What time is it? Watches and horology

The Zenith for me by a mile.

its a tough one. i like both. one on the bracelet and one on the strap. i will be sad to see the speedy go. maybe i will just save up and get the zenith as well by the end of the year.

Keep the Speedmaster. Zenith is nice but not nice enough to replace a Speedmaster IMO.

I attempted and failed to re braze the damaged lug last weekend. I practiced with small brass objects of similar mass than the watch case, it went well but when I tried on the case I didn't heat enough, silver made a big blurb and I broke the lug (which was only cracked after de-bending) trying to get rid of it (the blurb I mean)!
I had another go today, holding the case and lug together in a soldering clamp, this time it worked. I was a little clumsy at dressing/filling and removed too much material, but at least the lug is strong, at the right place, and polished up ok.
Glad I saved the watch! ... And now ready to read a bit and try having a go at servicing another cheap watch...

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Notes from the underground Car-boot anecdote of the day:

Thanks to the storm incredibly boggy, the Kuota got packed up with mud. I walked past a chap with a glass case and some old French watches surrounded by medals and memorabilia.

I said good morning, asked did the old mechanical's work. He shouted with arrogance that it was German, a pilot's watch, £150. It was pretty rough condition but with a nice sub hand but in no way a pilot's anything. I laughed told him jog on.

He exclaimed it was Luftwaffe and stamped on the back. I said to show me, prove it. He argued I'd said I didn't want it from my previous remark. Bear in mind this is quite loud discussion in a busy car-boot. I told him I wanted to see it, to prove it.

If it was genuine Luftwaffe I guess my eyes would have popped.

He begrudgingly opened, guarded the watch in his hand and half reached it toward me. I said show me the back, and he flashed it toward me. I laughed so hard, and exclaimed,

"Acier Inoxydable! It's French! It doesn't even say Rostfrei in German!"

Got some laughs anyway, as he shouted over and over that it was Luftwaffe.

Excellent work.

Good work brother. Whatever next? Can’t wait to see your next project.

Thanks, this was ready in the sense it didn't involve touching the movement.
As a next project I'd love to "refurbish" car boot find cheap watches, except I've got no idea of what I'm doing. The "practical watch repairing" book may be helpful to a degree, but I doubt I'll find info (In that book or online) specific to these non classic models... Good they're cheap as I'm guessing I'll fuck things up... That said I'd love to save the rectangular one.
I'm struggling at using the eyeglass I bought, maybe a loupe on a stand would be easier?

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Thanks, pretty much how I feel. The wear before was just too ugly. Waterstains and patina is okay, but peeling gooey stuff was a bit off.

Sorry if you said already (I'm new on this thread) how did you clean the dial?

2500 for the tudor north flag? for that price you can have my speedmaster :)
dont like the north flag, for that look i'd prefer something from sinn

I’d hope to get the North Flag for closer to £2k, need to see it in the flesh first but I keep coming back to it after a few years of chin scratching.
A speedy pro is definitely on my grail list but I’ll probably go vintage and I’m not nearly educated enough yet to pull the trigger.
I also have a Sinn 556 and would love another, in particular a 156, so many watches, so little money!

" so many watches, so little money" true :(

If you go back a few posts, citric acid is what was recommended. I used one of those squeezy lemon 'Jif' juices with a cotton bud/swab stick. Last year I used Isopropyl Alcohol on a dial. It worked a bit too well and stripped it back to metal. You could try alcohol diluted and be super careful.

I’m sure I read something about using saliva too, don’t quote me I may have been drunk.

Get a headband (metal ring) for your loupe.

Get a headband

This is terrific advice, full stop...

Srs? You can not be...

100% Loic...

Eyeglass I bought actually came with one, I'm just not good at using it, massive struggle that would turn into headache...

@teenslain / @>>>>>> and @Aroogah thanks for fashion advice for this summer!

Best Rolex in years. If I had $100k spare I'd have one on my wrist right now. I'm not even joking. 10/10 would bang.

Well it is a nice 'fuck you' watch

Its the gold crystal subdials that I love the most.

Looks like a pog slammer.

Haven't you said that before?

And SE drinks. Don't forget

It is growing on me. Was totally vom when I first saw it but it is pretty ridiculous, in a good way. But if I had 100k I wouldn't be buying one of those, that's for sure.

So am i right to say that the watch thread gather the forum members who don't have time for cycling / building bikes anymore? If i get anywhere at sorting out these old watches I figure it's a good hobby. It's so not space hungry and "civilised" (as opposed to de-greasing an old chain and spreading dirty everywhere when doing bike maintenance) I can put the box of stuff on the corner of the kitchen table in the evening without it being a logistical nightmare, and tidy everything in seconds as if nothing ever happened.
Wow! I managed to become more boring than I was!
Csb