Mechanical Watches

[Bill Terry]

I am told that a good watch is the only form of jewellery that a man can truly justify.

Also pretty knives: https://www.williamhenry.com/knives.html.

[Rolf Jacobsen]

Not mechanical but old school. A present from a client in 1969. I still wear it.

[DrLogik]

Oooohhh, an original Bulova Accutron. Very cool!!

[lloyd3]

I couldn't help myself and got another watch. Won't get to actually use it until Christmas, but a small price to pay. In memory of all the dinky FBOs and the incredible mix of light aircraft I got to experience with my dad (the original fly fisherman in my family), all those years ago, I went with a modern variant of the Glycene Airman (I believe he had an old Breitling once, but I just couldn't warm up to them for a number of reasons). I really appreciate that at least two of the folks here made me aware of their history and story. It's a "new" in the box, unworn watch in that it is likely a remnant of the big clearance sale on this model from a few years ago, and while it wasn't quite as inexpensive as they were then, it was still very reasonable for what you're getting. Really looking forward to it.

[winston59]

I like this post. I was wondering When someone was going to make a post about watches? I say, it's about time.
What I am wearing is all about mood and function. Tissot, Victorinox, Citizen, Seiko, Bulova. Automatic to quartz.

[DrLogik]

I love my mechanical watches, and have some nice ones too (including vintage Omegas, high-end Seiko's and some old pocket watches of family long gone), but my daily driver is a Garmin Fenix 5X.

Sorry to say, I rarely wear any of my mechanical watches now. I miss wearing them, bad, but the Garmin does so much more of the things that are important to me that I can't stop wearing it.

Here's a sampling: Garmin 5X, Seiko SKX-007 (Japan made), Seiko original "Cocktail", Omega "Bump-wind" and a Hamilton Auto.

My heart must have stopped, it's showing "000" Maybe it's the 10,000 steps and my 7 mile cranker on my bike that did it.......

[Silver Doctor]

Perhaps a silly thing but are all Mechanical watches identified on their backs as such?

[lloyd3]

Silver Doctor: Not to my knowledge. Clearly, if there is a window in the back (into the workings) then you'd know. Otherwise the solid backs give no clue. Some quartz watches do everything possible to imitate the mechanical ones (for obvious reasons). Unless you look closely (or know something about them) you'd never otherwise know. And...lots of very good fakes out there. Like I mentioned earlier, they're either man-jewelry of they're tools for a specific purpose, much like the cool Garmin Dr. Logik's got. Both have their place but...the "tool" watches are undeniably attractive to me.

The idea of not ever needing a battery (i.e. not being "dependant") is quite appealing until you figure out that any really hard (& thoughtless) use will result in the inevitable need for a cleaning and a tune-up someday. Instead of just wearing one as a forgettable convenience anymore, I'm trying to be more-deliberate (and perhaps more careful?) in my use. Much like a good flyrod that needs deliberate care in order to last, that's what I'm planning on going forward. And...with the specter of serious inflation looming, having good tools handy just seems like a good idea to me right now, no-matter what happens.

[Srock]

Orange monster is my favorite fishing watch.

[davemaine]

I couldn't help myself and got another watch. Won't get to actually use it until Christmas, but a small price to pay. In memory of all the dinky FBOs and the incredible mix of light aircraft I got to experience with my dad (the original fly fisherman in my family), all those years ago, I went with a modern variant of the Glycene Airman (I believe he had an old Breitling once, but I just couldn't warm up to them for a number of reasons). I really appreciate that at least two of the folks here made me aware of their history and story. It's a "new" in the box, unworn watch in that is likely a remnant of the big clearance sale on this model from a few years ago, and while it wasn't quite as inexpensive as they were then, it was still very reasonable for what you're getting. Really looking forward to it.

Congrats on the Airman purchase. They really are cool. They're different and have a legit history. I enjoy wearing mine quite a bit.

Perhaps a silly thing but are all Mechanical watches identified on their backs as such?

One quick way to identify working watches (you may already know this): quartz watches "tick"--the second hand jumps once each second. The second hand on a mechanical watch "sweeps" (actually it makes several small jumps per second, but it looks more like an even sweep).

[lloyd3]

Dave: Is yours the "double12" or the more traditional 24 hour unit? I mulled it over and went with the more-traditionally marked 24 hour unit. The legitimate history shouldn't matter (& wouldn't to most) but it was significant to my decision here. Not a "homage" watch, but the real thing created by the cooperation of a working DC-4 pilot and a Rep from the Swiss maker way back in 1953. Mine's the somewhat newer version with the metal bracelet and the more streamlined bezel, it's also the bigger case (44mm, which works better on my larger wrists). A true GMT watch (the 1st actually, predating the Rolex GMT by a year) and a shocking value (IMHO) for all the more I paid. My Scottish grandfather would be proud.

Correction: You mentioned earlier that yours is the Base 22, my bad.

[corlay]

really like mechanical watches, but don't dabble in the "collectibles".
Just good-working Seikos, Lacos, Strelas, Seagull, etc.

Here's my most recent purchase:
(A cool-looking Panerai knock-off Automatic from Australia)

[lloyd3]

Neat Panzera. Cool color combination.

My new toy as well. It's Christmas!



This is a big, significant toy (at 44mm, it seems much bigger than my sapphire sandwich Speedmaster). Came in the factory Glycine box, pillow and all. Even wrapped in contact plastic with an uncompleted warranty card (too-late to send that in I suppose?) Didn't notice the gradient effect on the dial before (the black to blue), but I genuinely like it. The level of detail and quality of execution is truly spectacular. Sapphire crystal (front and back, I believe), gorgeous and seemingly-comfortable bracelet.... I just can't believe I paid so-little for it (that seldom happens for me). Fun, fun, fun! It's really is almost too-nice to fish with, darn-it.

Now back in the box for a few months so I can be "surprised". Not a problem though...don't mind waiting on this one.

[davemaine]

Very cool Airman. Mine is the Base 22 "purist," so 24 hour dial, no GMT hand. In other words, the hour hand goes around the dial once every 24 hours. It's a little smaller at 42mm, which is good for me since I have rather unimpressive wrists, haha.

[lloyd3]

42mm is a bit more conventional. They even make this unit in a 46mm case(!). At 44, this one seems pretty big, can't imagine going the next size up.

[prairieschooner]

As much as I like mechanical watches I've gone over to the dark side of convenience. I finally sold my Seiko Bullhead chronograph which I bought new in 1972 or so and wore for years and which my brother-in-law once fished off of the bottom of Cedar Bluff lake after it flew off my wrist on a cast. I had a cheap watch winder but the side-to-side required for the Seiko didn't translate well to round-and-round of the winder and I finally got tired of resetting it every time I got it out to wear. I also had a Seiko Kenetic - same problem. But my grandfather's Elgin and my dad's Bulova aren't going anywhere...

[G-ManBart]

Yep, the parallels are pretty close. I've got my grandfather's manual-wind, tank style gold filled Longines from the 1930s, my father's Seiko Sportsmantic 5 self-winding that he bought new in Saigon in 1965, a Kobold Phantom Tactical Titanium that my wife gave me as a wedding present and a Glycine Combat Sub along with a handful of quartz watches. My first decent watch is Seiko Arctura Kinetic chronograph I bought when I really wanted an automatic watch but couldn't quite swing the price. I could spend a fortune on watches with almost no effort!

[RSW]

I have a number of automatics. Two of my favorites are these.

[lloyd3]

Just bought my son a Glycene Combat Sub (at Costco even!) for his high-school graduation. He's not a watch guy quite yet, but I told him with prudent care and use, as a mechanical watch, it could even be a decent investment some day. That seemed to perk him up about it, so....we'll see.

[RaspberryPatch]

I have my father's 1961 Seamaster, automatic, that I wear on special occasions. I have my a few older family pocket watches.