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Okay, for those who notice nitty little details (as I think most watchmakers do) I am aware that the hands need to be corrected. My only excuse was that when I got around to putting on the hands it was towards the end of the day and I just wanted to case the thing and see how well it kept time. Haven't had the time to go back to it. Anyway, I titled this entry the way I did because it indicates something I love and the reason I entered watchmaking. For I found this watch in an old box (of old remnants thrown in free with some things I bought at a trade fair), lens-less, dirty (inside and out) with a broken mainspring. I replaced the lens and mainspring, gave the movement a good cleaning and did as much restoration of the dial as I could do with the primitive methods at my disposal; dial restoration being an art requiring far more time to master than I've so far put into the craft, but someday I hope to get better at it. As I said, the watch was in sorry condition and I felt sorry for it; as one might feel towards a waif on the streets, I decided to take it in some months ago as a practice piece. I mean, it literally had "cobwebs" in the movement; some kind of moldy stuff which I've seen in a lot of long--neglected timepieces. I put it through the cleaning machine and was pleased to see how it had brightened up and its quality began to show through--like a chronographical David Copperfield or Pip. I removed the remaining dirt with pegwood (Peggotty!) and Rodico and carefully oiled it. I was gleeful when, after final placement of the balance, the piece started to tick like a newborn baby come into the world. I, the parent, felt jubilant and, so far I haven't been disappointed as it is keeping good time, living up to expectations. I wear it regularly and someday maybe I'll come across a stray strap--lurking even now in some forgotten recess--that will do it justice. The watch is a 17j Elgin, with a gold plated case, as you can see. I haven't taken the time to look up the movement to see when it was made, but my guess is pre-WWII (any thoughts?). Would this have been a ladies watch? It's a bit bigger than most at that time. An unusual feature is the sub-seconds dial at 9 o'clock as opposed to 6 or 3. I may return to it someday when I am more skilled but it's still a joy to own.

Here is a old hand winding titoni (authenticity will be another topic for another time) right now however I am abit puzzled by the watch back. It does not seem like a typical snapback or screw back so I have no idea how to open it. Any ideas? Any help from you guys would be perfect!

I absolutely love clean, clear and simple watches. Don't get me wrong, I do like a quirky watch as well. But this Omega is special to me as I purchased it from a customer just a few weeks into my apprenticeship. I did not know a heck of a lot about watches back then, being a 16 year old. But I knew Omega was a good brand because my boss had one and would not stop raving about them. A guy came in and offered this for sale and my boss was not around, so I offered him £20 for it (the glass was cracked and it was very scratched, the dial was badly stained and it had a scrappy leather strap and I was only earning £16.50/week) which was duly accepted - I was chuffed to bits. My boss later told me off big time as I was not supposed to do deals with customers (I think he was jealous as I know he would have bought it in a heartbeat). So I have had this for many years and would never part with it.