Marriage watches
By which I mean old pocket watch movements and dials put into modern wrist watch cases.
For the last year I have been looking at watches made from old American pocket watches, where they case was sold for scrap, that have been refurbished and put into modern custom made wrist watch cases. Just not sure if I should or not.
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Kevin
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Virginia, USA
Member since
Last active: 1 hr ago
7.20” / 18.29 cm
The biggest issue with these is that the movements are not shock protected. If you do anything involving shocks with them, you are at risk of breaking jewel bearings in the movement.
The biggest issue with these is that the movements are not shock protected. If you do anything involving shocks with them, you are at risk of breaking jewel bearings in the movement.
This is true and thus it would not be an everyday watch for sure, just for special events and such.
The Nekkid watchmaker did a video on one of those. Problem is they are usually huge movements. Aliexpress sell cases for one of the bigger ETA pocket watch movements. If you try it then you need to be good with a tig welder unless it fits. You can weld wire lugs to the ends for a Nato strap
I've never really considered them because they're usually oversized.
I think you have to write off the purchase cost straight away - they're likely to be difficult to sell on, and potentially difficult to repair if they do go wrong.
But if you're buying it just for your enjoyment, for as long as they last, I don't see there's anything wrong in them at all.
I've never really considered them because they're usually oversized.
I think you have to write off the purchase cost straight away - they're likely to be difficult to sell on, and potentially difficult to repair if they do go wrong.
But if you're buying it just for your enjoyment, for as long as they last, I don't see there's anything wrong in them at all.
I have found them made from smaller pocket watches so the cases are as small as 40MM.
I would be interested in seeing some examples. Sounds like a cool concept!
I would be interested in seeing some examples. Sounds like a cool concept!
Check this guy on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/str/finetimepieces?_trksid=p2047675.m145687.l149086
Meh
My mate has started doing just this - he does watchmaking as a hobby and he found the same thing that there are loads of movements but few cases.
He's got a couple of others he's working on and they're really nice, plus it's a really cool concept that you're bringing something old back to life and it's getting a second chance, as others have said, there's no shock protection so they're quite fragile but lovely things.
Apols for the pic quality, taken in the pub under an orange heat lamp a few weeks ago!
My mate has started doing just this - he does watchmaking as a hobby and he found the same thing that there are loads of movements but few cases.
He's got a couple of others he's working on and they're really nice, plus it's a really cool concept that you're bringing something old back to life and it's getting a second chance, as others have said, there's no shock protection so they're quite fragile but lovely things.
Apols for the pic quality, taken in the pub under an orange heat lamp a few weeks ago!
Thanks for sharing. Looks good.
My mate has started doing just this - he does watchmaking as a hobby and he found the same thing that there are loads of movements but few cases.
He's got a couple of others he's working on and they're really nice, plus it's a really cool concept that you're bringing something old back to life and it's getting a second chance, as others have said, there's no shock protection so they're quite fragile but lovely things.
Apols for the pic quality, taken in the pub under an orange heat lamp a few weeks ago!
Ironically, the one that you posted DOES have shock protection...Incabloc, in fact.
Love the look you ended up with!
Hell to the yea! That sounds like a fantastic idea. In fact I might have to look into that me self. I have a few special custom watches I’m working on. 4 to be exact but after that I want to look into this. Do you have any info on people already doing this you can link me??
Hell to the yea! That sounds like a fantastic idea. In fact I might have to look into that me self. I have a few special custom watches I’m working on. 4 to be exact but after that I want to look into this. Do you have any info on people already doing this you can link me??
This is a link to the eBay store that I learned of the practice, the seller sells vintage watches and produces marriage watches https://www.ebay.com/str/finetimepieces?_trksid=p2047675.m145687.l149086.
I know RGM, https://www.rgmwatches.com/watches#/model-222rr/, has a line that uses old pocket watch movements.
And this company only does conversions as far as I know. https://vorticwatches.com/?utm_source=Brand%20Vortic&utm_medium=Search&utm_campaign=Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz8emBhDrARIsANNJjS6lfiXgNBrreJRsBrpRl4JKweFu19X8s_LGumyUdwrH_mg8_FpLkgQaAhokEALw_wcB
This is a link to the eBay store that I learned of the practice, the seller sells vintage watches and produces marriage watches https://www.ebay.com/str/finetimepieces?_trksid=p2047675.m145687.l149086.
I know RGM, https://www.rgmwatches.com/watches#/model-222rr/, has a line that uses old pocket watch movements.
And this company only does conversions as far as I know. https://vorticwatches.com/?utm_source=Brand%20Vortic&utm_medium=Search&utm_campaign=Brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz8emBhDrARIsANNJjS6lfiXgNBrreJRsBrpRl4JKweFu19X8s_LGumyUdwrH_mg8_FpLkgQaAhokEALw_wcB
Brilliant mate thank you!!!