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Girard-Perregaux Shell Oil Pocket Watch
A conversation piece and marvel back in 1940. Produced by Girard Perregaux, lubricated by Shell. It was brilliant, or was it? The watch is beautiful, don’t get that wrong. Oiling a watch with motor oil on the other hand, not so much. A modest 7 jewels, with plates that were supposed to look like the outline of an oil rig. The pocket watches were lubricated with Shell Oil… But That Didn't work, so the story goes. The watches were returned to Girard Perregaux, cleaned and lubricated with proper watch oils, and then distributed in any way to American Shell Gasoline and Oil dealers as an advertising gimmick. Shell had 30,000 of these jeweled wonders made by Switzerland’s famous watchmakers, Girard-Perregaux. All 30,000 are lubricated, not with $16 per quart watch oil, but with tough-bodied 25 cent per quart Golden Shell Motor Oil- Watch Supply House
Below is a link to a story that deconstructs the watch so you can see how it was made.
https://www.thenakedwatchmaker.com/decon-girard-perregaux-shell
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Paul
@TheHoroSexual
“GRAIL WATCH ACHIEVED”-For Now…. Since I was a kid, I’ve always looked at the wrists of a passing people to see what kind of watch they wore. It was around 2008 when I was only around 20-21 years of a...
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Cool story. Thanks for sharing. Surprised that G P produced 7 jewel movements. How times have changed.
Thanks for sharing this Paul. Well done.
Thanks for sharing this Paul. Well done.
Thank you kindly! It’s a wonderful little pocket watch and it’s fascinating to see all the parts moving through the front & rear of the exhibition case. The movement has kinda been “skeletonized” and it’s awesome to witness all the engineering involved. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Cool story. Thanks for sharing. Surprised that G P produced 7 jewel movements. How times have changed.
Indeed they have!
Thank you kindly! It’s a wonderful little pocket watch and it’s fascinating to see all the parts moving through the front & rear of the exhibition case. The movement has kinda been “skeletonized” and it’s awesome to witness all the engineering involved. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Oil filled watches fascinate me and I need to spend more time researching them. I love what Ressence does, ditto with Sinn. I also less than secretly like the Uboat Dark Moon in 40mm, if not for two little things…The bubble and quartz.
Did they ever say whether this was straight 30 weight or a multiviscosity blend? What was the recommended service interval?
Did they ever say whether this was straight 30 weight or a multiviscosity blend? What was the recommended service interval?
I have not heard any such information. There’s not much information to go with online. A fellow Redbar member brought one to a meet up a week or two ago and I just had to find one for myself. I was able to purchase a decent unit from eBay.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing
I'm a sucker for pocket watches and this just shed light on something I never even thought of!
Err....mineral, semi-synthetic or synthetic? And like @PoorMansRolex said, viscosity?
What an interesting piece
Fascinating, thank you 👍🏻