Help prepare my Camy for battle
Greetings, Crunchers; I have some exciting news. I'm going on a motorcycling trip with my cousin, uncle and father through Swaziland; it's technically Eswatini now, but I haven't got used to the name change yet. While I have a motorcycle licence, it's not the right class to ride a large adventure bike. The slightly bigger issue is that I don't own a large adventure bike...
So I'm riding pillion. I'm seriously looking forward to this trip, we all are, but watches have been on my mind. To fit luggage for two people for four nights into two panniers and a topbox is going to be tricky. We're taking the bare essentials and maybe some luxuries like a fold-out chair or coffee press. More than one watch is unnecessary.
It wasn't hard to choose which one would come along: my Camy Club-Star is closest to my heart. Now my Camy is a vintage dress watch, not what one would expect to be taken with for a four day trek on the back of a motorcycle, so some modifications are in order. I'm going to have to break one of my watch rules and wear a dress watch on a NATO, just for an added layer of security. My second idea is to add "bull bars" to it. There's a mouldable plastic on the market that I think I'll try. It's hard to explain what I'm visualising, but I essentially want to build a snap-on plastic shroud that adds some crown guards and maybe some bars to protect the crystal.
I had the expert design team at R. Schwartz Chronometer Co. (Pty.) Ltd. create a design to better visualise my ideas. I don't know if they've done a good job or not.
I see this as the closest I have in my life to one of those tricked-out off-roaders that tour the world. My father's bike takes a similar approach to these with stickers from every destination and tour on the topbox. I am considering having something like "Swaziland '23" engraved on the caseback once the trip is done. Help me out a bit, Crunchers; if you had to take a vintage dress watch into the wild where it would face vibrations, dust and (hopefully not as a result of falling) shock, how would you modify it? Please post your suggestions down below if you have any. We depart on the seventeenth, so there's plenty of time. Thank you all.
A famous Dutch saying: “𝘕𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘣 𝘫𝘦, 𝘫𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯 𝘫𝘦 𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘫𝘨𝘦𝘯.”
Personally I don’t give a shit about what watch you wear or where you are going. That’s a Me Decision and I’m not you.
I just thought it was an interesting concept to take a dress watch out of its element. You don't need to bring negativity to this space.
I just thought it was an interesting concept to take a dress watch out of its element. You don't need to bring negativity to this space.
Dude logged on and decided to go out of his way to be rude. I don’t think he understands that all these posts weren’t sent directly to him…
Not sure best way to modify a vintage piece for this. Like the sea of adding bull bars and just customizing the piece as a memory from the trip. Sounds like lots of fun with good company 👌
Dude logged on and decided to go out of his way to be rude. I don’t think he understands that all these posts weren’t sent directly to him…
He probably had a bad day at work or at home. I choose not to act in anger; it is a simple choice. His comments say more about him than myself, my watch, or my holiday plans, so I'm not really too bothered.
It's sad that we see this on WC. It doesn't happen often, but it's unfortunate that it does.
Not sure best way to modify a vintage piece for this. Like the sea of adding bull bars and just customizing the piece as a memory from the trip. Sounds like lots of fun with good company 👌
That was exactly what I thought. My whole idea is to add a few reversible modifications to the watch so that it won't get too banged up if anything were to happen. The unfortunate truth is that while on mountain roads littered with potholes and bad drivers a fall or accident is possible. It's never a good idea to think about it, but it's best practice to go into a trip like this with those thoughts in mind to mentally prepare yourself. In the event of a fall, slide or tumble, it'll be nice to have something protecting the most sentimental watch in my collection from the road.
I also think it'll look cool while serving a function, like putting a snorkel on a Land Cruiser ready to do a Cape to Cairo tour, that sort of thing.
I'm not an engineer, and I have no idea how to protect your watch, I'm guessing that destiny will decide.
But I do think it's awesome that you'll have this story attached to this watch. In this way, it seems, our watches become imbued with some magic. They become totems, or amulets.
I'm not an engineer, and I have no idea how to protect your watch, I'm guessing that destiny will decide.
But I do think it's awesome that you'll have this story attached to this watch. In this way, it seems, our watches become imbued with some magic. They become totems, or amulets.
I agree a hundred per cent. This Camy has become the closest thing that I have to a talisman of sorts. If I write an exam, I wear it. If I'm going somewhere and I know I'm going to make memories, I wear it. That's why there was no competition for choosing which watch to take with. Granted, this whole protection idea does stem from some nervousness, because I love it so much and hours on end of vibration and dust isn't good for a watch.
I couldn't have put it better. Cheers!
I don't like to wear a watch while on my motorcycle. I think it increases the chance of hand/wrist injury in the event of a crash, but I have no medical training, only 40 years of riding experience. I like my watch loose and leathers tight which makes it worse for me.
Keep your watch in your pocket when on the bike, would be my advice. You can't look at it whilst riding as you have to take your glove off anyway.
You want one of these goofy "tactical watch covers" or whatever, where a big wide swath of ballistic nylon is Velcro'd (or hook & looped) over the watch face when not in active use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDX6SJJ1
or the like. Like I said "tactical watch cover" seems to work as a search term.
I don't like to wear a watch while on my motorcycle. I think it increases the chance of hand/wrist injury in the event of a crash, but I have no medical training, only 40 years of riding experience. I like my watch loose and leathers tight which makes it worse for me.
Keep your watch in your pocket when on the bike, would be my advice. You can't look at it whilst riding as you have to take your glove off anyway.
I rode pillion just yesterday with a watch on and it was stressful. If it was on something secure like a NATO, I would have felt better. Riding pillion is a lot better for wearing a watch, because my hands are still and gripping some bars, but that means to check the time I have to remove both of my hands to shift around my glove and sleeve.
I think that it's probably for the best that I keep it somewhere secure like in one of the panniers and only wear it once off the bike, but I unfortunately have to trust my future self with that decision. Knowing myself, I'll probably have it on my wrist as a good luck charm for the slower dirt roads where injury and damage to the watch is less likely.
Cheers and safe riding!
You want one of these goofy "tactical watch covers" or whatever, where a big wide swath of ballistic nylon is Velcro'd (or hook & looped) over the watch face when not in active use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDX6SJJ1
or the like. Like I said "tactical watch cover" seems to work as a search term.
I had no idea something like this existed. That's food for thought. Thanks!
I suspect the utterly unromantic appearance of Cordura and Velcro are not up the OP's alley, so we'll go more organic and anachronistic. Same idea with leather and metal snaps.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1241991110/military-cover-watch-strap-black-brown?
For some reason these "leather watch cover"'s all seem to be on Etsy.
Look into "swatch guards" too as there was both a silicone and hard plastic version.
I suspect the utterly unromantic appearance of Cordura and Velcro are not up the OP's alley, so we'll go more organic and anachronistic. Same idea with leather and metal snaps.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1241991110/military-cover-watch-strap-black-brown?
For some reason these "leather watch cover"'s all seem to be on Etsy.
Look into "swatch guards" too as there was both a silicone and hard plastic version.
I'm not sure about how I feel about it aesthetically, but I am also the guy who wants to create a shroud for his watch made out of stuff you get at the hardware shop. I was at a knife expo yesterday and while I'm not into knives like I am into watches, I got to speak with some excellent leatherworkers who handled sheaths, belts and other knife accoutrements. There's a possibility that I could make something like this for myself, because shipping is definitely going to take aeons and eat me alive. I'll see what happens closer to the time, but thanks for the suggestion!
Accoutrements. Great word.
If it were me, I’d just wear a sweat band over it and maybe wear it with the dial on the inside of your wrist. I’ve worn every kind of watch in all kinds of situations. I think you will be fine. It’s not a faberge egg.
Whilst the idea of making some sort of cage to protect the watch sounds good. If this happened to be needed / used 😱, then you'd be worrying about yourself more than the watch?
You sound a bit like me! In the context that perhaps you're over thinking this? Assuming you're wearing a bike jacket and gloves, probably no harm will come to the watch. "probably" 🤔🙄
Yep, I'm definitely overthinking it, but to be honest, the whole cage idea is more to make it look cool and make memories that anything else.
The sleeve of my jacket and my glove will protect it if we fall, so damage will be minimal. The crystal is acrylic, so there's no chance of it shattering.
I wouldn’t expect a vintage watch to make it through the trip. Regardless of external protection. Sounds like a job for Hamilton, Formex, Doxa, Certina, hanhart or Sinn.
I see where you're coming from. I'm not going to be using the watch for very extreme stuff like water, so it's really just shock and dust I'm worried about.
Call me stubborn, but I think there's an appeal to looking at all of those tool watches and going, "bah, I don't need that."
And that answers my question as to why you wouldn't just bring a G Shock! 😂
Purposely infusing a watch with memories is a cool idea! Of course, you'd have to be prepared for the eventually of it breaking or getting damaged and be OK with that.
Have a fun trip and I hope you and your best wrist buddy stay safe! 🏍
Thank you. I am very grateful to know how to service a watch and I have worked on the same movement as my Camy before, a FHF ST 96. I have two almost complete donors if the worst is to happen. I obviously want to keep it as original as possible, but I know that this watch is a fighter. I trust it not to die... I hope my trust isn't misplaced.
Cheers!
Thank you. I am very grateful to know how to service a watch and I have worked on the same movement as my Camy before, a FHF ST 96. I have two almost complete donors if the worst is to happen. I obviously want to keep it as original as possible, but I know that this watch is a fighter. I trust it not to die... I hope my trust isn't misplaced.
Cheers!
Get yourself a Zlatoust. 😂111
Save yourself the worry, and your watch the hours of shock and vibration stress. It may be nostalgic to wear your Camy, but you might regret it when you get back, needing to spend money unnecessarily for repair. But, if you're really decided already and just needing input on how to protect it, then the comments above seem to suffice.
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you. How it looks now, I am definitely going to wear it. I have serviced the same movement in my Camy before and have quite a lot of parts, so if the worst is to happen, the biggest expense will be my time, effort and disconcertment.
Get yourself a Zlatoust. 😂111
That looks really cool! That cage over the crystal is almost what I have in mind; very Cartier Pasha-esque.
No idea how "111" ended up in the message🙄
If you took care of the shipping I would design and either print you that cage from abs polymer or mill it out of aluminum. Just DM me if you’re interested.
Thank you. How it looks now, I am definitely going to wear it. I have serviced the same movement in my Camy before and have quite a lot of parts, so if the worst is to happen, the biggest expense will be my time, effort and disconcertment.
If you took care of the shipping I would design and either print you that cage from abs polymer or mill it out of aluminum. Just DM me if you’re interested.
I don't think I'll be able to get shipping done in time, but thanks for the offer!
I'd wear it with the NATO strap as you pointed out, just in case the bars snap. If I really had to.
But otherwise I'd accept the scratches that your journey is going to give it.
If you don't like scratches, then wear something with a sapphire.
Ultimately If it was me I'd leave it at home and wear a practical beater.
It sure is a pretty watch but it sounds like, with where you want to take it, it will need a tougher helmet, than the helmet you're going to wear on your head. So to speak. It's like the watch is more of a participant in this trip than you are.
Are you sure, you're taking it for the right reasons?
I'd wear it with the NATO strap as you pointed out, just in case the bars snap. If I really had to.
But otherwise I'd accept the scratches that your journey is going to give it.
If you don't like scratches, then wear something with a sapphire.
Ultimately If it was me I'd leave it at home and wear a practical beater.
It sure is a pretty watch but it sounds like, with where you want to take it, it will need a tougher helmet, than the helmet you're going to wear on your head. So to speak. It's like the watch is more of a participant in this trip than you are.
Are you sure, you're taking it for the right reasons?
Yep, I'm addicted to adding memories to this watch. I will be taking it off for the very rough stuff. I spoke with my watchmaker today and was reminded that these Camys were worn by miners (I live in a mining and agricultural town) and kept going despite shock and dust. I'm just going to put it on a NATO and wear it. It has scratches and character already, so a little more won't hurt.
Yep, I'm addicted to adding memories to this watch. I will be taking it off for the very rough stuff. I spoke with my watchmaker today and was reminded that these Camys were worn by miners (I live in a mining and agricultural town) and kept going despite shock and dust. I'm just going to put it on a NATO and wear it. It has scratches and character already, so a little more won't hurt.
In that case I hope that you have an amazing trip and that you'll return with an equally amazing story to tell.
Too much protection kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it? If you stick to your original plan of nato and bars, that should be enough real-world protection and still allow it to look like a watch and display the time at a glance when you need it.
I know this doesn't help but if the watch is that important to you maybe it world just be best not to take it? Wouldn't want anything happening to something that is important to you
Hope it works out and enjoy