$35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
-
- MoT Member
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:16 pm
- Has thanked: 1996 times
- Been thanked: 1306 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
I'm hoping to get lucky searching "watch needs battery" on ebay!
- cortman
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1027
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2018 5:57 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Has thanked: 10052 times
- Been thanked: 3892 times
- Contact:
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
The Komandirskie came to my mind right away... maybe with no bezel? lol.peskydonut wrote: ↑Fri May 15, 2020 8:06 am Don't know if these would qualify (worth checking with @Sporkboy), but Russians are always a good source for cheap mechanicals.
EDIT: Just saw the rule for "no rotating bezel", that might disqualify most if not all Komandirskies.
- Sporkboy
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 3:25 pm
- Has thanked: 2570 times
- Been thanked: 5989 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
If you pop off the bezel then the watch would not have a bezel. If you glue the bezel down then it wouldn’t have a rotating bezel.cortman wrote:The Komandirskie came to my mind right away... maybe with no bezel? lol.peskydonut wrote: ↑Fri May 15, 2020 8:06 am Don't know if these would qualify (worth checking with @Sporkboy), but Russians are always a good source for cheap mechanicals.
EDIT: Just saw the rule for "no rotating bezel", that might disqualify most if not all Komandirskies.
- Sporkboy
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 3:25 pm
- Has thanked: 2570 times
- Been thanked: 5989 times
$35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
If Marlon Brando can remove the bezel from a Rolex GMT Master and have it pass for a field watch in Apacolypse Now, I figure it is OK to remove bezels from Vostoks to do the same.Sporkboy wrote:If you pop off the bezel then the watch would not have a bezel. If you glue the bezel down then it wouldn’t have a rotating bezel.cortman wrote:The Komandirskie came to my mind right away... maybe with no bezel? lol.peskydonut wrote: ↑Fri May 15, 2020 8:06 am Don't know if these would qualify (worth checking with @Sporkboy), but Russians are always a good source for cheap mechanicals.
EDIT: Just saw the rule for "no rotating bezel", that might disqualify most if not all Komandirskies.
-
- MoT Member
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:16 pm
- Has thanked: 1996 times
- Been thanked: 1306 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
The horrorSporkboy wrote: If Marlon Brando can remove the bezel from a Rolex GMT Master and have it pass for a field watch in Apacolypse Now, I figure it is OK to remove bezels from Vostoks to do the same.
- Sporkboy
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 3:25 pm
- Has thanked: 2570 times
- Been thanked: 5989 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
Maybe there are some frankens from India that will fit the bill. Lots of Russian watches are out there that would work, many being sold as having been serviced. That isn’t a bad way to go if you find something that catches your eye.
I have seen some new watches that would work, but I would rather trust a used vintage movement of decent quality over a new piece of lower quality. Servicing is the big issue with these watches.
If you are handy with watches, you could theoretically find a decent lot and hope to get one working movement and enough compatible parts to build something.
I have seen some new watches that would work, but I would rather trust a used vintage movement of decent quality over a new piece of lower quality. Servicing is the big issue with these watches.
If you are handy with watches, you could theoretically find a decent lot and hope to get one working movement and enough compatible parts to build something.
- Sporkboy
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 3:25 pm
- Has thanked: 2570 times
- Been thanked: 5989 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
Guyinwatch wrote: ↑Fri May 15, 2020 9:33 amThe horrorSporkboy wrote: If Marlon Brando can remove the bezel from a Rolex GMT Master and have it pass for a field watch in Apacolypse Now, I figure it is OK to remove bezels from Vostoks to do the same.
- Sporkboy
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 3:25 pm
- Has thanked: 2570 times
- Been thanked: 5989 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
I am working on an image to use on Instagram to promote the challenge. Awaiting approval to use an image for this purpose.
If anyone wants to share the challenge, you can Use: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1738
I tried using a URL shortener, but I couldn’t get that to work.
If anyone wants to share the challenge, you can Use: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1738
I tried using a URL shortener, but I couldn’t get that to work.
- watchpalooza
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 12:43 pm
- Location: Munich & SF Bay Area
- Has thanked: 21586 times
- Been thanked: 12443 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
Not to give any pro tips away, but I think the first choice to make is whether you want to go for something “new” or something vintage. If new, then you are seeking an off-brand Chinese watch from Alibaba, ebay or amazon, or an atlas, timex or casio with the right style. There are countless "fashion" field watches which look the part, but would never be relied upon for actual field use.
If vintage, then its mostly about sniping auctions for either old trench watches between WWI and WWII, or watches from the 40’s or 50’s. You can also find options from the 60’s to 80’s, though there will be fewer options in the price range. There are specific brands to look for, but I’ll leave that to you to figure out. You will have to decide whether you want to buy something that functions vs “cobbling together” as Sporkboy has allowed in this contest. Personally I do not want to own too many Frankenwatches, so for me this choice is clear (one exception being an official “MoT” watch, of course). Hopefully that helps.
- watchpalooza
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 12:43 pm
- Location: Munich & SF Bay Area
- Has thanked: 21586 times
- Been thanked: 12443 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
[mention]Sporkboy[/mention], one question re the rules:
Is the contest limited to wristwatches, or are pocket watches also an option?
Is the contest limited to wristwatches, or are pocket watches also an option?
-
- MoT Member
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:16 pm
- Has thanked: 1996 times
- Been thanked: 1306 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
From the article you linked
A watch was an invaluable tool to ensure military precision, but in the midst of battle, reaching into your pocket to check the time was impractical and potentially deadly. Wristwatches solved this problem.
- watchpalooza
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 12:43 pm
- Location: Munich & SF Bay Area
- Has thanked: 21586 times
- Been thanked: 12443 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
Right...so there were both pocket and wrist field watches, and one came to be preferred over the other.Guyinwatch wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 8:49 am
From the article you linkedA watch was an invaluable tool to ensure military precision, but in the midst of battle, reaching into your pocket to check the time was impractical and potentially deadly. Wristwatches solved this problem.
-
- MoT Member
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:16 pm
- Has thanked: 1996 times
- Been thanked: 1306 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
No. That is like saying the horseless carriage is a mid-size sedan. But i dig your style, and have said all along i am looking forward to the arguments as much as the watches. This is educational for me. And my opinion doesn't actually matter.watchpalooza wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 8:57 amRight...so there were both pocket and wrist field watches, and one came to be preferred over the other.
- Sporkboy
- MoT Member
- Posts: 1950
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2018 3:25 pm
- Has thanked: 2570 times
- Been thanked: 5989 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
It is natural that there is overlap in dial styles and features between pocket watches and field watches. I should make it clear that a field watch is wrist mounted.Guyinwatch wrote:No. That is like saying the horseless carriage is a mid-size sedan. But i dig your style, and have said all along i am looking forward to the arguments as much as the watches. This is educational for me. And my opinion doesn't actually matter.watchpalooza wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 8:57 amRight...so there were both pocket and wrist field watches, and one came to be preferred over the other.
If you want to mount a pocket watch to your wrist, then by definition it is a wristwatch.
Pocket watches are only allowed if mounted to the wrist.
- watchpalooza
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 4310
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2018 12:43 pm
- Location: Munich & SF Bay Area
- Has thanked: 21586 times
- Been thanked: 12443 times
Re: $35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
Fair enough.Sporkboy wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 11:33 amIt is natural that there is overlap in dial styles and features between pocket watches and field watches. I should make it clear that a field watch is wrist mounted.Guyinwatch wrote:No. That is like saying the horseless carriage is a mid-size sedan. But i dig your style, and have said all along i am looking forward to the arguments as much as the watches. This is educational for me. And my opinion doesn't actually matter.watchpalooza wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 8:57 amRight...so there were both pocket and wrist field watches, and one came to be preferred over the other.
If you want to mount a pocket watch to your wrist, then by definition it is a wristwatch.
Pocket watches are only allowed if mounted to the wrist.