hi everybody, todd here.
so, i have been sitting here staring at my favorite watch so far.
it got me wondering, what are the favorite watches of my IHC friends?
not your best three, what is the one you love the most?
mine is a pretty little thing i bought from Jon.
A Lancet, he even sent me some free MS's to fix it with.
i think i prefer working on elgins but this is just so pretty. the case and dial are so nice, they just appeal to me.
how about telling me what your favorite is, and why.
would love to hear your stories about them.
todd

My is the Burlington in display case
why half moon click 19 jewels that runs as RR watch and very nice # on dial and the 3 fingers
movement, someone here called me or nick name me 3 fingers just not sure who?

and the dial side

My favorite watch is the 16s 7J Waltham that I guided Grace (full story at; https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...161020723#9161020723 )
in the restoration of, and to my astonishment ran as well as many RR watches!

great story David

What a Great story David, easy to see why that's your Favorite ....
For me ? My Favorite Watch is the latest one that I successfully brought back to life.

Some watches start with a dial...

I have an emotional/artistic interest/appreciation for the hand cut dials. I have this picture of an artist spending hours chasing out the details in these pieces.

The Grade 620 on the left catches and reflects light off the art work and is fun to roll around in your hand to see what it looks like from different angles.

The 14s is a watch that started from a "loose dial". I liked the dial and bought it because it was pretty... it turned out to be a 14s... I bought 3 12s movements and a 16s movement before I finally figured out how to shop for and buy an actual 14s movement. Then, just happened to fall in to a Waltham factory signed case for it. It is the first watch I built form the ground up.

It hangs out with a couple others I refer to as my "Indiana Jones" collection.

Check out the case and movement here: https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...61/m/7836094242/p/10

My all time favorite watch is actually a personalized wrist watch. This is the watch that hooked me for good.

I spotted this USN Buships dial fronting a 1941 Hamilton 987 movement in a thrashed Hong Kong ygf aftermarket case and an aftermarket expansion band.

I snapped it up, overhauled it. It took awhile, but I was able to find a NOS 1952 USN surplus parkerized stainless steel ORD Dept USA case for it. The IW Suisse band is top of the line and a wholesaler in Norway had a titanium buckle that is a great match for the parkerized case. At one time, I put military hands on it and swapped back to the gold dress hands as a matter of personal preference.

I wear this one frequently.

And from the back

My favorite RR watch, the 992B, is quite possibly the best instrument of it's type ever made.

Running strong and looking good.

William, I'll trade you my Canadian lathe for it!!

OK! Plus $50!

I am not fond of "what's your favorite ______" questions. I find it impossible to force rank nearly anything that can be valued on multiple scales, e.g., wines, operas, vacation destinations, etc., including watches.

Mr. White said that the 992B was perhaps the best instrument of its type ever made. Perhaps so. But perfection in design or timekeeping qualities is only one of many scales on which one could rank watches. It's not a scale I value highly since even the cheapest quartz movement keeps better time than the best mechanical watch ever made.

Should I prefer a beautiful time-only watch over a more pedestrian-looking minute repeater rattrapante? Should I prefer an American Watch Company Model 1872 over an Elgin C.H. Hulburd? Should I prefer a more valuable watch over one with an interesting provenance or sentimental value? Should I prefer a rare sought-after watch over a more common one that is better in every other respect?

I have hundreds of very nice pocket watches. I will admit to liking some more than others, but no watch would get into my collection or stay there if I didn't highly value it for some quality. So, if you will permit me, here is one of my many favorites, an enameled 18k Touchon with a 17j/6adj "bosun's whistle" style movement; it came in in its original Touchon box (not shown).

Ethan,

That's quite nice to be sure! ....those Swiss! It's really easy for me to pick a favorite since I only have 6 pocket watches but you did quite well considering the weight of your conflicts! :0)

William

I think that's what makes this post so fun. I get to post my sentimental favorite and overall favorite without worrying about whether or not it is at the top of it's class or a museum grade restoration.

I built the Buships a year before I was introduced to IHC185 and have never shared it here because I chose to personalize the watch rather than shoot for a picture perfect restoration.

It's still my favorite watch, even if it wouldn't pass muster in certain circles.

My favorite would be a 17jewel Bunn with a damaged dial.Not my prettiest but my go to watch.

Roger

Movement [1761363]

Some pretty stuff coming down here! More than one. Which reminds that although I have far fewer choices than Ethan, it's still difficult. A sweet, near mint 16s key-wind model 1860 from Waltham in a silver case vies with a rare Arabic-numbered early Appleton Tracy. Of more recent vintage? A big, all-original coin-silver cased Hamilton 948. I'm knocked out by all of them. (I don't have a lot, but I'm picky.)

Peter, that were me that called you 'three-fingered Pete!'

KH

That's a great nickname for Pete...

Here's my Favorite at the moment, a Hamilton 972 in a tough nickel case. Nothing fancy , but a very good time keeper and I love the dial.

And here's the movement [1042903] that has been keeping time within a minute a month since last September.

Here's my favorite. An Elgin Father Time with a very unique dial. Keeps close to RR time and I love the dial!

The movement:

I believe the Father Time is a railroad-grade watch.

Yes, it sure is.

Regards! Mark

I'm a bit more modern on the vintage that alot of you and out there in terms of movement.

Lord Elgin Electronic from 1962 in a stainless steel case that was never released from the factory and still ticking 52 years later.

If I wear a wrist watch I like going to this one.
Hamilton US Navy , not a BUSHIP but I enjoy wearing it.
Had to search for hands for it on eBay and after a cleaning and hole jewel it runs great. Thanks Gary for the jewel!

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That is a beautiful Hamilton. That looks like an authentic pig skin band. Very nice.

It that dial was marked 'Lipton', it would look exactly like my Dad's 1943 15j Rolex.

VERY nice example!

Regard! Mark