Do I Have a Theme?

[Ray MacDonald]

An important question to ask yourself in collecting vintage watches is "do I have a theme?". There is a lot of great (and cheap) stuff out there, and it's easy to get carried away and end up with a cluttered collection that overflows your watch boxes.
I have two themes actually for my collection:
For pocket watches it's something my grandfathers would have bought and used. I look for non railroad grade American models with porcelain dials that date to 1914 or earlier. I have a couple of these that actually belonged to my respective grandfathers.
For wristwatches I like to collect something my father would have enjoyed. That's American or Swiss made time only wind-ups from the 1940s and 1950s - Elgin, Waltham, Bulova, Benrus, Gruen.
How about you? Do you have a theme?

[Docrwm]

Ray, Great question. I was working on 40s-50s Bulovas but got burned once too often:-( I like older complicated watches made by regular entry level manufacturers. My Bulova Concentric is a perfect example of this category. Bulova sold more watches than anyone else for years in the USA and this 23 jewel 6 adjustments day-date is as complicated as they got back in the day;-)Of course there were MUCH more expensive watches even in the 40s and 50s but I've always found it silly to even consider spending 10%+ of your annual salary on a watch (sorry if that offends anyone its just my upbringing) so I have focused on "affordable" watches that do terrific things well.:-! Currently, I am enjoying several Russian watches that are terrific - the Poljot Alarm that I posted about several weeks ago continues to exceed COSC standards for $90 plus shipping:-p

[Hartmut Richter]

Do I have a theme? Not really - if anything it is movements! I collect any brand which I can cheaply pick up on eBay but am always happy if it ahs a movement I don't have. Currently, I am wearing an (almost) real German watch: a ZentRa from the early seventies with a DUROWE (Int) 7525. Wonderful watch - automatic, winds easily (unidirectional winding), very rapid date change and keeps good time. I was once told that the automatic winding module was made by Adolf Schild, though - so my only 100% real German watches are my vintage Junghans watches.


Hartmut Richter

[quoll]

When it comes to vintage/old pieces, yes I think I do. For new watches less so - I just buy what I like. For older pieces I concentrate on 50s - 70s swiss with a strong preference for 50s. And it has to be cheap - so I avoid the obvious brands not because I don't like them but because I can get more elusive, harder to find brands for much less.

[Hockey Whino]

I don't really have a theme. I buy what I like and what I can get a good deal on. I do tend to get automatics with exibition backs. I try not to get two of the same style/look. Each one of my collection has a time and a place for wearing on my wrist.

[kamerawerx]

This is a very interesting dilemma I just struggled through. One day I realized I didn't have a watch collection... just an accumulation.

After some brutal selling, and lots of fun research (the research is almost the most fun of the whole process!) I, also, decided to concentrate on two things...

..."vintage" Omega Seamasters ("vintage" can mean as late as the 1980's, can't it?) I mostly like the late 50's to early 70's models, especially the chronographs!

...and early-ish Omega pocketwatches.

This is a lot more enjoyable so far, as within this broad parameter, there are ump-teen dozen variations of models and calibres. The hunt is also great, because just because you "pull the trigger" doesn't mean a watch will just fall into your lap. I get outbid, or am just a hair late all to often! Not to mention avoiding fakes and franken-watches!

Anyway, I'm on the "theme" bandwagon now. Wish I'd have jumped on long ago!

Regards!

[Ray916MN]

Right now, 36,000 bph.

Ray

[sevesteen]

How about you? Do you have a theme?

Watches should be wearable by me, and not a type available at WalMart, meaning no stepper quartz or LCD. Beyond that, I'm sort of anti-theme--I want examples of different types. Cosmetic differences need to be fairly major to be considered a type, I also consider movement features, country, movement maker and occasionally brand. I've filled most of the interesting slots, and now I'm working on better examples. I've got a Caravelle 666 foot diver that will probably get replaced by a Seiko diver, and the Bumper-wind Borel will get replaced if I find one with a bigger case and/or better dial.

I buy a lot of repair lots, often with only one watch I'm particularly interested in, and occasionally bought just for profit potential. Sometimes I'll sell off the extras right away, (altough I'll usually wear the mechanicals at least once) other times I'll stick them on my watch shelf for a while. The ones that don't get wrist time and aren't particularly unique get culled when the shelf gets full.

[jim applebaum]

This is my inaugural on this or any watch enthusiast's forum and so, with a deep breath, I will try to air my themes:

1. In memory of my long-departed father's preferences, I began my collection about a month ago with a Gruen curvex "trooper" cal 440 and a preference for rectangular watches of or about my age.But then...

2. I was attracted to an eBay offer and purchased, for daily use, a Revue Thommen
streamline automatic. Notwithstanding...

3. My eyes teared when I saw an attractive Wittnauer 9WN tank with art deco details
(ca 1940) that will live alongside a recently won Tavannes mid-1930s black fa,ce long rectangular. Meanwhile, some pocket change got me..

4. A Rado Senator and a square, brush gold Glycine peseux 7040, both 1970s and from an Asian seller, plus

5. A manual Wyler tank 14k with ETA 1000 (sic) movement.

Such is the chaotic - and for me stimulating- way I have chosen to become a watch enthuasiast. Purchase prices (excluding shipping) have ranged from a low of $49 to a high of $160.

[Ray MacDonald]

This is my inaugural on this or any watch enthusiast's forum and so, with a deep breath, I will try to air my themes:

1. In memory of my long-departed father's preferences, I began my collection about a month ago with a Gruen curvex "trooper" cal 440 and a preference for rectangular watches of or about my age.But then...

2. I was attracted to an eBay offer and purchased, for daily use, a Revue Thommen
streamline automatic. Notwithstanding...

3. My eyes teared when I saw an attractive Wittnauer 9WN tank with art deco details
(ca 1940) that will live alongside a recently won Tavannes mid-1930s black fa,ce long rectangular. Meanwhile, some pocket change got me..

4. A Rado Senator and a square, brush gold Glycine peseux 7040, both 1970s and from an Asian seller, plus

5. A manual Wyler tank 14k with ETA 1000 (sic) movement.

Such is the chaotic - and for me stimulating- way I have chosen to become a watch enthuasiast. Purchase prices (excluding shipping) have ranged from a low of $49 to a high of $160.

Thanks for posting and welcome. Any photos you could provide would be most appreciated.
As you have discovered it isn't THAT expensive to get into vintage collecting. The real cost comes in getting the watches serviced and keeping them running.
You have chosen some interesting European pieces. Now you should have a look at the great American watches of the 30s and 40s like Hamilton or Elgin.

[jim applebaum]

:thanks I seem to prefer light, uncomplicated wristwatches. I have fairly small wrists, wear dress shirts with ties and jackets when I teach, so the compactness of smaller watches seems suitable. Living not very far west of Lancaster PA and having some historical interests, it would seem likely to look at some manual vintage Hamiltons. Perhaps I can benchmark my interest in their attraction/cost (e.g., eBay pricing) on the Gruen curvex already in use?

[Ray MacDonald]

:thanks I seem to prefer light, uncomplicated wristwatches. I have fairly small wrists, wear dress shirts with ties and jackets when I teach, so the compactness of smaller watches seems suitable. Living not very far west of Lancaster PA and having some historical interests, it would seem likely to look at some manual vintage Hamiltons. Perhaps I can benchmark my interest in their attraction/cost (e.g., eBay pricing) on the Gruen curvex already in use?
Well considering your career and location it would seem a natural to collect some vintage Hamiltons. Even a Hamilton 992B pocket watch would be a nice addition.
They are probably the finest American made watches and in the 1940s were considered equivalent to Omega at least. The manual ones are American made. Hamilton never produced an automatic watch in its US factory.
A nice Hamilton is probably cheaper than a Gruen curvex, which is an extremely desirable watch for collectors these days and gets real premium prices.
If you decide to collect Hamiltons I advise you to get ones that are serviced and running if you can. They are great watches but some of them are getting hard to get parts for.
I have this Hamilton Perry model 980 and I needed a new winding stem. I think my watchmaker friend has only one left now and they don't make them any more.

[pacifichrono]

Ray, Great question. I was working on 40s-50s Bulovas but got burned once too often:-( I like older complicated watches made by regular entry level manufacturers. My Bulova Concentric is a perfect example of this category. Bulova sold more watches than anyone else for years in the USA and this 23 jewel 6 adjustments day-date is as complicated as they got back in the day;-)Of course there were MUCH more expensive watches even in the 40s and 50s but I've always found it silly to even consider spending 10%+ of your annual salary on a watch (sorry if that offends anyone its just my upbringing) so I have focused on "affordable" watches that do terrific things well.:-! Currently, I am enjoying several Russian watches that are terrific - the Poljot Alarm that I posted about several weeks ago continues to exceed COSC standards for $90 plus shipping:-pSay, Doc, that's one fantastic Bulova! I love it! What's the gold content???

[Isthmus]

I have a theme. I collect mainly Seiko's from the 60's and 70's. more specifically 61XX and 70XX caliber cushioned cased automatics from the 60's and 70's. IMHO, they were the best work seiko produced in terms of original design and sheer variety. I did collect their chrono's of the same calibers for a time, but they are getting impossible to find in good condition and almost as difficult to restore and mantain properly, so I've moved to less complicated movements. I'm particularly fond of clean irridescent dials, and have been known to stay away from a watch just because it had either too much writting or too prominent a logo on the dial (such as with seiko 5's).

[pacifichrono]

My "theme" is similar to the merchandising strategy employed by founder Charles Lazarus of Toys R Us, as he once described in a magazine interview: "Whatever they make, I buy."

[johnbaz]

blooming 'eck, just composed a long reply-then lost it:-(

anyhow, hello all, i have no theme exept that my watches should have nice movements inside (non quartz, although i have many qtz watches my faves are purely mechanicalB-) )
here are a few-
this 9ct rodania recently joined my collection and the AS movement runs very well:-)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/johnbaz/rodania.jpg
another that has only recently come to me, milos 7jewel deco style watch, the movement is not very high quality but has a compensated balance and faux geneva stripes (savoy watch co)i swapped an old E ROS nevada 12 string guitar for this one:-!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/johnbaz/MILOS1.jpg




http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/johnbaz/MILOS.jpg
1950 omega cal 265.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y116/johnbaz/1950omegasteel.jpg

i hope these pics don't turn out too large-if they turn out at all:-D

regards, john.

[Ray MacDonald]

Thanks for posting your photos. The Omega is particularly fine.

[Ron Engels]

How about you? Do you have a theme?

I certainly do. For me it's pilot's watches. I've always loved watches, and I just happen to be a pilot. What makes more sense then to combine the two. That gives me an opportunity to use these watches in a way they were meant to be. Although to be perfectly honest, in a modern cockpit you can do very well without a wristwatch at all.
The nice thing about this 'theme' is that I'm not limited to a certain era. Nor to size, technology, manufacturer etc. Slowly I'm building my own small history lesson in aviation watches. From the 1930's till today. Manual, automatic and quartz. Plain watches, chronographs, dual timezones, etc. At least a dozen different brands. Cheap and expensive.
As a matter of fact, here are two pictures showing you how diverse they can get:

Czech Air force Longines from around WWII, and a brand new high tech Omega X-33:

http://www.pilotswatch.nl/images/Varia/old_new.jpg

Weems designed Longines Navigation watch from the 30's. As far as I know, the very first wristwatch with a central second hand, and a much later German Military issued Heuer Fly-Back Chronograph, in the Sternzeit Reguliert or Sidereal time regulated version:

http://www.pilotswatch.nl/images/Varia/small_big.jpg

[Ray MacDonald]

Thanks for posting. Your theme really makes sense for you and you have an enviable collection. :-!

[wspohn]

I generally collect Le Coultre and Longines, although Heaven knows I inevitably stray from those themes fairly often.

Wearing today - a 1962 Omega Constellation pie pan

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/omegacon1.jpg (http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/page/page/3160916.htm)

and a 1950s Le Coultre Futurematric has been seeing a lot of 'wrist time'

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/JL.jpg (http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/page/page/3160916.htm)

[Hewybaby]

Do I have a theme? Yes, but it wasn't until I started writing this that it became clear.

I am collecting rare Omegas, trying to get some of the unusual and notable watches Omega has produced. I am also collecting complications, as much as possible with watches made by Omega.

I like Omega, I like vintage, and I like out of the ordinary. It has appealed to me to acquire some of the watches and movements I see on Omega's Musuem web pages. I have managed to acquire some uncommon, and a few rare, vintage and merely preowned Omegas:

Vintage -- > 25 years
1947 Cosmic moonphase (first year);
1948 Centenary (100th anniversary -- 4,000 produced);
1951 Seamaster Calendar (with date at 6);
1964 Seamaster DeVille (Calibre 560 -- only 3,000 produced)
1970 Seamaster Memomatic alarm;
1973 Speedmaster 125 (2,000 produced),
1981 La Magique (904 produced);
1981 Equinoxe;
1983 Phase de Lune Or (466 produced);

Modern -- < 25 years
1991 Louis Brandt chronograph (387 produced);
1998 Deville Prestige Jump Hour;
1998 Seamaster 1/100th;
1999 Speedmaster Rattrapante (4,000 produced);
2002 Museum Collection re-edition 1951 Cosmic Moonphase (1,951 produced);

My watches are not museum pieces; I wear them all.

The above are really the core of my collection. I have other watches that appealed to me because of uniqueness, historical significance or character:

1935 Gruen Curvex (first year)
1940s Lussera chronograph (Macy's store brand -- the movement is marked Macy's!) with a Lemania CH 27 -- the same as the Omega 321
1950s Chronographe Suisse with Venus 170 (with an awful redial -- the minutes counter and subseconds dial markings are reversed! It's fun to see who notices!)
1950's era Lanco single crown mechanical alarm
1960's era Baume et Mercier double crown mechanical alarm
1956 LeCoultre Galaxy mystery dial watch with diamond markers (first year)
1960s Omega F300Hz Chronometer (Omega tuning fork)
1970 Wittnauer '2000' with a perpetual calendar -- a month printed on the dial with rotating subdials
1970 Lip Jump Hour or direct read digital mechanical
1985 Tissot Rockwatch in green marble
2002 Eberhard 8 Day Postillon

As I stated before, I hadn't consciously formulated what I was doing, just getting what appealed to me. I realize I have a list of complications and features I already own, followed by those I want to own and those that are just too much.

Features owned:
chronometer certified
bumper automatic
mystery dial
tuning fork movement
jump hour
direct read digital
touchscreen (Tissot T Touch)
Reverso-like flippable watch
exhibition back
watch < 3mm thick

Complications owned:
mechanical alarm with one crown
mechanical alarm with two crowns
chronograph
chronometer chronograph
rattrapante chronograph
skeleton watch (albeit a Swatch!!!)
triple date moonphase
Power reserve indicator
8 day movement

And features/complications I want to own:

coaxial escapement
GMT (24 hour)
dual time zones
flyback chronograph
triple date moonphase chronograph
index mobile rattrapante chronograph
perpetual calendar
repeater

And complications I think may be too ridiculously expensive and of limited utility for me:
equation of time
tourbillon

Did I miss any?

Thanks for making me think through it!