My collection

[Saldog]

My collection changes regularly as I do lots of watch trading. I really don't need most of the watches I have and many are project watches that I intend to restore, some of which I will keep and some I will let go. But since I'm new here, I thought I'd share my collection with others so you can know a little more about me. Not included in this shot are some I recently sold, a Seiko 62mas and a Seiko World Time. Some of these are heirlooms or gifts from my wife of 40+ years. You can see I am a bit obsessed with Seiko. Sorry.

[grsnovi]

Wow! That's a collection!!

Do you have a favorite?

[Saldog]

2 minutes ago, grsnovi said:

Wow! That's a collection!!

Do you have a favorite?

Thanks Gary. My favorite is probably the SMP300, this one here:

I worked hard to afford this one back then and I still love it today. I recently had it serviced (not myself, a real pro) and it is running great and looks like new.

But my second favorite is this one:

I love this style so much, I actually ordered myself a new Seiko watch that is an homage to this one. That should be delivered on Monday:

 

Saldog.

[grsnovi]

I am rather partial to my Bulova Seamaster in that style. It's what I wear when I'm on vacation and plan to go snorkeling.

I like the sculpted inward curve on the Omega lugs but I do like the looks of the dial on the new Seiko you have coming.

[gbyleveldt]

3 hours ago, Saldog said:

You can see I am a bit obsessed with Seiko. Sorry.

 

Ah, a WS member. Welcome! Nothing to say sorry for, I’m also a Seiko nut (TheBeardedWatchmaker over at WS)

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 hours ago, Saldog said:

Thanks Gary. My favorite is probably the SMP300, this one here:

I worked hard to afford this one back then and I still love it today. I recently had it serviced (not myself, a real pro) and it is running great and looks like new.

But my second favorite is this one:

I love this style so much, I actually ordered myself a new Seiko watch that is an homage to this one. That should be delivered on Monday:

 

Saldog.

The Goldeneye and an SKX ?

[Saldog]

2 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

The Goldeneye and an SKX ?

The Goldeneye is actually a quartz watch. That was an award from my employer. I would have picked an Automatic, but it was a gift so I'm not going to complain! It is still a nice watch and one of my favorites. What looks like an SKX is actually a 7548 Quartz Diver I recently acquired. Actually two of them, one Pepsi and one black. The Pepsi bezel one has a genuine Z199 bracelet on it and that watch is in awesome shape but has a bad calendar that I need to repair (already have a parts watch to fix it but I'm waiting on a case spring that broke). Otherwise it is running and I plan to service it and get it on the wrist a lot. The black 7548 is not running but has a perfect calendar. I need to find out why it isn't running, probably a bad coil, and get that serviced. That watch otherwise looks great and I have a new rubber strap for it already. I probably won't keep both watches. Speaking of SKX, I love those, but they are going for a lot of money these days, fetching as much as $400. I'm on the hunt for one that's a good deal needing a little TLC. It's also hard to find them without mods. I am not a fan of modified watches, other than maybe putting on a sapphire crystal vs mineral or something that doesn't really change the appearance from stock.

[gbyleveldt]

3 hours ago, Saldog said:

Speaking of SKX, I love those, but they are going for a lot of money these days, fetching as much as $400. I'm on the hunt for one that's a good deal needing a little TLC. It's also hard to find them without mods. I am not a fan of modified watches, other than maybe putting on a sapphire crystal vs mineral or something that doesn't really change the appearance from stock.

Haha, different strokes. I love modded watches (tastefully done of course). I wouldn’t go and mod a prestine watch, but I do pick up a lot of watches destined for the landfill and these get modded to hell sometimes.

For unmolested SKX’s you can go to SpeedTimerKollection. I bought two from them for around €160 each and they were in pretty good, unmolested condition (there are cheaper horrors though, so spend time looking at each photo carefully - the price usually is an indicator of condition). I only serviced them and they see weekly wrist time. That being said, it’s still a bitter pill to swallow when that was their price brand new just a few years ago.

[Neverenoughwatches]

11 hours ago, Saldog said:

14 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

The Goldeneye and an SKX ?

The Goldeneye is actually a quartz watch. That was an award from my employer. I would have picked an Automatic, but it was a gift so I'm not going to complain

The co axial would have been double the price. Nice watch though, always fancied one myself but i cant swallow Swatch's ethics that are making watch repair more difficult for the amateur.

11 hours ago, Saldog said:

The Goldeneye is actually a quartz watch. That was an award from my employer. I would have picked an Automatic, but it was a gift so I'm not going to complain! It is still a nice watch and one of my favorites. What looks like an SKX is actually a 7548 Quartz Diver I recently acquired. Actually two of them, one Pepsi and one black. The Pepsi bezel one has a genuine Z199 bracelet on it and that watch is in awesome shape but has a bad calendar that I need to repair (already have a parts watch to fix it but I'm waiting on a case spring that broke). Otherwise it is running and I plan to service it and get it on the wrist a lot. The black 7548 is not running but has a perfect calendar. I need to find out why it isn't running, probably a bad coil, and get that serviced. That watch otherwise looks great and I have a new rubber strap for it already. I probably won't keep both watches. Speaking of SKX, I love those, but they are going for a lot of money these days, fetching as much as $400. I'm on the hunt for one that's a good deal needing a little TLC. It's also hard to find them without mods. I am not a fan of modified watches, other than maybe putting on a sapphire crystal vs mineral or something that doesn't really change the appearance from stock.

As far as I'm aware the skx is now discontinued along with the 7s26 that's is housed inside. Stock supplys of them will be running very low now and driving the price up. I was able to get a new Japan skx13 as this info was starting to circulate. I preferred the smaller size and it was a bit more expensive but it is one of my favourite watches.

11 hours ago, Saldog said:

I need to find out why it isn't running, probably a bad coil, and get that serviced. 

Hopefully an easy fix for you mate. I'd love to hear about your experience while working on it please as i have a good interest in quartz repair. Maybe we can learn from each other, i need to refresh my knowledge on quartz.

8 hours ago, gbyleveldt said:

Haha, different strokes. I love modded watches (tastefully done of course). I wouldn’t go and mod a prestine watch, but I do pick up a lot of watches destined for the landfill and these get modded to hell sometimes.

For unmolested SKX’s you can go to SpeedTimerKollection. I bought two from them for around €160 each and they were in pretty good, unmolested condition (there are cheaper horrors though, so spend time looking at each photo carefully - the price usually is an indicator of condition). I only serviced them and they see weekly wrist time. That being said, it’s still a bitter pill to swallow when that was their price brand new just a few years ago.

Eyup Gert. Here is a solid modded Amphidive Vostok i may have shown you before but it may help with converting Saldog to our darkside

[gbyleveldt]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Eyup Gert. Here is a solid modded Amphidive Vostok i may have shown you before but it may help with converting Saldog to our darkside

Nice one Rich! No, I haven't seen that one yet. I have two that I got just before all hell broke loose so not much modding has happened since I got them, except for a new strap on one. I've also been thinking of changing the mirror finish on one of the bezels to satin or brushed, it's a little too much the way it is now.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, gbyleveldt said:

Nice one Rich! No, I haven't seen that one yet. I have two that I got just before all hell broke loose so not much modding has happened since I got them, except for a new strap on one. I've also been thinking of changing the mirror finish on one of the bezels to satin or brushed, it's a little too much the way it is now.

This isnt actually my modification, its a prezzie my lovely missus bought me for xmas, she has good taste and it was a fantastic surprise. A guy in the Uk that specialises in modding Vostoks, a bit controversial now but it was a present and she did say its ok if im not comfortable wearing it. Its a cracking watch, quite accurate and a very healthy amp. A tad too big for me but i love its style, and solidly built. A bit like i like my woman built. I may edit that later as she often pops her head into the forum to make sure I'm behaving. I hate to disappoint her . She has a keen interest also and is quickly developing a good skill for repairing, it looks as if i may need to set up another bench soon as she's starting to hog mine lol. Tired a little go at hs manipulation a week ago and her delicate approach i have to jelously admit i think shes going to be better at it than me. . 

[Saldog]

Sorry to bag on modders. I actually like how some mods look, including that Vostok. I'm all for wearing whatever looks good on the wrist. But for collection purposes, I shoot for authenticity. That's all I was saying.

I may take a walk on the dark side soon enough!

[gbyleveldt]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

This isnt actually my modification, its a prezzie my lovely missus bought me for xmas, she has good taste and it was a fantastic surprise. A guy in the Uk that specialises in modding Vostoks, a bit controversial now but it was a present and she did say its ok if im not comfortable wearing it. Its a cracking watch, quite accurate and a very healthy amp. A tad too big for me but i love its style, and solidly built. A bit like i like my woman built. I may edit that later as she often pops her head into the forum to make sure I'm behaving. I hate to disappoint her . She has a keen interest also and is quickly developing a good skill for repairing, it looks as if i may need to set up another bench soon as she's starting to hog mine lol. Tired a little go at hs manipulation a week ago and her delicate approach i have to jelously admit i think shes going to be better at it than me. . 

Hah that's awesome. Whenever I waltz in with another watch I get the eye roll. Which is what I do when she gets a new pair of shoes so that makes us even hehe. Obviously the issue around Vostok is what it is, but that hasn't stopped me wearing mine. Most people don't even care that you're wearing a watch, let alone anything Russian. And based on some of what was said on social media, I get the distinct impression that the average Russian isn't enthused by events either. The same average Russian that put that Vostok together. But I need to stop there before I inadvertently open a can of worms.

13 minutes ago, Saldog said:

Sorry to bag on modders. I actually like how some mods look, including that Vostok. I'm all for wearing whatever looks good on the wrist. But for collection purposes, I shoot for authenticity. That's all I was saying.

I may take a walk on the dark side soon enough!

No worries man, everyone has their thing. I have some pieces here where I went for full and proper restoration. But some of the stuff I get is just too far gone and then I get the green light to go nuts. Mostly cheap Seiko's that was made by the thousands so they were never likely to be collectable anyway.

[Neverenoughwatches]

16 minutes ago, Saldog said:

But for collection purposes, I shoot for authenticity. That's all I was saying.

Absolutely Saldog no problem. I prefer to keep watches genuine as well. Ideally two examples, one for each situation.