Long before my interest in wrist watches my first love was the pocket watch.
Both of my grandfather’s wore one on a daily basis and my uncle, who was a sergeant in the Northumberland Constabulary, wore one with his uniform on a silver chain. My grandfather’s both wore theirs on straps and carried them in their trouser pockets. As a child growing up in the 60’s there was no doubt in my mind, pocket watches were the thing to have.
When one grandfather died in 1967, my grandmother gave me his watch. A simple Ingersoll as I recall in a protective metal case. This was the watch that he used for the final decade of his working life as a pit deputy working down the mines. The protective case carried the scars of a working life underground but the watch itself was immaculate. I treasured it and was very upset when it was destroyed along with a number of other precious possessions in a house fire in the late 80’s
Fast forward to the late 90’s and a surprise stocking filler from my wife – a new pocket watch, my first since my boyhood one was lost. This one was a Russian Molnija – hunter case, WW2 commemorative replica. Lovely little thing, the only problem being that it didn’t run. I hung it up on the bookcase and sort of forgot about it for a while. My conscience was pricked recently when my grandson asked me about it so I sent it off to Brendan (Webwatchmaker) to see what he could do with it. He reporting back that it is was pretty much devoid of all lubrication – after a little fettling all was well. It ticks away nicely and keeps good time. I have to admit that I don’t wear it as I don’t like fiddling about opening the front cover to see the time. OK, it’s a low value piece but it has sentimental value so it will be remaining in the watch box!
Now, back to my very first pocket watch, sadly destroyed in the late 80’s. A while back I set out to see if I could find one as close to the original as possible. Difficult as the memory plays tricks on you over the years. I seemed to recall that the dial was a creamy or off white colour. I found this one at a very reasonable price which seemed very close. It must be due a service as try as I might I just cant manage to regulate it. It brings back memories.
Next is a birth year watch (1959) a simple Smiths Empire bought as a birthday present by my wife. A short while after I began using it time keeping deteriorated to the point where it wouldn’t wind properly and it became impossible to set the time. Again, Brendan did a brilliant job re bringing it back to life and since he sorted it out I wear it frequently. Another low value watch with great sentimental value that I really enjoy wearing.
And now, as they say, for something completely different! A quartz Mondaine railway watch. Not to every ones taste I guess but I think that it’s a lovely little thing. I don’t even mind the central second hand that doesn’t quite hit the markers. This is in fact my second one of these. The first, I bought new as a gift for someone but then decided to keep it. A while later I put it on SC as I part of a collection purge to raise cash from something else. Later on I realised my mistake and when I spotted this one on eBay at less than half the price of a new one it was an easy decision to make.
This is one of my favourite watches, a CWC military model bought new from Silvermans. I love the dial and lovely slim case. It gets a lot of wear!
Finally, here is my latest arrival an Omega De Ville. I’ve wanted one of these for some time but I don’t like the gold ones and there seem to be fewer of the SS cased ones about, at a reasonable price anyway. It’s pretty modern by pocket watch standards, quite small, centre second hands and a simple, clean dial. Interestingly, it has a 601 movement more commonly used in Omega dress watches.
Like my grandfather’s before me I carry all of the above on either a leather strap or home-made lanyard in my trouser pocket – I don’t like chains or waistcoats!
Ian
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Originally Posted by sean
