The Story Behind the project.

BITE OF THE "WATCH BUG"

I was used to the typical cheap plated base metal quartz watch, and the CASIO multi-function plastic watches--those last ones I liked. Until one day I found some of my father's old watches in a drawer. I was amazed that they were "automatic" mechanical watches that ran without batteries! For some reason, that seemed more advanced, than having to change batteries every year (two of my watches permanently damaged after the batteries were replaced by savage watchmakers?).

There was a thick, square Bulova Automatic, a couple of 21J Citizens, and a tonneau 21J Orient automatic, a small tank-style hand-wound French "Landvin," and a large oval 70s Pierre Cardin stylish watch (Le-Coultre hand-wound movement). They all had funky dials--which I would not have desired to wear personally, especially in the 9th grade.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?

Soon after being "bit" by the "watch bug," I would look at any and all information available to me. Since I had no access to horological publications, I began looking for watch advertisements in magazines. I particularly liked diver's watches and chronographs. I would do this constantly, as well as window-shop wherever watches were available (not any mechanical watch shops available in town carrying anything other than Citizen and Orient).

It was in a complimentary in-flight watch magazine that I found the one watch that has called my attention the most. This watch amazed me for having so many hands, so many functions, being mechanical AND self-winding with a sapphire crystal. I had never seen anything like it before. I particularly liked the styling of the lugs and the bracelet. How sporty and modern, yet how "classic!" I cut out that ad, and have kept it with me since! Funny thing is that I have never seen that ad anywhere else, and that magazine was not current--1990. I found it in a stack of magazines on a bookshelf at home. Were it not for that magazine ad, perhaps my interest would not be the same it is today.

I remember thinking that most Rolexes were unappealing to me, with the exception of the Submariner, GMT Master, Explorer II, and Daytona. From what I perceived, Rolex was considered "the epitome of a watch." But after seeing all these complications on an automatic mechanical watch, I thought for sure Omega was the true "master of watchmaking."

when gold must do more than glitter...
The Magazine Ad. Appeared in "Caminos del Aire," in-flight magazine of Mexicana Airlines, circa 1990.

Working on watch
This is the only picture I found, of someone working on a watch.

FIRST TRANSFORMATION

One Citizen in particular was not awfully stylish, and had a more classic shape instead. Unfortunately it had an unappealing blue dial with stripes (70s?). The second hand was not on the pin, but just freely floating inside the dial. I managed to open the watch via the bezel (!) by using leverage with a small flat screwdriver. I put the hands back on, and closed the watch with pressure. It worked! I looked at it, and looked at it... but I really disliked the dial.

I opened the watch again, somehow took the hands and dial off, removed the applied metal markers, and spray-painted the dial black (I had put together some model airplanes, and had some around). When it dried, I put back the applied markers and the hands and re-sealed the watch. It worked! I proudly showed it off around the home. My father thought I did a good job, and told me I was very good with technical things like that. It was the first automatic watch I wore.

DEATH OF A WRISTWATCH

Another time, I went too far and disassembled the other Citizen watch with the aid of a small and inexpensive (electrical?) screwdriver set. Unfortunately, I had little idea of the particularities of micro-mechanics, and while unscrewing the mainspring cover something black flew at my face with great force--missing my eye by fractions of an inch! After that, I figured the watch was dead, and sadly disposed of it. Luckily, I thought, "it was the uglier of the watches, and it wasn't working anyway." I stopped "messing" with the insides of watches for a while after that event.

OUCH! The mainspring hit me in the face!!!
OUCH!!!

from www.omega.ch

A couple of years later, I discovered the small watchmaker shop downtown which I would visit to hear about the "great mechanical watches" that were once made and were replaced by quartz. It was my impression that eventually no more mechanical watches would be made. On occasion, they would have some nice watches, like vintage Omegas, Rados, Midos, Bulovas, Rolexes, etc. One time I was shown a tiny Omega "Lady-Matic," a very small automatic watch. Literally a mechanical feat which gave me even more respect for Omega.

On the various opportunities to visit a metropolis, I would go and window shop for watches!!! At this time, I looked for the wonderful Omega with all the hands and other complications including the moon phase indicator. I saw a few Omegas, many Rolexes and a few Tissots, Midos and Rados. This was probably the time when mechanical watches were having a comeback! The closest I came to seeing it was a Speedmaster Automatic Triple date in steel and gold. Still nice, but it lacked the moon phase. Unfortunately, I was turned off by the prices. I would not own any of those watches for many years. Still to this day, I have never seen this Speedmaster in person.

from www.informedia.com/orologi

A few years later I started college. At the large library at the university I found the "Horological Journal" from 1969-1976. I mainly glanced at their watch advertisements, and read only a couple of articles. I got on the INTERNET and soon discovered TimeZone. It was through TimeZone that I have seen, and heard the most about watches to date. As a matter of fact, it still is. Were it not for its many contributors throughout the years including but not limited to James Dowling, Jack Freedman, and especially Walt Odet's posts and his great Horologium, (where there is an actual insight into the inner-workings of a watch) I would still be unwilling to undergo a project like the one I describe below. For the longest time I have wanted to take the TZ Watchmaking Courses, but had the dilemma of either saving and taking the course and purchasing the tools, or saving towards a nicer watch. I never got around to take the courses, but continued visiting TimeZone and contributing every now and then.

Pictures of the watch not to be used without my explicit permission.
No affiliation whatsoever to Omega Watch Company or any other company mentioned herein.
Not for commercial purposes. Copyright 2000.