Who Watches the Watchmen (Our Chit Chat Thread)

blue5000 wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but has anyone else experienced really slow post trans-Atlantic? I've been waiting 5 weeks for a small package to arrive from US. Beginning to wonder should I make a claim on the insurance? It was sent through USPS on 25/3.

As to birth year watches I have a conception month tractor!:cool:

What does the tracking say?
Not trans atlantic, but I got something from Japan a week ago and it arrived in 2 days. I was shocked at how fast it was!

I have stuff TA that is sitting in NJ in a despatch queue.
I have stuff inbound from China, HK and SEA that has dispatch via airline scans on dates between the 19/3 and the 21/04 that is all floating around somewhere awaiting its destination scan.
Only 1 watch but I'm jonesing for it now :pac:

Apologies to FG too, I had inadvertently clicked like on a rather insulting post by Shutup.
it was a mistake on my part, no support or even acknowledgement of his fairly poor effort was intended.
I have removed it, and I am sorry

Thirdfox wrote: »

I think if people want to send things - right now it's better to use DHL etc. Will be sending out Sólás samples via courier rather than post anyway.

Yeah, my 2 day from Japan was DHL.

There's been one thing from China (calipers so watch related!) that I've been waiting for 4 months now - your next year assessment might not be far off

eljono wrote: »

A G-Shock I ordered April 30th from Germany arrived today, pretty happy with that delivery time.

I also ordered something car-related last week from USA. Received notification that it shipped Monday, will be interesting to see how long that takes to get here.

Had to shell out €35 to DHL this week for straps I ordered a few months ago from Crown & Buckle. €15 of that was their handling charge.

Photos of the G-Shock please :pac:

DHL'd documents from the Middle East to London to be signed last month, they were over and back in 16 days door to door. Can't argue with that in this climate.

So I have a couple of spare/broken movements that I've been trying to hone my DIY skills on.
Turns out that retinopathy is not conducive to any level of fine detail work with just my normal glasses.
Will likely buy a helping hand and LED-lit magnifier in the next few weeks and hope that alleviates my pesky eyes somewhat.

Skills that I have improved in the interim, lume application On sword and plain style hands at least.
Went from using a brush (terrible), to an oiler (a bit better), to a fluid dynamics dispenser tip(better again).
To finally experimenting with a fine flathead screwdriver, surprisingly gave me much better control over the spread and depth of the bubble of lume than any of the other options I'd tried.

The other methods, no matter what I tried always gave me a line, dimple or smudge that would appear even worse when emitting.
The screwdriver... well flat is flat I suppose!

Uncasing the movement, even managed not to feck up the keyless :P
Re-casing it, well that will depend on whether I can get the date wheel back on after it popped off :pac:

I plan to use my spare gubbins to put together a watch, now it won't be a "serviced" watch as that is far beyond me as yet.
But I have what I think is an ETA 2836 that could do decent service in a new case, so after I hand in my last essay(Which I'm currently writing now ) That will be my summer project.
Dependent upon reseating the bloody date wheel of course

Any tips would be much appreciated, and @Wibbs, the patience and sheer skill in re-luming will never be wasted upon me again!

Sky Helpful Fencer wrote: »

Get a cheap set of surgical loupes on ebay. They are not the worlds best optics and the pupilary distance is not set right for everyone, but they are comfortable to wear, you can look over them, and you can get them in a range of magnifications. Once you get used to working with them, your accuracy improves a lot and your posture. Some come with a headlight which is very handy as it moves with your head, and you cannot cast a shadow on it.

Thanks FG, very much appreciated.

Gorgeous watch in fairness. And a bit of a steal at just GBP80k

893bet wrote: »

Far too “Irish”. Some times less is more and in this occasion the really missed it IMO.

Honestly one of those things that would put paddy off a watch but will sell well to the Oirish IMO.

I'd much rather a Sólás

893bet wrote: »

I think is horrible personally. Especially the strap.

Far too “Irish”. Some times less is more and in this occasion the really missed it IMO.

Yeah, the green is way to bright. A deeper darker green would look way better. Looks like a novelty watch he got in carrolls of Dublin.

Thirdfox wrote: »

They needed the Celtic music too!

On WuS - you'll see some comments on how they loved the background music



What would you consider a moonwatch? One that's been on the surface of the moon? Or one that's been in space? You might want to have a look at Raketa/Poljots chronos - I think they have a model that was the USSR's Omega Speedmaster in terms of space.

Poljot Strela - https://wornandwound.com/watches-in-space-alexey-leonov/

Not unlike a 1963 chrono in terms of design actually!

I'm not that fussy...let's say moonwatch looking

banie01 wrote: »

Alpha 1957? Or one of the Bulova hybrid quartz ones?

The alpha is probably to homage for me

micks_address wrote: »

I'm not that fussy...let's say moonwatch looking

Ah - speedmaster homage as it were right?

So here's a good list as well as a massive WUS thread (I see you've had the Bulova already):

https://theupgreater.com/best-budget-omega-speedmaster-alternatives-moonwatch-homage/

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f71/best-speedmaster-homage-181042.html

Seems like the Alpha speedmaster is around $60?

micks_address wrote: »

Yes

Another possible option - Dan Henry 1972

Just been over on the Alpha-watch.com website and a couple of their 3 register chronos have caught my eye.
Their Pandas in particular, at $170 new they seem a great way to scratch a speedy itch.

Speaking of Irish watchmakers (actual watch maker):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYwBeiGy_RQ
McGonigle's

Now I'm not saying that Sólás no.3 will be a minute repeater...but... :eek:


...(it probably won't - would love to make an accessible minute repeater for those who want one however). The name is even ready - the Sólás Moonlight (Sonata) - one has to aim high!

You heard it first here folks

HDMI wrote: »

Jeez when he brought one of his tourbillions to a watch meet he wouldn't even let us get a wrist shot, didn't want the leather creased before it went to it's new owner. And there he is letting that guy take one apart before the customer gets it. :rolleyes:

Have to admit it looked a little scary when it was taking two of them and a mallet to take the bezel off :eek:

Well to be fair to Mr McGonigle - the watchmaker there definitely didn't crease any leather

He was at a watch meet? That sounds pretty cool - we should try and organise something after the quarantine is over

Mallet to a watch looks fun - especially if it's a (I'm guessing) something like a 60,000/100,000 euro watch?

Thirdfox wrote: »

Mallet to a watch looks fun - especially if it's a (I'm guessing) something like a 60,000/100,000 euro watch?

The video and commentary are wonderful.

Had to go and check the price, €200k OMG!

I've made what I hope will be a good decision.

I'm going to use this impending downturn to try and lay my hands on a watch that I didn't know existed until earlier in this thread.

But!

That given a convergence of interests in Aviation, Kelly Johnson, Lockheed and the skunk works, with my weird GMT obsession...

A Bulova Accutron Astronaut GMT with coffin link has been added to all my alerts.

I will have to clear out 1 watch if I ever get hold of one that I can afford