The Vintage Dilemma
Once again, I had to take this watch in for a fix. This time, one of the pushers launched off of the case and had to be re-set with a new spring. Other repairs have included 3 hands popping off at various points, the tachymeter rehaute coming loose, the chrono pusher not actually activating the chronograph, and, most significantly, the entire movement having to be completely torn down and rebuilt, which took 6 months in the expert hands of the only watchmaker I could find who was even willing to attempt repairing the legendarily awful Calibre 11 movement (how awful? awful enough that Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton all abandoned it less than 5 years after joining forces to develop it in the first place).
And, of course, there isn't a modern watch—even Swatch's own reissue of this one—that approaches the simplicity, humility, and proportions of this design, let alone a half-century of hard-earned patina that can't ever be mass-produced. Hell, even the ad campaign speaks to a bygone era when watches were honest tools and not high-dollar cosplay.
So I'm stuck. Do I wear this thing until something breaks that just can't be repaired? Do I relegate it to a watch box except for rare occasions when I know I can baby it? Do I sell it while it still looks and works great and pass the decision on to the next wrist (as I did with my vintage Speedmaster, which suffered from the same issues)? All of the options suck. Because what I really want is to wear this watch every damn day because of all the watches I own, this is the one that I have the strongest bond with — I'm sure in large part because I've had to put so much time and patience into owning it.
Design obsessive who loves watches but loathes the watch industry and the snobbery and flex-culture that feeds it. What’s a boy to do?
Yes vintage can be trouble but the watchmaker can make a difference. My Hamilton chronograph from the mid nineties runs great after a service that solved sticky pushers and general slowing.
Honestly, that watch looks in great shape. If you didn’t tell me it was vintage I wouldn’t know the difference. What I would do is keep this one locked away for special occasions and then get the modern version of that Hammy to wear everyday. That’s just me though cause most people would say watches are meant to be worn.
Repair it now and wear it. Your bond with this watch is too big to let it go...
Then contact Hamilton and see if there is an alternative movement for this watch?
This is what I would do 😊
Repair it now and wear it. Your bond with this watch is too big to let it go...
Then contact Hamilton and see if there is an alternative movement for this watch?
This is what I would do 😊
Sadly there's no modern movement that would fit this (though TAG Heuer did at least move the crown back to the right side for some of their recent Monaco reissues, which, in 1969, were originally powered by the same movement that's in this one)
Here is the link to the modern watch
https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/h38416541-intra-matic.html
Honestly, that watch looks in great shape. If you didn’t tell me it was vintage I wouldn’t know the difference. What I would do is keep this one locked away for special occasions and then get the modern version of that Hammy to wear everyday. That’s just me though cause most people would say watches are meant to be worn.
I really wish the Hamilton reissue was more faithful--it's a nice enough watch, but it's bigger in every dimension, the crown is on the wrong side, it loses the applied tachymeter rehaute for a printed one, and adds a lot of bling the original did without. A big part of why this is a dilemma is because no modern watch I've seen gets the details right. The closest to this watch is the new TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox, but it's still more shiny and "luxury" than I'd like...and hard to swallow at $6500.
Here is the link to the modern watch
https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-us/h38416541-intra-matic.html
Yeah--it's a great watch in its own right, but it's so much bigger and flashier (not to mention the crown being on the wrong side), that it doesn't approach the charm of the original.
I can see why you adore it. It’s a beautiful Hamilton. Sorry to read the dilemma you’re in. I definitely wouldn’t sell it, though. Of the options you listed, I’d keep it for the special occasions.
Hey David my opinion is to just wear the watch. After all all watches were designed for the purpose of being worn and tick away. Even if it’s a vintage watch I still would wear it for sure and when the time comes to service it cross that bridge.
This is the issue with vintage complications - I’ve been there, done that, and drained the bank account.
It’s your cross to bear. I’d just keep wearing it until all hope is lost. Get your moneys worth.
I have had this issue with vintage watches and vintage cars. I have made them someone else's problem. Every acquisition must fulfill its core function. But, that's just me...
Kinda like old cars. I’ve owned a few and love them but if you drive them instead of just polish them and admire as art things occur.
So it’s what you sign up for.
I break down myself a lot more than I did forty years ago. Old things are cool but they are old.
Wear it and enjoy it.
I say save it for special occasions only. It looks super special!
I would suggest to sell it and start a new life with a new special wrist partner.
It is always good moving on, although I know it is hard.
(That movement looks absolutely mental 😆) But I say wear it till it breathes its last breath. I agree with @Predneck & Like you said, it’s from an era of “tools not toys” so let it live a full life. No strenuous activities of course but wear it as much as you can.
I certainly don't think you should get rid of it if you're attached to it...with cars I think it's good to take a break and come back to them...maybe get a modern Intra Matic to wear daily?
I certainly don't think you should get rid of it if you're attached to it...with cars I think it's good to take a break and come back to them...maybe get a modern Intra Matic to wear daily?
Unfortunately the modern version is so much bigger and busier that it doesn't really feel like the same watch. Kinda like when VW introduced the "new Beetle"--it was a cool but it had nothing in common with what made original great.
Unfortunately the modern version is so much bigger and busier that it doesn't really feel like the same watch. Kinda like when VW introduced the "new Beetle"--it was a cool but it had nothing in common with what made original great.
gotcha...
When a car you love gets old you only take it out on sunday's and special occasions. Don't expect daily wear from an old watch and have it survive that.
When a car you love gets old you only take it out on sunday's and special occasions. Don't expect daily wear from an old watch and have it survive that.
Totally--and I guess the problem is that I don't expect it to survive, I'm just getting exhausted by the constant trips to the watchmaker. I think part of the problem is that, like many of us, I fantasize about just having one watch that's a part of me—sort of the way I remember my grandfather's Omega. This is the closest I've come, yet, for the reasons you say, it can't be that watch for me. And that bums me out. I love and own other new watches (including some of the re-editions) but they just don't have the same soul.
People complicate their lives then spend the rest of it making excuses why they do . It’s an object that sounds like grief less a bit of pleasure, I would sell it , it’s a hot potato is what it is ( old man grumbling from experience ) its a nice piece but do really need the aggravation?
People complicate their lives then spend the rest of it making excuses why they do . It’s an object that sounds like grief less a bit of pleasure, I would sell it , it’s a hot potato is what it is ( old man grumbling from experience ) its a nice piece but do really need the aggravation?
Yep--therein sits the dilemma. The watchmaker keeps having to work on it keeps telling me, "just wear it, it'll be fine" but when he sees how heartbroken I get when something new goes wrong, also suggests I "just get a damn Tudor (what he wears every day) and stop worrying about it"