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Post by ianmedium on Mar 4, 2014 18:40:15 GMT -6
Its 34mm Steve so on the small side like my AirKing but I love that size for my wrist. It might explain why the pushers look so big as well
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Post by Nicko on Mar 4, 2014 18:56:25 GMT -6
But I think it's a good size for that watch. I'm more 40mm nothing larger, I could go 36 but 34 would be too small for my taste. I guess it's all what you're accustomed to. I'll bet it looks great on your wrist.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 4, 2014 21:46:16 GMT -6
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Post by rw16610 on Mar 5, 2014 0:26:12 GMT -6
Talk about all part of the fun! A watch purchase turned into a journey through time aided by your detective work to gather more info.
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Post by Nicko on Mar 5, 2014 4:05:49 GMT -6
I'm thinking this is in the same vein as Gallet which are quite pricy, and seeing how they were good enough for FDR they are good enough for me.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 5, 2014 9:56:58 GMT -6
Rommel, I think Steve will agree, its one of the main draws with vintage. The hunting out of information and sifting through history beforehand and then when its on your wrist its like owning an old master oil painting. You never really feel like you own it, you've just paid for the privilege of being custodian of it for a part of its history until the next person comes along. Being a bit of a Thoreauvian I like that way of thinking! Steve, it really does have the Gallet about it and its so funny you mention that as I was extolling how collectable those are to Carl yesterday as he has seen one for sale in the vintage store he uses here in Vancouver. I am really looking forward to getting the back off it and taking a picture of the movement so we can find out who's it is. The good thing is there were not as many of these up/down bicompax chrono's as there were the horizontal ones so it should be a little easier finding out the movement. I found this blog about a vintage Gallet with a 30mm case with up/down registers and he mentions how the movement must just fit into the case as the registers are right at the edge. Mine are not but close and seeing the variance in case size it makes me wonder again if this has the Venus 170 movement that the Gallet's and Breitlings had at the time. Here is the blog. www.ablogtowatch.com/living-with-the-past-a-week-with-a-1940s-vintage-gallet-chronograph-watch/Valjoux is another option for this type as well. The blogger mentions how the Gallet's were sold more to military and aviation customers than domestic and once again, looking at the pushers and crown I can't help but think this watch was aimed at a similar market. Anything to do with military appeals, as well as flying. I was in the RAF for a while and all my family were in branches of the British or Indian army during the Raj so I was brought up with a military background. I was the last to go into the services so to think this watch perhaps had some aviation or military background really appeals to me!
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Post by Nicko on Mar 5, 2014 11:14:33 GMT -6
I think you hit the nail on the head Ian, that's exactly how I feel about these watches and hence why I honestly have difficulty finding the one that sings to me. It's funny, but that 5508 I had just didn't do anything for me, do you know that I actually took the watch off and put it in my drawer and didn't wear it the day after I got it. A watch has to be something that appeals to you both visually and spiritually, I know it sounds a bit off but I believe these pieces actually hold some sort of Karma or energy to them. Of course I could never prove that but I have had watches that I simply hated even though they were very similar to other pieces that I actually loved. So you tell me why a vintage Submariner from 1963 at a cost of about $13,000 that should've been my grail ended up in my desk drawer because I was unable to wear it the day after I received it. Weird.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 5, 2014 12:13:56 GMT -6
Ah Steve, if you knew what I do for a living and that has been a constant in my life since an event at the age of four you would know with the karma and energy statement with are both singing from the same hymn sheet!
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Post by Nicko on Mar 5, 2014 12:31:28 GMT -6
Well Ian you have peaked my curiosity now, I thought I was the only one that felt that way about certain objects. I always wear my watch outside of my shirt so as to be able to visually see it when I have it on because I like to look at it and I like the feel of it on my wrist and if at all possible I like to leave the watch uncovered. This 5508 I had and for the actual day that I wore I covered the watch up, don't ask me why but I didn't even wanted to be seen. Now that I think back on it the actual watch really wasn't that much more different than a normal submariner. What was different was how I felt whilst I was wearing the watch. Call me crazy and, I don't know but that damn watch had a go the second that I put it on my wrist. I'd really like to know who had that watch before me and what he did while he was wearing that watch.
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Post by rw16610 on Mar 5, 2014 14:58:29 GMT -6
That's really interesting and I feel there is truth to it. The mystery is part of the fun with pre owned / vintage watches but it's why most tend to stick to brand new, if even from a grey dealer. Rolex watches (and any other high end items) are seen simply as status symbols to the majority of common folks out there. Not everyone shares our passion and appreciation for the history, design and internals. Most folks get one simply because of what it is and the fact that they can.
Many well known criminals have an appreciation for luxury items, a lot of which end up at auction (Especiall in USA). The Bernie Madoff watch collection is the perfect example of this. Not everyone who does that stuff gets caught and on a more simple level there's a handfull of crooked accountants and business managers out there taking celebrities and the wealthy for a ride. With their lack of interest in the fine details or the time to be involved a lot have later discovered this and are in court now to make things right.
On a lighter note, sometimes you just never know. The watch could have been owned by a politician or celebrity who's ancestors had no desire to wear or keep the piece. I've seen some legitimate Vintage watch listings where people had a piece passed onto them and would rather sell it right away.
If a watch does not satisfy you, it's time to find one that does. For what we pay for these things demanding perfection (in our eyes) is totally reasonable.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 5, 2014 21:54:37 GMT -6
Steve, I will bet that one of the things you picked up when wearing it was one of the past owners. I have observed this phenomenon so many times. Rommel, you have it spot on. If I had all the money in the world i would not touch Madoff's watches with a ten foot pole. There is really bad karma with that stuff. Your right as well, some that have been owned by people with more integrity are going to bring a lot more happiness. Now, onto straps! Looking at the tracking all being well the watch will be with me on Friday. It comes with a nice plain black Hirsch strap but I am thinking something a bit nicer would be good. My eye is going to a thin shell cordovan, does anyone have any experience with the Fluco straps from Germany? This one looks good though its padded, I don't know how thick the padding is though. Its in #8 which is a lovely rich burgundy brown colour and ages beautifully. www.ebay.ca/itm/18mm-Fluco-Brown-Horween-Shell-Cordovan-Color-8-German-Leather-Watch-Band-Strap-/231137848658?pt=US_Watch_Bands&hash=item35d0e3ad52&_uhb=1
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Post by rw16610 on Mar 5, 2014 22:07:38 GMT -6
Sadly I have very little experience with watch straps. You seem to be doing a very good thing picking one that ages gracefully though. That's never a bad idea to seek out while making this difficult choice.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 20, 2014 22:59:42 GMT -6
Still trying to decide on straps and came across a lovely Horween black strap hand made with some nice tooling in the leather, what do you think? I know Cordovan takes on a nice finish with age. I have asked him if he offers any other colours
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 21, 2014 9:10:20 GMT -6
So the guy selling these wrote to me today to say he has a dark brown Horween as well in a plain finish with stitching running across the end of the strap and will custom make one for me. He asked me wrist size and what colour stitching, I think natural would be nice and he is going to get back to me with cost but the plain one he sold on eBay was only $30 so I am guessing it won't be much more than that. Will report back but around that price point for a US made Horween strap custom sized is a bargain! Here is an image of the strap but with dark stitching.
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Post by ianmedium on Mar 21, 2014 13:14:27 GMT -6
Well, I have ordered a custom made strap from the seller. Its going to look like the brown one I posted but with natural stitching and made to measure. Its made of Horween leather in the US and he charged me the cost of the black strap he has for sale which was $39 so a custom made strap including shipping and customs charges (he is one of the US sellers who adds that cost in so as not to take any chances with customs here) the strap cost a total of $50 US. Considering the factory Fluco's are going for over $70 and the custom made US ones for $120 this is really good value. I will let you know what its like when it arrives but the guy was really great to deal with and I think its going to be a really lovely strap. Here are his eBay details.. www.ebay.ca/usr/andreasmario916He does not have a lot for sale but just ask him about having one made if your interested.
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