Has anyone purchased crystals from Tip Top Crystals?
Tip Top Crystals, Vintage watch crystals

They have a wonderfully comprehensive listing for vintage crystals (especially G-S fancy cylinders) but NO "buy" option.

I reached out through their contact function but no dice (about a week) and their blog was last updated in 2023.

Comments or experience welcomed.

I'm hoping to purchase a…

Experince with Tip Top Crystals (tiptopcrystals.com)?

A thread to document an ongoing project from an estate sale:

• A Universal Geneve Microtor (cal. 1-69), ref 869117.
• The s/n dates it to "sometime after 1967" based on the UG s/n data out there and the cal. 1-69 ended production in 1970. So we'll call it 67-71.

The Buy-Side
I have an auction problem. I like deals, I like the hunt, and I like parsing through the junk for the gems (or gem-ish). It's genetic, from my Mother's side.

I like the estate sale "dresser…

A Universal Geneve Microtor (cal. 1-69) Estate Sale Project

Gigandet "digital" jump hour with a manual FE-140-1A

Issue:
The minute wheel and/or hour wheel appear to "bind" at about 50-55 minutes past the hour. It's running but the time display won't advance.

Questions:
1) what may be causing this?

2) suggestions for what tool(s) or techniques are requires to remove the minute and hour wheels?

Thanks and regards,

…how does anyone feel about this clock vs the Rolex from previous years?

To my eyes, very on-brand for TAG and yet it looks like crawled out of 2002 Walmart. Not world class or on my wrist.

Discuss.

Vs the former Rolex clock

Important safety edit: Wear gloves or use nice block of soft wood if you're using sockets to get the crystal out. I'm still feeling a couple of lugs in my palm, 24 hrs later.

Your reminder that sometimes automotive tools can help fix watches.

Had some fun on the work bench this long weekend with a vintage "VaLaire" 21 Jewel Super DatOMatic (by Mortima) dive watch that I (predictably) picked up at an online auction…and without considering the hints as to the size (the case is only…

When the watchmaking tools include a socket set….

Hello All and Sundry,

When I get a new vintage watch and there's not a lot of info or even pics floating around, or it comes in diiirrrty and cleans up well, I like to post it for posterity and others' info. I find others' threads like this to be super helpful when I'm researching vintage pieces and may as well add to the body of knowledge.

This is a 1965 Zenith 2400, rocking Zenith's hand-wound caliber 2532C. Brilliant ~34mm jet-age all stainless watch…

1965 Zenith 2400 (cal. 2532C) – Auction find and quick clean up

Playing swap around watch straps with my collection and (bless quick release) I've got two great options for two great watches.

Figured I'd ask the watch internet's peanut gallery (i.e. you) for opinions.

Omega Geneve (1973 – ST 166.0163).

Zenith 2400 (1965).

Option 1 (current set up).

OR

Option 2
[ATTACH…

Vintage Omega and Zenith – which leather strap?

BIG 42mm Orient Bambino Version 4 with a deeeeeep blue dial and OEM dark blue leather strap.

• Beautiful blue and stainless dress watch.
• Version 4 has the super cool red detail on the minute hand.
• Japanese-made Orient F6724 automatic movement.
• Orient AC08-C0-A, model B9300086

Backstory
Obtained from a local watch maker at a watch show with a claim it was serviced. No paper work on that but it keeps excellent time…

Orient Bambino Version 4 42mm Blue Dial Automatic Watch

For reasons of purely wondering "how do I open this front opening Seiko 8306-8040" that morphed into "I should clean this case", my little exercise revealed the following service marks:

I have no idea what this indicates or even what language it was penned in.

What say you?

Gratuitous photos:

I mean, I knew I had a couple.

I picked up a lovely Orient Bambino v4 at a recent NAWCC chapter meeting (where you sell a watch to a member only turn around and buy something else from that same member 20 min later, for $20 more, I love it).

When I got home I decided to sort it with other blue dial watches…and then I realized I already had seven blue(ish) dial watches.

I suppose I know I…

…And then I realized already had seven blue(ish) dial watches