“Hot-Rodding” 1915 Elgin Wristwatch (Grade 320-115 Swap)

I’ve only had it for a week, but let me tell you that I am absolutely loving this watch. I bought it assuming it would need an overhaul, but so far it seems to be functioning tolerably well- roughly 3 minutes per day, with a strong power reserve and decent amplitude. Beat error is around 3ms on average. The inside of the case back carries a service mark for November 2023, and I’m inclined to believe it.

Since the movement appears to be original to the watch (matching year serials), I…

“Hot-Rodding” 1915 Elgin Wristwatch (Grade 320-115 Swap)

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Oldest Frequently Worn Watches?

As I’m sure you have seen by now, I recently got my hands on this 1915 Elgin wristwatch and I’m loving it more every day. I’ve never been shy towards daily wearing older watches, but when you get into the 1910s/20s you really have to start making some intentional choices about what should be worn regularly and what shouldn’t.

Since I commute by bike and spend a lot of time outside, my watches get subjected to mild shock, sweat, humidity, and the like. I do my best to protect my watches as…

Oldest Frequently Worn Watches?

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Strap/buckle Archaeology- IWC and Omega

As I have been collecting vintage watches for some years now, I find more and more that it’s hard to beat the styling of a period correct strap/bracelet on a watch. With bracelets, it’s a simple enough job of cross-referencing known original examples and catalogues and buying an original. Seeing as straps are a wear item, though, they are a lot harder to get right.

I find that the best way to go about this is to look through catalogues containing my watch and try to work out what designs…

Strap/buckle Archaeology- IWC and Omega

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What Makes a Vintage “Dress” Watch?

I think it goes without saying that, based strictly on the style, a huge number of vintage watches are percieved as “dress watches,” even if they were intended to be worn everyday. Of course, this is a relatively recent way of thinking, as I imagine a great many of our parents/grandparents wore small, simple, gold-tone watches with little or no water resistance in everyday life, or for no special occasion. That’s not to say you couldn’t wear a dress watch like that, but I suspect most…

What Makes a Vintage “Dress” Watch?

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Bracelet/Strap Longevity

I stumbled across this amusing guide for how long bracelets should last and thought I’d share.

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Well dang, I guess my 1967 Seamaster’s bracelet is due to crumble to pieces any day now..

Seriously though, what is the most mileage you have gotten out of a strap? My coworker has worn the same Timex Safari with a braided leather strap for about 8 years now, and it still looks pretty much brand new. I also have a few vintage straps I regularly wear, though…

Bracelet/Strap Longevity

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Watch Straps and Diminishing Returns

It goes without saying that watches tend to have a fairly low threshold of dimishing returns. That is to say, a $15,000 watch is not going to be 15x as good as a $1,000 watch. You’re generally paying a lot of money for small details that most people won’t notice at all.

Of course, where you draw the line on diminishing returns is entirely subjective- I personally place it around $1000 before the the price of a watch begins increasing exponentially relative to the value added.

This makes…

Watch Straps and Diminishing Returns

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