Poor man's watch thread

[DorianGreen]

The average woman you meet can't tell a Polerouter from a Patek. But they all know a Sub is a "nice watch." And that's likely why your successful real estate agent is wearing one.

Yes, as I said, Rolex is a status symbol. More than being a "nice watch", it reveals that the wearer is a successful man.
This does not mean that they are not nice and good watches, but all the hype is clearly not justifiable with quality alone.

 

[FPB]

My Dad was an RAF pilot from 1936 to 1958 and I have his watch. Looks very similar to this but it’s Longines. I priced them on eBay or maybe some watch forum a couple of years ago and the going rate was around $2k IIRC.
The watch looks positively tiny compared to today’s standards so I’d probably never wear it but I’d probably never sell it either!



It was nice to see a version of this watch feature in the ‘Dunkirk’ film worn by Tom Hardy one of the Spitfire pilots.I think he had it strapped to his thigh.

Awesome watch. That's a piece of history; don't ever sell it!

 

[Michigan Planner]

I wore my JLC Weems Mark VII for the first time yesterday. I bought this in October for $50 at a local antique store. I think that they priced it wrong but I wasn't about to argue. I service my own watches but I'm too chickenshit to take this one on. Sure, breaking a pivot on a Bulova or a Hamilton or a Seiko sucks, but at least parts are [usually] readily available. JLC is in a category by itself. So one of these days I'll have to send it off to JLC for a service I did finally remove the bracelet so I could run it through the ultrasonic. Lots of DNA.
View attachment 1911705

My Dad was an RAF pilot from 1936 to 1958 and I have his watch. Looks very similar to this but it’s Longines. I priced them on eBay or maybe some watch forum a couple of years ago and the going rate was around $2k IIRC.
The watch looks positively tiny compared to today’s standards so I’d probably never wear it but I’d probably never sell it either!

View attachment 1911735

It was nice to see a version of this watch feature in the ‘Dunkirk’ film worn by Tom Hardy one of the Spitfire pilots.I think he had it strapped to his thigh.

Both very cool watches!

What's with the big crown at the 4:00 position?

 

[Nealjpage]

Both very cool watches!

What's with the big crown at the 4:00 position?

The Weems is the first watch with a rotating bezel. That crown locks the bezel in place.

 

[Nealjpage]

My Dad was an RAF pilot from 1936 to 1958 and I have his watch. Looks very similar to this but it’s Longines. I priced them on eBay or maybe some watch forum a couple of years ago and the going rate was around $2k IIRC.
The watch looks positively tiny compared to today’s standards so I’d probably never wear it but I’d probably never sell it either!

View attachment 1911735

It was nice to see a version of this watch feature in the ‘Dunkirk’ film worn by Tom Hardy one of the Spitfire pilots.I think he had it strapped to his thigh.

That's a beautiful piece. You should wear it! My mom's uncle was a USAF navigator on a B17 who was shot down over France. I'd love to see his issue piece. And my grandpa was a USAF fighter pilot in Korea. Sadly he died shortly before I started collecting so I never asked him what he was issued.

 

[Thin White Duke]

That's a beautiful piece. You should wear it! My mom's uncle was a USAF navigator on a B17 who was shot down over France. I'd love to see his issue piece. And my grandpa was a USAF fighter pilot in Korea. Sadly he died shortly before I started collecting so I never asked him what he was issued.

I vaguely remember the watch originally having a steel expandable bracelet (not sure if that was the original issue) - the kind that nips the hairs on your wrist. I think my (late) Mam had told me it was originally on a leather strap so that’s why I put the above strap on. She also said she remembers a RAF issue watch my Dad had that had a pink face which I’m assuming was patina as that seems a very rare and unlikely colour for anything military. I asked her about it and she said it had been so long that maybe he had to turn it in when he resigned his commission. This of course predates my birth so it’s lost to history now but I would be curious what sort of watches were issued to RAF pilots over the years. I still have his 1950s aviator sunglasses and some other cool swag!

 

[Genericuser1]

Just noticed when posting this the crown was out, who knew posting to SF could be useful IRL.

 

[Jazzmenco]

Another "cheap" Seiko

 

[FPB]

Anyone have a favorite seller/brand for leather straps? There's a million sellers out there. I don't want to spend >$150 but I don't want junk either.

 

[Jazzmenco]

Anyone have a favorite seller/brand for leather straps? There's a million sellers out there. I don't want to spend >$150 but I don't want junk either.

I buy a lot of straps from Panatime. Wait for their sales.

 

[ter1413]

We Waited in the Rain for Omega’s Gold MoonSwatch. Here’s Why Collectors Were Willing to Get Wet.

More than a hundred shoppers lined up at The Royal Exchange to buy the new timepiece.

robbreport.com

 

[NakedYoga]

I still have his 1950s aviator sunglasses and some other cool swag!

Wear the shades for your next WAYT photo!

 

[DorianGreen]

A brand seldom discussed, still offering nice and fairly priced timepieces, Alpina.

Here the Seastrong Diver 300 Heritage.
In green.

In silver.

 

[FPB]

Alpina is very underrated. I've got a pilot heritage with the hunter case back and sometimes I think it's my favorite watch of my small collection.

 

[RogerP]

35mm of faithfully restored vintage goodness from the early '40s.