The perils of vintage problem solving with Porthole #1… when the content becomes more contrived and the watch just doesn’t sit right…

Chris is mashing up series now is he? The Porthole/Chronotriggered cinematic universe is in its seventh cycle and just scraping that barrel. Well… you’re here now, might as well get comfortable.

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This article now lives on The Escapement Room.

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I feel inordinately bad when I don’t like a watch I bought online for less than $100. I think I beat myself up about those mistakes more than had I not liked a $1000 watch. Or maybe not, but I feel your pain.

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The "7" looks like it comes from this:

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But none of the other numerals do.

I have a similar feeling about this:

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The strap is absolutely terrible, but at 17mm (the worst) I don't have options sitting in drawers. I am not sure that I even want to spend $10 at CNS to make it more wearable. I have worn it for exactly eight hours. Came home from work and replaced it with a quartz beater for the night. Maybe it is the not gold gold that is the stylistic let down. It isn't even as rich as plate.

And then, there are the projects that you lose interest in:

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This may need a full service and that's where the economics don't make sense. It is an obscure brand housing an A.S. 1287. Any real service is ten times its worth. I thought it was interesting and unique.

The low buy-in is the temptation. We don't always win. But, when we do...

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On @Deeperblue 's and @WatchYourIntruder 's behalf, let me say that perhaps the watch doesn't speak to you because of where you are on your journey.

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Throw it on a good quality, unpadded (thin type) chocolate brown strap and you will feel better in no time.

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thekris

I feel inordinately bad when I don’t like a watch I bought online for less than $100. I think I beat myself up about those mistakes more than had I not liked a $1000 watch. Or maybe not, but I feel your pain.

I think it’s easier to do this as it’s more of a flippant purchase. With significant investment there should be more of a measured decision behind the selection process, and at that money you are very much all in. My Bubble would be a perfect example, as a watch it’s terrible, but aesthetically I like it. This Edox is amusing for its lack of cohesion, but the mechanics and construction warrant it being placed nearer to the top of successful acquisitions when following my usual rules and regulations of vintage watch collecting. It may grow on me, but it may be more due to pity or Stockholm Syndrome rather than through genuine affection.

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SurferJohn

Throw it on a good quality, unpadded (thin type) chocolate brown strap and you will feel better in no time.

No - any brown becomes red, and leather becomes tacky. The black at least stays black, and then the watch becomes wearable. I’m wearing it today, so let’s see how we go…

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Aurelian

The "7" looks like it comes from this:

Image

But none of the other numerals do.

I have a similar feeling about this:

Image

The strap is absolutely terrible, but at 17mm (the worst) I don't have options sitting in drawers. I am not sure that I even want to spend $10 at CNS to make it more wearable. I have worn it for exactly eight hours. Came home from work and replaced it with a quartz beater for the night. Maybe it is the not gold gold that is the stylistic let down. It isn't even as rich as plate.

And then, there are the projects that you lose interest in:

Image

This may need a full service and that's where the economics don't make sense. It is an obscure brand housing an A.S. 1287. Any real service is ten times its worth. I thought it was interesting and unique.

The low buy-in is the temptation. We don't always win. But, when we do...

It is odd… I think this is a decent watch, just poorly executed from an aesthetic point of view. At the same time, what they’ve done, bar the logo and dial colour, they’ve done extremely well. The numerals and handset are very well executed, but jar with the logo and the dial colour is in that uncanny value of not white but not champagne. It’s too nice to be a daily but not smart enough to be a dressier affair.

Then again, I’m overthinking it, as I am prone to do.

You can’t really review a vintage watch, so perhaps all this is trying to say is that vintage watches are not automatically stylish if they were flawed to begin with, and no amount of strap changes can fix a flawed product.

The “7” definitely matches the Bulova (1940s?) but the style is certainly art nouveau. I have nothing against the numerals, I do like them and the execution, I think it’s probably why it ended up in the post winging its way to me, but I do have to admit that paired with the logo it’s not working. It’s flawed, but at least not from anything sinister like a pin-pallet or radium lume.

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I think a soft black NATO with gold hardware would really suit this watch.

I found an image of something similar to show you the look. I think carrying the gold plate as the theme will enhance the gold case and numerals making a strong statement, in doing so it would soften the black elements and essentially fade the 'edox' text and the black fill.

At first glance you don't even see the black details on this watch as the accents on the strap draw you to the gold. Just look how much black is on this dial, 21 Jewels, Incabloc, swiss made, all the small indices.

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77red96

I think a soft black NATO with gold hardware would really suit this watch.

I found an image of something similar to show you the look. I think carrying the gold plate as the theme will enhance the gold case and numerals making a strong statement, in doing so it would soften the black elements and essentially fade the 'edox' text and the black fill.

At first glance you don't even see the black details on this watch as the accents on the strap draw you to the gold. Just look how much black is on this dial, 21 Jewels, Incabloc, swiss made, all the small indices.

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Whilst that might solve a strap issue (although I’m not sure I like that option 100%), it doesn’t address the other issues. It’s an odd one, I’ll have to give it some time and see if I can gel with the watch itself more.

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Porthole

Whilst that might solve a strap issue (although I’m not sure I like that option 100%), it doesn’t address the other issues. It’s an odd one, I’ll have to give it some time and see if I can gel with the watch itself more.

Yeah, I hear you, it's just too good of a find to not get use from it. If you do have a black NATO with gold hardware (and if you have time) would you put the watch on it and post a pic so I can see what it looks like? Thanks.

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Not sure why Edox and Claude Bernard (they produce watches in same atelier building) are overlooked and not broadly known. They deserve attention as very affordable luxury as their quality, designs are good.

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WatchObserver

Not sure why Edox and Claude Bernard (they produce watches in same atelier building) are overlooked and not broadly known. They deserve attention as very affordable luxury as their quality, designs are good.

But this whole thread is about the design not being good? This is a hot mess from the late 60s / early 70s, it just doesn’t work.