Watch dials

[ianmarsh]

I thought I would try out a set of extension tubes I bought ages ago but had not used. Not many good subjects to hand so I dug out some of my vintage watches with interesting dials. Most of these are lit with standard bulbs, a couple with light from a mobile phone held close to the subject. Fuji X-T2, 90mm lens and 10+16mm extension tubes

1. Universal Geneve Polerouter (1954ish). I forgot to set the hands at a more visually pleasing time
Polerouter III by Ian, on Flickr

2. Omega Constellation, pie-pan dial (late 1950s)
Chronom II by Ian, on Flickr

3. A linen dial Zenith, date unknown
Zenith by Ian, on Flickr

 

[lexidium]

Wow! I'm envious of those watches.

 

[Boots]

Some nice dials there. Do you ever take the casebacks off? I often find the movement photos are just as interesting as the dials, sometimes more so.

 

[ianmarsh]

Some nice dials there. Do you ever take the casebacks off? I often find the movement photos are just as interesting as the dials, sometimes more so.

Next weekend! The back on the Polerouter is stuck so I need a tool for that. But I'm going to try movement shots next, including from some more modern and/or complicated watches

 

[ianmarsh]

Wow! I'm envious of those watches.

I went a bit overboard after we got our son a nice Tudor for his 18th. I'd worn a Seiko quartz for years before that. Now ive a collection of 20 or so watches, varying from cheap Russian ones that caught my eye up to some nice Omegas and a Breitling (next one to photograph). Mostly vintage and all used, hoping to keep costs down. Having been a buyer for five years, now I have to sell some, I think.

 

[lexidium]

I went a bit overboard after we got our son a nice Tudor for his 18th. I'd worn a Seiko quartz for years before that. Now ive a collection of 20 or so watches, varying from cheap Russian ones that caught my eye up to some nice Omegas and a Breitling (next one to photograph). Mostly vintage and all used, hoping to keep costs down. Having been a buyer for five years, now I have to sell some, I think.

These days for me, it has to be one in one out. I wish I had them all back again

 

[seadog99]

I seem to have started buying watches from the year I was born (60s).

There’s something oddly reassuring about a watch as old as you merrily ticking away on your wrist

 

[Nod]

Mine's older than me. It was Mum's wedding gift to Dad.

 

[Woolsocks]

Why is it called constellation when there are no stars on the watch face?

The window reflection looks really posh.

 

[ianmarsh]

Mine's older than me. It was Mum's wedding gift to Dad.

Nice. My wife and I bought ourselves nice pair of Oris watches when we got engaged. Both stopped working at more or less the same time and we were told they would need to return to Switzerland for expensive service. We couldn't afford that at the time so we put them away but both have now been lost, somehow. Pity as they were lovely watches.

 

[ianmarsh]

Why is it called constellation when there are no stars on the watch face?

The window reflection looks really posh.

They are on the case back, oddly. One star for each time Omega won the Swiss watch accuracy competition

 

[Nod]

Nice. My wife and I bought ourselves nice pair of Oris watches when we got engaged. Both stopped working at more or less the same time and we were told they would need to return to Switzerland for expensive service. We couldn't afford that at the time so we put them away but both have now been lost, somehow. Pity as they were lovely watches.

A GOOD local watchmaker/mender should be able to service them (if you find them!) We have a good place a few miles down the toad who sorted Dad's Rolex after it started playing up shortly after a trip to Switzerland for an "official" service... The local chap charged £200 and Rolex took over £700 off me for worse work.

 

[Harlequin565]

I seem to have started buying watches from the year I was born (60s).

There’s something oddly reassuring about a watch as old as you merrily ticking away on your wrist

Can I ask what sites you used? I'm going to do something similar for my retirement, but the amount of money I'd be spending for something second hand makes me nervous.

 

[seadog99]

Can I ask what sites you used? I'm going to do something similar for my retirement, but the amount of money I'd be spending for something second hand makes me nervous.

Chrono24 I have found is one of the best, Watchfinder is ok as well. Stay clear of EBay, too many fakes. Good luck and enjoy your retirement, you will be busier than ever

 

[ianmarsh]

A GOOD local watchmaker/mender should be able to service them (if you find them!) We have a good place a few miles down the toad who sorted Dad's Rolex after it started playing up shortly after a trip to Switzerland for an "official" service... The local chap charged £200 and Rolex took over £700 off me for worse work.

Yes, that's what I have now learned. I use a couple of watchmakers who know what they are doing. The "you must send them back to Switzerland"-bit was not right.

I started tinkering with watches during lock-down and made a a few of my own (buy a movement, a case, a dial, some hands and a strap, all from different sources, and combine). My plan for retirement is to lars how to disassemble, clean and oil, and (hopefully) reassemble a movement. Should save even using a watchmaker, at least for simple repairs/maitenance.

 

[ianmarsh]

Chrono24 I have found is one of the best, Watchfinder is ok as well. Stay clear of EBay, too many fakes. Good luck and enjoy your retirement, you will be busier than ever

For vintage watches, I think you do best looking at specialist dealers. Goldammer in Germany is my current fave. So many lovely (renovated) watches but you pay top dollar. Subdial in the UK does mostly expensive modern watches at good prices but does get the occasional vintage piece. I think Waecce is superb, he really knows his stuff, especially if you like military watches. He has a real shop now as well, somewhere in Yorkshire, I think. I work near Clerkenwell which is the traditional home of matchmaking in London so lots of small dealers dotted around. Kibble watches does good stuff.

But to be honest, I buy almost everything off eBay. There are lots of fakes but if you do your homework so know what to look for, these are usually easily spotted. Of course, I always assume the watch would need a good service so factor that in. And it isn't foolproof - one of my Omegas has the dial glued to the movement and the wrong crystal, which is hard to spot from pictures. However, I should have spotted that the sweep hand had been cut short (because the crystal wasn't the right one...) so that mistake is on me.

 

[seadog99]

For vintage watches, I think you do best looking at specialist dealers. Goldammer in Germany is my current fave. So many lovely (renovated) watches but you pay top dollar. Subdial in the UK does mostly expensive modern watches at good prices but does get the occasional vintage piece. I think Waecce is superb, he really knows his stuff, especially if you like military watches. He has a real shop now as well, somewhere in Yorkshire, I think. I work near Clerkenwell which is the traditional home of matchmaking in London so lots of small dealers dotted around. Kibble watches does good stuff.

But to be honest, I buy almost everything off eBay. There are lots of fakes but if you do your homework so know what to look for, these are usually easily spotted. Of course, I always assume the watch would need a good service so factor that in. And it isn't foolproof - one of my Omegas has the dial glued to the movement and the wrong crystal, which is hard to spot from pictures. However, I should have spotted that the sweep hand had been cut short (because the crystal wasn't the right one...) so that mistake is on me.

Some good info, thank you.