I've never seen a conversion that didn't look like a dog's dinner. I'd leave well alone.
Having seen Senraw's great looking military WWII watch recently, it has reminded me of a project I was thinking about a while back.
I know that there are some that don't approve of pocket-to-wrist watch conversion, but I see it as a good way of saving a nice piece from being consigned to the back of a drawer.
So, has anyone had any experience of this?
Many smaller sized pocket watches I've seen have the sub seconds dial at the 6 position, but the crown at 12, I presume these aren't suitable?
Any advice/links/who, where, when would be appreciated.
I've never seen a conversion that didn't look like a dog's dinner. I'd leave well alone.
^I'd have to agree unfortunately. Have yet to see a pocket to wrist watch conversion that looks nice. Happy to be corrected if anyone has managed though.
That's a rather sweeping statement, many can be executed very well indeed..
Just look here: http://www.davidsokosh.com/NewFiles/watches.html
Here's one I converted.......
.......I went for the simplest approach I could think of & chose a watch with a hinged bezel.
The crown ring acts as the top lug. I knocked out the bezel hinge pin & installed a bent wire to create the bottom lug.
The strap's a Juri Levenberg 'Aviator'.
They look like recased pocket watch movements and dials, which certainly can work OK (although the watches generally end up too big for my taste). But actual pocket watches (movement, dial and case) converted into wristwatches never look right to me, and that's what I thought you were referring to.That's a rather sweeping statement, many can be executed very well indeed..
Just look here: http://www.davidsokosh.com/NewFiles/watches.html
Last edited by iml; 26th October 2012 at 11:48.
^Thanks for clarifying Stewart. I also had misinterpreted what you meant.
Clever - bit cyberpunky ;)
Of course, re-casing a pocketwatch movement isn't hugely complex - even if it has sub dial(s)... if you are willing to replace the main dial as in those posted further down this thread. If you want to keep the dial then the orientation of the movement and the subsequent positioning of the stem is pretty much fixed...
Thanks Cirrus, so I really need to find a pocket watch with a regular centre sweep seconds hand.
I have a MM' Pam 'homage' that I rarely wear (I feel a bit of uneasy with it, if I'm honest), I love the case, but think that a vintage dial/movement would work really well in it - something that I would happily wear.
Last edited by europa; 26th October 2012 at 12:08.
I've had a few in for servicing over the years. Brazing lugs onto the case is one way to do it; this IWC is one example (though more has been done as the stem is now at 3 instead of 12) - I'm not a fan of it personally, but hey.
The other problem is the size, you'd ideally need to pick a small PW or it will look like a clock with a strap. Here's another that I couldn't resist taking a wrist shot of. Again, not my bag at all...
The other option is to put an old PW movement into a modern case, which has it's own problems. I put a Hamilton 917 into a Getat 44mm Panerai case and the result is ok, but it turned out to be quite a lot of effort as the main plate diameter had to be reduced, and the stem/dial and hands all had to be modified to make it work.
The guy you mentioned in NY is doing this too, but looking at his stock they all seem to be based around the 6497/8 for which there are lots of aftermarket parts available - and at a nice markup too... I think I'm in the wrong part of the sport.
Rich.
Last edited by Richie_101; 26th October 2012 at 12:36.
From this,
To this,
made perfect sense to me
Thanks all.. I'll look into it when all my other Heuer 'projects' are clear. Rich - that's useful info, and Shadowman - that's what I was thinking. I've a Getat Pam style watch, and I'd love to fit a vintage dial to it.
Food for thought, I like the idea of resurrecting an old unwanted pocket watch into something unique & beautiful.
The easiest way is to buy a strap for it:
www.mkleathers.pl
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I still like my nivada (door knob edition) it is a little heavy though, I used a NOS unitas 6498 as there are plenty of parts available,
I love the styling of the lugs of my Radiomir which is essentially based on bits of wire welded to a Rolex pocket watch movement. I think this is a legitimate look, nice bit of re-purposing.
I made this silver watch case to house a 1916 Omega movement belonging to my Grandfather.
It highlights how watches moved from pocket to wrist during the 1st World War, since watches often fell from pockets during the dreadful battles.
Brendan,
webwatchmaker.com
Hope you can see the picture!!...my first time trying to include one.
It's nice, and sympathetic. Very well done ;-)
This thread has me looking at my large collection of Smith's / Ingersoll pocket watches and wondering if I should try converting one. I actually suspect that given the simplicity of the movements and the acres of space in them that it might be possible to relocate or duplicate the sub second wheel so that I could position the crown to 3 and retain the original dial...
Damn you all for stealing my free time!
It is; one from the handcraft, for state use only 2MF atelier. I dropped it in an early sterile Davidsen. Looks better than the real thing with ETA and the lack of in your face branding is
I have several of those railroad regulator pocket watches.
Also a 2MF design one-button chrono based on it from that same workshp. AKA as ´Kapitanskie´ or ´Queen´.
I have most of the different calibers crafted in that small specialised shop in my collection.
Last edited by Huertecilla; 27th October 2012 at 10:52.
Wouldn't buy it, but not a bad conversion I thought:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3308189863...84.m1438.l2648