this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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Watches

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What's the oldest watch you have? And why?

I sold a variety of Swiss and non-swiss brands for a long time when I worked as a jeweller. At the same time, I developed an interest in antique jewellery and watches.

So whether is cheap or expensive, working or not, 5 years old or 100+ years old, what's the oldest watch you own? Is it a sentimental piece or something you purchased because of its model?

Just hoping to find out about some more different watches out there!

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[–] postypete@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That i wear, my 1953 Doxa,

Showpiece, a late 1880s Elgin that runs just fine when wound

[–] MrsBox@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would love to hear more about both, but I do have an absolute weakness for pocket watches! So please feel free to nerd out about the Elgin :D 1880's is still the 11 jewel movement era isn't it?

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[–] KentuckyFriedChaos@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

1969 and 1970 seiko. Relatively cheap to pick up quite contemporary looking models - especially the Lord Matic ranges.

Condition of mine is very good for the age and they run well. I purchased both of them having being serviced in the recent past.

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[–] MaciekTJ92@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

An Atlantic Worldmaster from the late 50' which belonged to my grandfather.

[–] IAmSomnabula@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (4 children)

A quartz Rodania Chronograph from 1998. Not that expensive (around €150).

I got it for my 16th birthday from my parents. It still works fine, although I don't wear it that often anymore.

Note: Rodania was pretty popular back then in Belgium, as it's a "Belgium based Swiss brand" which is very affordable. And it was advertised a lot back then.

[–] Carrandas@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Rodania

Interesting how Rodania was so popular in Belgium but nowhere else :)

[–] Autiflips@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I got one too as my first watch!

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[–] BMX_Bandit666@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I have a mid-50s JLC Memovox that belonged to my father. I sent it back to them to overhaul, and while it was expensive, I don't regret it for a minute, as it's such a sentimental, and beautiful piece. And now it runs quite well. I'm wearing it today to the JLC pop-up, in fact. But I don't wear it out in the rain.

[–] Pil_Seung15@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Mine is also a Memovox! Wear it everyday to work!

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[–] asdylum@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)
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[–] Frank__33@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

1939 Hamilton. Was my grandfathers. Had is restored wear it with his cuff links to weddings etc. Super small by todays standards, but a beautiful watch.

[–] bigmphan@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I have an old Hamilton that was my grandad’s as well. It’s like the space race as they went from pocket watches to wrist watches and had the “look how small we can do this” mentality. Even too small for my wife, so I wear it.

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[–] A_Sevenfold@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Poljot handwound 30 Jewels, I wanna say from the 60s or 70s that my grandfather had, but unfortunately, I never enquired more about that particular piece, only what I was able to find from the internet.

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[–] BusinessBlackBear@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1903 or 1904 (date varies depending on where you look up there serial number) Elgin with wire lugs

[–] dr_Octag0n@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I have a watch from 1914. Sterling silver case. Solid lugs. Red "12" hour ,the rest black. Even has an engraving with the year on the back. Plus watchmakers adjustment scribbles inside. Still runs. Also a JLC dirty dozen from 1944 IIRC. And a Rolex Oyster precision from 1953.

[–] TheLebaneseLord@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

An old Carsic watch that I picked up from a flea market for 85$ (mostly because it wasn't dead from the start and gold plated). Spent 50$ to give it the full service it needed to work reliably again (Lack of maintenance and some misuse like a bent crown were to blame). It's now the watch I wear the most, mostly because I prefer its size to my other watches (34mm vs 40mm)

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[–] rocangla@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Some pocketwatch from my great-grandfather, probably 40s-50s.

[–] JollyJoker3@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You made me realize I have my grandfather's old pocket watch. I assume roughly 1940s there too.

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[–] Bliptown@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1948 Bulova Douglas.

It was my first and one of my only dabbles into vintage. I’ve always liked rectangle cases, just never owned one before.

It’s fine. It feels really fragile though and I don’t wear it that much.

[–] liizio@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

A Thomas Mercer Chronometer from 1878 is the oldest one that actually runs. Just a collectors piece I wanted for a while. I have a couple of verge-fusees in various states of disrepair which are surely older, but dating them accurately is a hassle, and they don't run anyway.

Oldest watches I actually use regularily are 1950's Longines 23zs, Omega 266 and a Cyma Watersport.

[–] gvarsity@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Late 50’s early 60’s Waltham pocket watch. Was a graduation present to my dad. Was my first mechanical watch.

[–] Easy_Turn1988@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

On a strap, a 1951 Omega Seamaster.

Otherwise, a 1920-ish Jaeger pocket Chronograph (not working well tbh)

[–] qkomi@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Early 1970s Breitling

[–] Former-Roman@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Patek Ref 96 from the 40's

[–] Watchman6776@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

https://preview.redd.it/xna226fdei0c1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c50508a75edb4095ee695fa3197e9ebc09e5121b

1907 Ellis bros omega is the oldest wrist watch I have. I do have a 1789 pocket watch that is the oldest watch I have.

[–] arussianbee@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

A (I think) 1950s Enicar Supersonic that belonged to my grandpa. Even though it sustained some water damage it still keeps ticking and I use it quite often!

[–] geomonstaah@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Seiko SARB072 from 2010. Discontinued in 2014. It was my first big boy watch purchase and I plan on keeping it forever. Every time I pick it up it’s off by about 2 minutes.

[–] jacharcus@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Excluding pocket watches, a 1911 Elgin watch. The movement is from 1911 at least, it's a ladies' pocket watch movement. Now, this is a men's wristwatch, with an Art Deco dial. So my thinking is:

  • wristwatches get popular for women pre-WW1, women stop buying pocket watches, they get a surplus of women's pocket watch movements

-WW1 comes, men start wearing wristwatches after getting used to them in the trenches

-post WW1, they use those surplus women's pocket watch movements for men's wristwatches

I also have a 1930s steel Tavannes tank which would be the second oldest.

[–] ramos1969@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (6 children)

1967 Omega Seamaster DeVille. I got it FREE on Craigslist in a “free bag of watches”. Most were garbage, but I could barely make out the Omega logo. I raced across town to grab them, then right to a local AD and horologist for verification. And a service. 😊

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[–] superjuice721@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1972 King Seiko

[–] heisnotthemessiah@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago
[–] redfaction88@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (4 children)
[–] Davie_Prod@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I have a similar one I just repaired

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[–] RedWing83@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

My daily watch is about 4,57 billion years old (The Sun). It has began to show some nice patina. I'm gonna ask my local watchmaker if he can service that bad boy. It really is a strap monster. Love how the light dances on the dial. And great lume!!

Oh, and why I have it? It was a hairloom piece and I had it immediately when I was born. Definitely a sentimental piece: everytime I look at it I feel warm.

[–] DavesVapesLondon@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1986 Seiko 7009-3110 (date just) all stainless. Did have the 2 tone few years back, sold that on too a buddy.

[–] Davie_Prod@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

https://preview.redd.it/xwxw1zq8ji0c1.jpeg?width=3120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1cb9089c93f0fff8ba664cdcc259fddafe81762

A 1970 Croton Electric Watch from West Germany, mechanical watch but powered by a battery as a starter ,like a car uses a battery but it's not quartz ..

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[–] Cranialscrewtop@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

An English bullseye pocket watch, key wind, continuously in my family since 1732. Yep . . . That’s the real number.

[–] Tae-gun@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I've got a vintage Omega (166.0209) that dates from the 1970s - it runs but is in dire need of servicing. In terms of watch I've had in my possession the longest, that would be a Timex Expedition dress watch I got ~16 years ago via an old points reward system. This one works just fine, and ticks as loudly as the day I got it.

[–] j_ha17@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Vintage Tudor from 1960

[–] chalky87@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I have my grandads old watch from the 70s but it's. Ano name brand with a gold case. It's not really part of my collection

The oldest watch in my collection is actually an armani fashion watch. As much as I would never normally bother with a fashion watch, my wife bought me this when I graduated from basic training and we had zero money so it means more to me sentmently. That would 2009.

[–] TheExpatLife@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1957 Omega Seamaster, in regular rotation.

[–] Adg6789@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)
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[–] actionjackson95@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I bought a 1947 Omega to wear for special occasions but have found myself wearing it most days. Love the 34mm size

[–] Autiflips@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Right now, an 1890 french pocketwatch, which I’m still in the process of repairing. Not far off is the 1910 Illenois pocketwatch that I built to be a nice carry.

I bought the movement first, because it seemed to be in decent condition, was of high quality, and very nicely decorated. The dial that was on it was good, had a very nice design, and would clean up well.

I bought a gold plated case for it after I restored the movement (there was more wrong with it than I thought, but I got it done) and now it runs, keeps time well, and I do wear it from time to time.

[–] clm1859@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1970s certina chronolympic ds-2. Inherited from grandpa and currently at the certina factory for restoration. Wasnt working anymore and the acrylic crystal was crazy scratched up, so i havent worn it yet. But will once it comes back.

[–] foulmentalraquet@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Vacheron 2215 from 1976

[–] electricspacewizard@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

A quartz seiko chronograph from 1986. It was my grandfathers daily driver, he gave it to me the week before he died in 2006.

I just got it running again but it needs some work to get the chrono functions working properly (mostly just the reset). Thinking about replating it too 'cause it looks extremely well-worn right now.

[–] santoscharales@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

https://preview.redd.it/jkbc5vyoji0c1.png?width=2951&format=png&auto=webp&s=f7baa19ec4ca07156b9f3fd5563d0ef121158fb4

For me it is this 1970s (probably?) watch from a brand (one of a few) created by a family of watchmakers from Chaquermont, France. It uses a Lorsa 8FA movement, which was commonly used for women’s wristwatches since it is a fairly small movement. I got it because I began studying watchmaking, and the movement represents a fun challenge while being not too difficult to find or expensive to source like its Swiss counterparts (thankfully!). I also think it’s interesting in itself to look at other watchmaking traditions beyond the usual ones (Swiss, Japanese, German…).

[–] IHeartFraccing@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Mid-90s Breitling Colt that my grandfather received as a gift. He passed away my sophomore year of college and when I graduated my parents gave it to me. He’d wanted me to have it as a graduation gift. It’s my most worn and favorite watch.

https://preview.redd.it/nfnnhw50mi0c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abf8362965bdc0f67875d5744a68a642a3891d15

[–] draingangryuga@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

1950s handwound junghans from fleamarket. 35€ but needs servicing urgently

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