and short. Note yours hits the minute track precisely, the Roamer's doesn't.

05-02-2021 10:58pm

micks_address · 05-02-2021 11:22pm

Really like the seiko what model is it?

unkel · 05-02-2021 11:47pm

I think that is the SBDX017? Pure class, Seiko at its best imho.

05-02-2021 11:59pm

micks_address wrote: »

Really like the seiko what model is it?

Cheers - SBDX001. Often referred to as "MM300" for "Marinemaster 300" (although there is a MM300 Tuna too but generally it means this one).

unkel wrote: »

I think that is the SBDX017? Pure class, Seiko at its best imho.

Thanks - it's a favourite. Special watch. Got it in brand new from Japan and it flew in under the radar, so all the sweeter.

SBDX017 is indeed the current model. SBDX001 has been discontinued.

Changes are some new techniques machining the components, for less wear and tear apparently (SEiko call it MEMS which stands for something), crown is signed, metal strap keeper on the (still awful) stock rubber strap, diashield coating (anti scratch), new lume and the dial has that Prospex 'X' logo.

I prefer the SBDX001 for the dial.

Mine is about 10 years old. Never serviced. Doesn't miss a beat.

Elegant Chaos · 06-02-2021 12:57am

Delighted with this, the pine green “thought-it-was-black-for-at-a-glance” dial is great.

Decoda · 06-02-2021 9:04am

Elegant Chaos wrote:

Delighted with this, the pine green “thought-it-was-black-for-at-a-glance” dial is great.

Hi, would you be able to let me know the model number? Thx D.

Elegant Chaos · 06-02-2021 10:17am

It's the AW1598-70x.

06-02-2021 12:52pm

Rotating through some divers (but not hoodies) this weekend. Havn't had this on in a while. PO 2500m 42mm personally my favourite PO of all time, based on versatility (a function of size here). I also like it a lot on the OEM strap. The bracelet, however, is still one of the best ever, notwithstanding that it lacks the sort of adjustability you expect from a modern diver.