My grandad’s watch
This was my grandfather’s watch. He died in the late nineties and apart from the woolly hat he’d wear to watch the rugby, this is all I have of his.
Shamefully it’s been sat in a box for 25 years as I had no real interest, as a young man, in watches and certainly not in watches like this, but I kept it because it was my grandad’s.
It’s nothing fancy. These Soviet made watches were cheap and available in the UK in the seventies and eighties which is when I imagine he received it. It was awarded to him for long service at his local Working Men’s Club where he drank every night.
Recently I got interested in watches and started building a collection. My wife reminded me about my oldest piece and I took it out of the loft. Cleaned it up. I cleaned the decades old grime, sweat and skin from the elasticated, gold-plated steel strap. I wound it (with difficulty) and it was still working, albeit losing about 20 minutes each day.
My grandad would have liked that. It would have given him an excuse for being late home from the club.
I took it to a watchmaker for a service (its first service!) and it’s now running like a dream. I considered keeping it running slow but I’d never get away with that trick and I don’t believe he did.
I plan on having this in rotation now. Not as an everyday watch, but as a dress piece. I’ll put a leather strap on it. Maybe crocodile grain. I hope this watch that I never saw off my grandad’s wrist, can have another life with me.
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Priceless 👌
Priceless 👌
That’s how I see it. 😊
May I ask what the service at the watchmaker costed? I am also planning to take my grandfathers watch to the local service centre
May I ask what the service at the watchmaker costed? I am also planning to take my grandfathers watch to the local service centre
It was £30, which seemed surprisingly inexpensive. It was an old school market stall watchmaker.
It's hard to fault the straightforward styling. I'm glad you got it properly serviced instead of grinding it to death. Do keep the expansion band.
Oh, I’ll definitely keep the band. It’s just not to my taste (at the moment). It is INCREDIBLY comfortable to wear on that band though.
What a fabulous story! Wear it in good health…and with good memories.
those are the best watches
This is a stunning piece!
That’s awesome! Similar story I have a Hamilton that I dug out of a box that was either my father or Grandfathers watch. Nice watch you have there.