golfjunky wrote:

What’s inside this nice old beast Greg? 773x?
I remember your original post saying you could finally post in this thread, but no more than that. I like the dive bezel along with the telemetre and tachymetre scales.

Hi bud, Inside is a Landeron 248. from the little digging i have done Azur was an offshoot of Chronographe Suisse and pieces like mine were made for tourists to Switzerland wanting a piece of the horological provenance of Switzerland but without the price tag of the big boys.

golfjunky wrote:Hi bud, Inside is a Landeron 248. from the little digging i have done Azur was an offshoot of Chronographe Suisse and pieces like mine were made for tourists to Switzerland wanting a piece of the horological provenance of Switzerland but without the price tag of the big boys.

Cool. From what I can gather, the Landeron is quite a decent movement. Workhorse, rather than haute horologie, but for an oldie nine times out ten that’s better anyway. Parts are available and still cheap and they run for ages. Looks pretty good too.

Wearing this all day today, 1973 Seamaster chronograph.

I found this vintage watch in a draw of a piece of furniture that I inherited from my father, I don’t know anything about it and I am very much hoping that some kind forumite will be able to tell me more.




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treyford wrote: ↑Sun Dec 19, 2021 6:18 pm I found this vintage watch in a draw of a piece of furniture that I inherited from my father, I don’t know anything about it and I am very much hoping that some kind forumite will be able to tell me more.




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Not that much to know other than what’s printed on the dial. Great numerals and beautiful handset. I’m wasn’t aware that Waltham ever made much wrist ware. Mostly pocket watches I thought, but I’m no expert .A great piece, should be a straightforward timekeeper and certainly worth a service. Does it wind and run at all? It almost appears from the pic that the lugs have been soldered to the case. A possible conversion? If not your cup of tea, at the risk of being too forward, right up my alley.

Well watchaholic, it appears to be an automatic, it winds and runs properly and is reasonably accurate. I will attempt to get it serviced. From what my researches has shown once the case back is off the movement should have a unique reference and will enable me to find out more. I checked Chrono24 and found a similar watch https://www.chrono24.co.uk/waltham/575- ... 608091.htm.

It is obviously a family piece so sadly for you it means it will be staying in my collection.

^^^^Well that’s just awesome. Good luck with the repairs. Shouldn’t be hard to find someone to give it a cleaning and it will be off to the races.

My Dad's 1944/5 Rolex Perpetual Oyster Chrono - Mod 3065 BubbleBack with 'Hooded Lugs' ...... Gold & Steel - purchased in Singapore after the Japanese had left ...

I went to my favourite AD - Deacons and they very kindly opened the case for me and provided me with the Model No 166 36 and the movement Serial No 222166 36. They also confirmed their was a hallmark on the case back but could tell me if was 14 or 18 Carat.

I have since googled the movement Serial No and I got this information back from https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/ based on American Horology Archive:

Manufacturer: Waltham
Manufacturer Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
Movement Serial Number: 22216636
Grade: No. 166
Model: 1907
Estimated Production Year: 1918
Run Quantity: 5,000
Total Production: 5,000
Size: 0s
Jewels: 15j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Finish: Nickel
Movement Setting: Pendant
Plate: 3/4 Plate
Regulator: Patent
Hairspring: Breguet
Adjusted: Yes
Railroad Grade: No
Data Research: 1954 Waltham "Gray Book" List
Database Version: v47.285

I am not certain if this information is correct because the details come from a Pocket Watch Database not a Wrist Watch database but I did note that the Grade No 166 appears to the same as the Model No on the caseback, no doubt wishful thinking on my part.

I will continue my research however and post again if I find anything interesting.

An update from my earlier post. I went to my favourite AD and they help me open the case. Attached is photo of the movement.

They also confirmed that the hallmarks on the reverse of the caseback shows that the case was made by Dennison in 1921 and the case is 9ct gold with a Birmingham Assay mark. It appears that the last time it was serviced was in 1957.

I now realise that this most likely to be my grandfather's watch and not my father's.

It does run for short periods but winding is extremely stiff and I now going to have to find someone who can service it in the UK, can anybody give me any recommendations with contact details please. I would be very grateful for any other information about the name and style of the watch.

Can’t help with a name for service as I’m on the wrong side of the pond. I don’t think I would be overly concerned with the stiffness when winding, after nearly 65 years the grease in the mainspring has probably solidified. An easy fix for any qualified watchmaker. I just love these old pieces.
I’m wearing this one around the house the last month.

treyford wrote:I found this vintage watch in a draw of a piece of furniture that I inherited from my father, I don’t know anything about it and I am very much hoping that some kind forumite will be able to tell me more.

While probably best known for pocket watches, Waltham was a US company that also made their share of wristwatches as well; I own one, although I can’t recall the last time it was worn. Your father’s one is much nicer, and probably forty+ years older older, than the one I own. IIRC they closed down maybe a couple of decades before the quartz crisis hit, but the name lives on (as many do) but only outside of the US I think. The Waltham I own was one of the latter type, I suspect yours is very much a product of the original company.

Other than that, I don’t know, but it’s rather a nice watch with sub-seconds, an enamel(?) dial and red XII. How much money is worth spending to restore it though, I have no idea.

Edit: just saw your post with the case back open, loving it. What size is it? That is to say, does it use a pocket watch movement or a wristwatch movement?