So out of all the watches I've owned/own this is the most special, not because of the movement or even how it looks (although it does go well with the right suit), but because it was my Grandfather's to celebrate 25 years at British Gypsum. There's also a 35 year watch floating around in the family somewhere but I've never seen it. I don't think he really wore it, at least I never remember seeing it on his wrist, as I think he probably thought it a luxury. We were close and I like how the watch reminds me of him every time I put it on.
Nostalgia and sentiment out of the way, I'm wondering if anyone has any idea of its value? I'd never sell it but it's not on the insurance, which I'll rectify by getting it officially valued, but wondered if anyone here had an idea?
Also interested to see other watches that have sentimental value to them?
Very nice vintage watch you got there, excellent condition too!
Can't help with the value, but if that case is solid gold it sure has some value in the material (duh!). The brand is long gone I presume, bankrupt with the quartzcrisis amongst many others? Anyway, the brand isn't well known so little added value in that I'm afraid.
Doesn't really matter anyway, for you it has heritage with much more value than money can buy. Wear it in good health!
Very nice watch indeed.
I have seen a similar one at Chronomaster. It is an auto and date version though. Here is the link:
http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/new/wa...trap/nww-1126/
Good luck!
Last edited by rocket-roy; 12th September 2013 at 09:23.
Umm, Henk... Garrard are the Crown Jewellers :)
Still very much alive and well with a large premises on Regent St (last time I looked). I have a carriage clock by them, also a long service award, to my great grandfather who I never knew.
As to the watch, Dominic at Hackett Watches had one similar last time I looked for about £500 or so.
This is my Grandad's 25 year service watch from working at London Brick.
Unfortunately mine isn't working properly so I really need to send it off for a service and treat it to a nice new strap.
I had a valuation on it about 10 years ago for insurance and it was worth about £300-£400 from memory.
Thanks for the feedback guys. jbrazier, what strap are you thinking? I'm considering the same move for this as it's the flimsy original that's on there but haven't put much thought into it yet.
My Garrard Twins!
Mike
LOL!
Well, thanks for that info!
I wasn't aware of the brand at all (not know here in NL I guess), so I presumed it was one of the many small Swiss watchmakers who didn't survive the quartz-revolution.
Originally Posted by DB9yeti
I really like the one on the right.My Garrard Twins!
Mike
Garrard rebranded watches from other makers - the one you have is (as it says on the bottom), a Vertex, who were part of the Revue (Thommen) group, along with Vulcain and some others - a link with a bit of info is at http://www.cjbalm.com/watches/watch-...en-history.htm
Thanks Sykes! Much appreciated
I have a number of watches which hold great sentimental value. None of which I will ever part with.
My late Uncles Avia. This was his only and every day watch.
My late Father in Law's Avia. This was his dress watch
My late Father in Law's Timex. This was his work watch
The watch my Grandmother bought for my Father during WW2
Then there are all the watches that Lynn has bought me over the years. But there are probably too many of them to post on here in one go. But here's the first one and the latest one: -
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
Me too. Can you give the dimensions - it looks like a reasonable size compared to the average vintage cushion case.
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
I have a very similar Garrard also my grandfathers. It looks nice on a chunky brown leather strap.
The last time I watched these on ebay they seemed to fetch up to £300 but that was a while ago.
My sentimental watch is the one my same Granda gave me for my 18th birthday.
Didn't they lose that in 2007?
They certainly were prior to that though.
To the OP, I think its a lovely piece, with great sentimental value.
Im having a similar Garrard repaired for a work colleague, needs a new lug. Vertex have indeed gone - I have a steel vertex myself- very well made it is too. I'm of the opinion yours would make as mentioned, between 300- 400 or so.
A whole new lug? Who is doing the work?
That's a lot of laser welding. ;-)
Cheers. Actually folks, one thing the pics don't show is a scratch to the plexi. Any suggestions as to where I could get this replaced? Either that or a way to polish it out?
Polywatch, the Guv'nor sells it.
http://www.timefactors.com/miscstuff.htm
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
Bloody brilliant! I'd read that page a few weeks ago and forgotten all about it. Could have ordered some with my watches. Cheers Carlton
Im not too sure tbh, I took it to Mike at Tower House Clocks, he says he is awaiting the case return from the jeweller. It is something I could have done myself in the 1980's when I worked at a manufacturing jeweller in Yeovil. Needs a proper workshop and acetylene torch though. Oh, and of course, lots of luvverly GOLD !!
Last edited by sestrel; 12th September 2013 at 19:01.
Thanks.Im not too sure tbh, I took it to Mike at Tower House Clocks, he says he is awaiting the case return from the jeweller. It is something I could have done myself in the 1980's when I worked at a manufacturing jeweller in Yeovil. Needs a proper workshop and acetylene torch though. Oh, and of course, lots of luvverly GOLD !!
I'm thinking it deserves a nice new black leather strap.
Just got to get around to actually sorting the service out!!!
Im not too sure tbh, I took it to Mike at Tower House Clocks, he says he is awaiting the case return from the jeweller. It is something I could have done myself in the 1980's when I worked at a manufacturing jeweller in Yeovil. Needs a proper workshop and acetylene torch though. Oh, and of course, lots of luvverly GOLD !!
Sorry to go OT but was that Jeweller Ward and Sibley in Yeovil
The watch is extremely nice. Is it solid gold or plate? That in itself will affect the value of course solid would probably bring it to the $6-800 dollar range given it's condition. I would say the size is 35-37mm given the date on back 1973 so I would say $4-500 dollar range for gold plate.
No, they outsourced their repairs to Gardeners on the Sherborne road, where I slaved.
Ah I used know them,
This one was my father's watch for many years. So if I had to save only one, sure could be the memovox.
jaeger1oe2 por charlesnevers, en Flickr
That's lovely!
+1. That's a beauty and an interesting complication. I realise that the pace of life in Spain is different but is it really necessary to set an alarm to get up at 10?
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
His wife was a complete B***cAh I used know them,
Were you in the trade, in Yeovil?
No, I was one of Juliet's boyfriend's mates,
did you know that the other daughter Nicky died a couple of years ago.
No, that is sad, a lovely and talented girl. Do you know if Tony (Juliet's Dad), and the b****c are still around? Tony was a bad boy and was busy with the very nice secretary back then ha ha.
They divorced and I think Tony passed on Last year, last I heard Juliet was married living in Cornwall
Apologies to the op for taking this OT
Ha no worries. It's a free world
Yes very cheeky, apologies OP. Nice to catch up with gossip from olden days though
I thought I'd resurrect this as I have a small interest in Garrard watches and clocks.
I'm aware they have always been a prestigious jeweller and remain the crown jewellers but more importantly to me is their link to Swindon as that's where my business is.
Garrards in Swindon seemed to do more wartime stuff and then good record decks not clocks and watches. In fact a lot of the clocks I see were sold by Garrards but not made by them.
Wiki has a potted history and there is a link between the London and Swindon operations but Swindon got bought by Plesseys decades ago now.
Best I can do is
"The Garrard Engineering and Manufacturing Company of Swindon, Wiltshire, was a British company that was famous for producing high-quality gramophone turntables. It was formed by the jewellers Garrard & Co in 1915. The company was sold to Plessey, an electronics conglomerate, in 1960"
Does anyone know any more?
You see quite a few Garrard (crown jewellers) presentation watches with SmithS movements in them, with the 12.15 and much more frequently, the 12.18 movements. Very often in a great Dennison Aquatite 9ct gold screw back case. In Nice condition (the dial often discolours) they seem to make circa £450 - £600.
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