Watches

[RumbleFox]

Picked up a cracking vintage 1970s LED watch by COMMODORE.  Unfortunately the batteries had been left in and leaked so not working but these are great and becoming increasingly desirable.  Hoping my watchmaker pal can work his magic.......

[Countryfox]

I've got some beautiful watches and have loved collecting them over many many years ...   but I have to say that at the moment all I wear is my titanium iwatch 5 with it's soft magnetic leather strap ...  its brilliant !   Can make calls without the phone, use a compass when out walking and its soooo light.   And ...   it is a genuine thing of beauty and technical achievement.

 

 

[Wolfox]

6 hours ago, RumbleFox said:

Picked up a cracking vintage 1970s LED watch by COMMODORE.  Unfortunately the batteries had been left in and leaked so not working but these are great and becoming increasingly desirable.  Hoping my watchmaker pal can work his magic.......

Super cool!

 

had one of these for a bit, but, passed it along 

 

 

[Wolfox]

So…. Some people mentioned they liked the engineering of watches, so I thought I’d share some rather dry - yet interesting to those so inclined - information on super compressor watches….

 

After much searching I managed to track down a watch I’d been hunting for years…. The vintage game takes patience and research…. I brought it a few weeks ago and, in current circumstances, it feels like a bit of frippery!  But,  none the less I’m very happy to have acquired it…. A Rodania Waterman, which is as rare as rocking horse poo

 

 

So the technical bit - compressor and Super-compressosr were originally names used and registered to EPSA (Ervin Piquerez SA) - case makers to various companies.  You get the trade mark diving helmet engraved on the inside surface of the watch case  and it was quite a breakthrough in dive watch technology…

They were characterised as being cases designed to seal better and better with greater pressure, as the pressure itself pushed sealing surfaces closer together.

There are different types of compressor, the most sought after being the twin crowned variant…. The upper crown turns the internal bezel (for timing your dive) and the lower crown changes the date and time…

 

jacques Cousteau used to use them…. Various brands used the case including Hamilton, IWC and JLC (amongst many others…

 

some detail on the case types

 

 

 

Edited 22 March 2020 by Wolfox

[JonnyBoy]

Anyone own an omega speedmaster professional 42mm with glass caseback? If so, do you still love it? 

 

thinking of getting a new watch and assessing options. 

[filthyfox]

I have my Grandpa's retirement pocket watch.

Its one of my treasures.

[Wolfox]

11 hours ago, JonnyBoy said:

Anyone own an omega speedmaster professional 42mm with glass caseback? If so, do you still love it? 

 

thinking of getting a new watch and assessing options. 

How big are your wrists?  42mm is a very large watch…. Try it on and make sure the lugs fit nicely on your wrist 

[Tommy G]

5 hours ago, Wolfox said:

How big are your wrists?  42mm is a very large watch…. Try it on and make sure the lugs fit nicely on your wrist 

Not as big as his older brothers

[JonnyBoy]

8 hours ago, Wolfox said:

How big are your wrists?  42mm is a very large watch…. Try it on and make sure the lugs fit nicely on your wrist 

Small tbf, just think I need to try on at the jewellers and judge v 38mm 

[Wolfox]

3 hours ago, JonnyBoy said:

Small tbf, just think I need to try on at the jewellers and judge v 38mm 

Yeah…. It could look like a dinner plate…. It has a bezel that makes it appear a bit smaller, but I wouldn’t go that big personally….

 

But, try it on though!

[RumbleFox]

Love these old WW1 silver trench watches. Picked this one up today. 

Edited 14 May 2023 by RumbleFox

[Wolfox]

22 minutes ago, RumbleFox said:

Love these old WW1 silver trench watches. Picked this one up today. 

That’s really rather lovely…. I love the painting of the Arabic numeral…. A bit special !!!

Edited 14 May 2023 by Wolfox

[RumbleFox]

16 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

That’s really rather lovely…. I love the painting of the Arabic numeral…. A bit special !!!

Yeah it’s a lovely watch. Sadly not running. I’ve had loads of these over the years but this is a particularly nice one. Good quality movement too……

[Wolfox]

9 hours ago, RumbleFox said:

Yeah it’s a lovely watch. Sadly not running. I’ve had loads of these over the years but this is a particularly nice one. Good quality movement too……

Do you have the skills to get it going?

[RumbleFox]

10 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

Do you have the skills to get it going?

Sadly I have zero skills in anything. 

[Wolfox]

2 hours ago, RumbleFox said:

Sadly I have zero skills in anything. 

I can change a strap!!!

[Spudulike]

A bloke doesnt look right without a wrist watch. Always had one and feel completely lost and lopsided with a bare wrist. I've not had that many in my lifetime as I just tend to keep them until they stop working. Always been cheap ones. However, I'm now at that stage where I can afford a decent watch. 

 

When my Dad died I found his 9ct gold Garrard from the 70's, engraved as presented by the company he worked for. Lovely mechanical timepiece but can't wear it as a daily. Works perfectly and will come out for my sons wedding in Italy next month.

 

So, I went down the Youtube rabbit hole of searching out something decent for my daily watch. Didn't realise there are so many collectors out there with so much snobbery. I set my self a maximum spend of £1k as although I can afford more will be worried about getting mugged or damaging it. Most of the aficionados turn their noses up at quartz watches and I sort of get that. However, maintenance costs for an automatic are crazy. £200 for a Tissot service after 3-5 years ownership! Must be many automatics in the £300 bracket dumped at first sign of breakdown. Unfortunately, I dont like the ticking second hand on a quartz, reminding me of a school clock counting down to break time. What to do?

 

To cut a long story short I found the answer. A Bulova Jet Star. Lovely looking quartz watch with a sweeping second hand, smoother than a Rolex. At £430 its a bargain and looks class, I think. I'll be happy to wear it as my daily and keep Dads Garrard for special occasions (and pass down to my son). 

 

Here it is....

 

[grobyfox1990]

Apart from Timpson, anywhere reliable to get watch batteries changed in Leicester? 

[Tommy G]

14 minutes ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Apart from Timpson, anywhere reliable to get watch batteries changed in Leicester? 

The watch man on castle street in Hinckley 

[PAULCFC]

Really god thing about Rolex......not that i can afford one!

 

Edited 15 August 2025 by PAULCFC
Spelling

[South Shire Fox]

Always wanted to treat myself to a Tag watch (Formula 1 model). Just dont know how many times id realistically wear it to justify the cost

Edited 15 August 2025 by South Shire Fox

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, South Shire Fox said:

Always wanted to treat myself to a Tag watch (Formula 1 model). Just dont know how many times id realistically wear it to justify the cost

I’ve got a Tag (not F1) and wear it every day. Great watch, not flashy and not expensive enough for someone to mug you for it. A good all rounder 

[Dr The Singh]

26 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

I’ve got a Tag (not F1) and wear it every day. Great watch, not flashy and not expensive enough for someone to mug you for it. A good all rounder 

I will mug you for it

[Tommy G]

2 hours ago, Dr The Singh said:

I will mug you for it

Bloody immigrants 

[Dr The Singh]

17 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Bloody immigrants 

Us natives are worse mate trust me.  We would rob and give you a STD at the same time.