My Watch History.

[drunken monkey]

had the camera out and set up so I took a new set of "gallery" shots of the few watches that I have.
they're not all TAG Heuer though.

My first "proper" watch at 15-16.
It was maybe £200 back then and it isn't really a proper watch being a generic quartz chrono movement in a sports label case but it had lots of functions and that was all that matters to a 15-16 year old.


At 18 I got this one.
My sister got one too but she went for the gold/steel ladies one.



That was it for a long time as I stopped wearing watches as they got a bit in the way of my study and lifestyle.
Then just over a year ago, I was accompanying my sister who was on the hunt for a Monaco and I spotted this one and fell in love with the aesthetic. At the time, the cost of this was not that different to an actual vintage model but it came with the assurances you get with a new watch so I bought it.



I had started to look at more watches both new and old and along the way picked up what I call follies after my architecture background.






These I bought because I was going through different shapes to see how they looked in real life. Most of those are simple single jewel pin pallet watches except the vintage Crusader that I bought not to wear but because the movement looked this:



Meanwhile, I dug out my dad's old Omega.
This was his one watch that he bought before I was born and nearly every memory I have of him, he had this watch on. I don't think it has ever seen a service and even to this day, it will start to run when I pick it up. Considering that he spent 20 years working in a kitchen and ten years prior to that being a factory delivery guy, I can tell you that this was not a pampered watch. After cleaning off that 20 years worth of kitchen grease, it looked this.


I tried it on but couldn't ever get it to fit properly, even with all the extra links removed. At the same time, I spotted the Glashutte Original Seventies and I fell in love with the photos. I tried one on but alas, the modern 40mm case was way too big for my puny wrists. I recalled my dad's watch and had a look around I looked around and noticed that the other variations of the 1010/1020 TV dialed Omega had slightly smaller cases and shorter lug to lug distances. The bracelets also fitted onto the cases more at an angle to give a better fit.
What I ended up with was this.
(Currently being serviced by our resident Wilderbeest)


After buying this, my eye got caught by the vintage Omega divers, namely the first two 300m Seamasters. I found myself with the same dilemma as with the Carrera; buy vintage and worry about condition and "hidden" servicing costs or buy the safety of the modern version. I was also a little unsure of the size of the watches. I know that the Carrera is probably a touch too big for me and I've read that the Planet Ocean is smaller than the 42mm case suggests. I had tried a couple on and liked the fit but couldn't quite bring myself to buy another watch so soon. Instead, I bought one of these to get my vintage fix and to have a trial period living with a similar watch at a fraction of the price.


Soon after, I couldn't say no any longer and bought the Planet Ocean after all; driven partly because of my impatience and partly because of the announcement of the ceasing of its production.


I bought this on my way to Hong Kong and whilst in Hong Kong, I was wandering around my favourite model+air gun district when I noticed the familar crown and Omega logos glowing brightly. I went over for a look and in the window, was a watch that looked pretty much like my tv-dialed Omega that was currently being serviced. It had a sticker price that wasn't entirely unreasonable so I rang the doorbell, walked in and prepared myself for some bargaining.
Sticker was HK$850 and I got it for HK$650.
Not a bad result and it fit my wrist nicely and made a very good replacement for the Omega while it was being taken apart.
It is pretty much a combination of the case style of my Omega and the bracelet of a variant of it.
This photo was taken after I gave the bracelet a going over with 250 grit sandpaper and put the dremel and polishing compound to the bezel and polished edge.


and another so you can see the polished edge.



And that is it.

I should be getting the Omega back from Christian this week when it has an appointment at Somlo for a new bracelet.
After that, I'm not sure what is next.
Me being me, I'm in that same situation I was in with the Carrera and Planet Ocean; vintage or modern version.
Currently, it is Hamilton Pan Europ or Heuer Cal.12 Carrera/Autavia.

Past results show that the modern has the edge but I really am loving the vintage Heuer watches.
There is also the outside contender of a young vintage Rolex Explorer 1.

Is there an end?

[xekret]

Nice PO. There is no end. I find myself looking at watches all the time. If I could only find out what model Tissot my dad use to own I would be on the same road you are.

[Eeeb]

Is there an end? Yeh, sure.... Once you catch the bug, you never get over having another nice watch. There is so much to appreciate as your diverse collection shows.

Thanks for sharing!!

[calibre 11]

Cool collection- love the diversity of what you have. The Autavia is a great series to collect- 3-4 different case types and lots of variation in terms of dial, movement and colour.

dc

[BMWRINO]

very nice collection and stories to go with them...thank you for sharing!

[vanilla.coffee]

Nice one, I like the TV Bulova.

[bradharro]

Is there an end - no.

Should there be an end - no!!

[TISSOT PRX]

My first "proper" watch at 15-16.
It was maybe £200 back then and it isn't really a proper watch being a generic quartz chrono movement in a sports label case but it had lots of functions and that was all that matters to a 15-16 year old.

I also started with an Ellesse 200$ watch. I thought it was pretty good at the time, being 20 years old. It has a ETA 1jewel quartz movement in it. I took it apart last month to have a looksies.

[Split Second]

Thanks for sharing. And, yes, there is an end -- and you'll know when you reach it.

regards,

mike.

[drunken monkey]

Nice one, I like the TV Bulova.

Actually, it is quickly becoming my favourite daily wearer too.

It's tiny and measures what looks like just under 36mm if I'm being generous and it is thin at about 8-9mm but that big thick bezel makes it look chunkier than it is.
That's what drew me to that particular variant of tv-dial Seamaster that the Bulova was a temporary replacement for. My dad's Geneve doesn't have that bezel but is in a bigger/wider case and so looks a little too flat. The other variant has a smaller lip/step bezel that doesn't quite look as sharp as that big bezel.

I must have worn it more than I did the PO and 1887 when I was in Hong Kong and y'know, with the impending return of the Seamaster, I'm feeling a little guilty that the Bulova might be relegated to box duties because the two really are so similar. I know though, that it could also do with a service as the crown could do with replacing and the movement is perhaps losing more time than it should and hand-winding is pretty impossible so something isn't quite right it there.

I think I've posted it before but here's some more of that 70s retro style