Oooooh yeah. Am I deluded?
Discussion
cyberface said:
cheap project...
Probably the best example of an oxymoron!
Are there any other pics to confirm the lack of 'Swiss Made' on the dial?
It does look like there is something at the bottom of the dial which is hidden by the 'warping' of the acrylic crystal.
Interesting piece though. I recently bought a handwound two-register chrono (although not a vintage one) and absolutely love it.
I don't mind winding it up and I prefer the dual dials to the triple (which can look messy) that you normally get on a chrono.
O/T I'll drop you an email later, I want to hear about the other project!
LukeBird said:
cyberface said:
cheap project...
Probably the best example of an oxymoron!
Are there any other pics to confirm the lack of 'Swiss Made' on the dial?
It does look like there is something at the bottom of the dial which is hidden by the 'warping' of the acrylic crystal.
Interesting piece though. I recently bought a handwound two-register chrono (although not a vintage one) and absolutely love it.
I don't mind winding it up and I prefer the dual dials to the triple (which can look messy) that you normally get on a chrono.
O/T I'll drop you an email later, I want to hear about the other project!
But the gold plated 70s example with the Cal.189 movement (which, from the photos, is in remarkably good condition) seems crazy cheap (£220) as it doesn't say it's broken or anything. It almost looks NOS. Regardless, that genre of movement in a solid 18ct gold case appears on eBay in all cases well over a couple of grand. If I'm ripped off by the USA seller then that's the way it goes (Paypal, eBay, often favour the buyer, so I may be OK there) - but if not, then I'll get a dirty solid 18ct rose gold case with a knackered-looking Cal.48 type movement in it, along with degraded dial.
I simply plan to whip the entire movement and dial out of the rose gold watch, clean up the case, transfer the crystal if necessary or Polywatch the existing one, then bung in the Cal.189 from the £220 watch. Worst case scenario is that the crown stems aren't interchangeable between the watches (possible, given that the Cal.189 has a date complication, but IIRC it's not quickset so the stems *may* be identical) and I end up with a 9ct yellow gold plated crown on an 18ct rose gold watch.
Actually, the worst-case scenario is that I break both the watches dismantling them
Best case scenario is that the Cal.189 is *exactly* as pictured, and fits perfectly into the rose gold case, which is *exactly* as described (i.e. solid, heavy 18ct rose gold). Then all I need is a fine quality leather strap and I've got a really rather nice evening watch that, it appears, would cost me well north of £2000. And I'd have paid around £700 tops... not too bad and a better proposition than the £1500 Lemania that I was seriously considering.
And even *better* if I can get the Cal.48 in the rose gold case functioning reasonably and transferred back into the 9ct gold plated case - and sell it for £220 on eBay
I am loving this thread!
We have come so far from those crimes against design in the OP, only kidding CF
That Universal is very, very nice and will have me scouring eBay, as soon as I have written this. Very much in the style on the PN Daytona and Tudor Oysetrdate Chrono's that I like i.e. with the white face and black sub-dials. But, the fact that it is vintage, has the extra sub-dial and is a little different, makes it almost more desirable to me
The only thing I really, really do not like (and I am sure it is a matter of personal preference and some may love it) is the bracelet. It is just too fussy for me and I would prefer it on a period Oyster-style strap, maybe riveted? That would be absolutely gorgeous... I must hurry up with writing this and check some prices!
Having said that, Mr FedEx delivered something with the number of the devil in the middle of the model number, at the weekend and that is sitting large and pretty on my wrist at the moment, will I ever be able to go to a case smaller than say 44mm again?
As for a rose gold, 2 register, hand-wind chrono - OH YES!!! That is what is missing from my collection. For me, I really need a rose gold dress watch. Something vintage, chrono and hand-wind would be perfect and your project sounds absolutely fantastic and those watches look lovely! For the money, it doesn't sound like you can go too far wrong, as long as you don't destroy anything in the process and I would love to see a build thread on here, so please keep this topic alive!
Edited to add - Yummy! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-UNIVERSAL-GE...
We have come so far from those crimes against design in the OP, only kidding CF
That Universal is very, very nice and will have me scouring eBay, as soon as I have written this. Very much in the style on the PN Daytona and Tudor Oysetrdate Chrono's that I like i.e. with the white face and black sub-dials. But, the fact that it is vintage, has the extra sub-dial and is a little different, makes it almost more desirable to me
The only thing I really, really do not like (and I am sure it is a matter of personal preference and some may love it) is the bracelet. It is just too fussy for me and I would prefer it on a period Oyster-style strap, maybe riveted? That would be absolutely gorgeous... I must hurry up with writing this and check some prices!
Having said that, Mr FedEx delivered something with the number of the devil in the middle of the model number, at the weekend and that is sitting large and pretty on my wrist at the moment, will I ever be able to go to a case smaller than say 44mm again?
As for a rose gold, 2 register, hand-wind chrono - OH YES!!! That is what is missing from my collection. For me, I really need a rose gold dress watch. Something vintage, chrono and hand-wind would be perfect and your project sounds absolutely fantastic and those watches look lovely! For the money, it doesn't sound like you can go too far wrong, as long as you don't destroy anything in the process and I would love to see a build thread on here, so please keep this topic alive!
Edited to add - Yummy! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-UNIVERSAL-GE...
Edited by dom9 on Monday 20th September 02:02
Well the Lator chrono has arrived, exactly as the photos indicated inside and out (first thing I did was whip the back off). Beautiful, yellow and pink gilt movement - looks superb.
It also looks suspiciously like the chrono centre hands clutch wheel (which appears to be supported only at the bottom) was clouted by someone removing the back - because the crevice in the back for the jeweller's knife was directly opposite that wheel. Opening the back and letting the knife slip in damaged the wheel.
I've gently eased the wheel back into shape and the watch works fully. I've now got to do some timekeeping tests, before I run the risk of dismantling the movement and servicing it. It's clean as hell - I'd have guessed it was NOS, to be honest - and arrived with brand new leather strap. However if this was the case, and the problem was that wheel, and I've fixed it, then hey-ho. It looks lovely.
When the rose gold case arrives from the USA then I'll see if the Lator can be switched into the solid 18ct rose gold case, now *that* would be perfection. The current cheapie 9cy yellow gold 'filled' case looks good enough, the starburst silver dial and gold registers look superb.
There *has* to be a major problem at that price, surely? Anyway we'll soon see depending on whether it's keeping usable time or not!!!
I'll start a new thread when I get the rose gold watch, then I can post some pics of the conversion. I'd LOVE that Lator chrono in solid rose gold, and I know I'll be able to do it somehow. The interesting thing about the Landeron cal.189 is the date complication, which isn't often seen on the *common* two-register chronos from that period...
It also looks suspiciously like the chrono centre hands clutch wheel (which appears to be supported only at the bottom) was clouted by someone removing the back - because the crevice in the back for the jeweller's knife was directly opposite that wheel. Opening the back and letting the knife slip in damaged the wheel.
I've gently eased the wheel back into shape and the watch works fully. I've now got to do some timekeeping tests, before I run the risk of dismantling the movement and servicing it. It's clean as hell - I'd have guessed it was NOS, to be honest - and arrived with brand new leather strap. However if this was the case, and the problem was that wheel, and I've fixed it, then hey-ho. It looks lovely.
When the rose gold case arrives from the USA then I'll see if the Lator can be switched into the solid 18ct rose gold case, now *that* would be perfection. The current cheapie 9cy yellow gold 'filled' case looks good enough, the starburst silver dial and gold registers look superb.
There *has* to be a major problem at that price, surely? Anyway we'll soon see depending on whether it's keeping usable time or not!!!
I'll start a new thread when I get the rose gold watch, then I can post some pics of the conversion. I'd LOVE that Lator chrono in solid rose gold, and I know I'll be able to do it somehow. The interesting thing about the Landeron cal.189 is the date complication, which isn't often seen on the *common* two-register chronos from that period...
Looking forward to some pics of the conversion!
And I like the look of these two:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Zenith-chronograph-3...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zenith-Vintage-Daytona-Chron...
And I like the look of these two:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Zenith-chronograph-3...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Zenith-Vintage-Daytona-Chron...
Edited by dom9 on Thursday 23 September 02:05
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