Old Watch query

[Illaveago]

I find watches interesting, trying to date them, who made them and the companies history. Some of the watches are engraved and it is interesting doing a bit of research into the companies that presented them. I have two such watches, one is a stainless steel Goldsmiths and Silversmiths P. Buhre wristwatch presented by ICI for so many years service. The other is a solid gold 9ct Hefik wristwatch Presented by The Midland Motorcylinder Co Ltd. For 25 years loyal service.
I prefer wind up watches to quartz watches although I have a few of those.

 

[Illaveago]

Don't ever let them put them in a skip , they are too valuable!

 

[OskarTennisChampion]

I find watches interesting, trying to date them, who made them and the companies history. Some of the watches are engraved and it is interesting doing a bit of research into the companies that presented them. I have two such watches, one is a stainless steel Goldsmiths and Silversmiths P. Buhre wristwatch presented by ICI for so many years service. The other is a solid gold 9ct Hefik wristwatch Presented by The Midland Motorcylinder Co Ltd. For 25 years loyal service.
I prefer wind up watches to quartz watches although I have a few of those.

I used to live a couple of miles from Nobels Explosives plant on the Ardeer Coast,huge it was.
I believe that it became or was part of ICI

 

[Hover Fly]

Okay, I'm going to get it serviced/regulated...buy all the clothes to go with it.

At the moment, I'm unconcerned at the prospect of a domestic dispute; I'll simply heap the blame on the likes of @MarkF & @Illaveago and my missus will go to sort them out with a baseball bat.

Final query - for the moment , are the silver chains all 'much of a muchness' ? Are there any points I need to consider - apart from chain length ?

Don't forget, the commonest clothes with special provision for a watch are blue jeans, (the little pocket inside the right hand pocket) USAnians reckoned wristwatches were a bit "camp" until the first world war.

For a chain try to get one with a ring or "claw" attachment, much more versatile than T-bars or buttons. Don't get one that's too long, Personally I prefer curb or "snake" as they are more flexible, single, I never know what to put on the other end of a double, it was meant for the winding key originally.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Don't forget, the commonest clothes with special provision for a watch are blue jeans, (the little pocket inside the right hand pocket) USAnians reckoned wristwatches were a bit "camp" until the first world war.

For a chain try to get one with a ring or "claw" attachment, much more versatile than T-bars or buttons. Don't get one that's too long, Personally I prefer curb or "snake" as they are more flexible, single, I never know what to put on the other end of a double, it was meant for the winding key originally.

I wear my pocket watch with jeans (attaching the 'ring' to the belt loops), so I must be doing something right!

 

[pubrunner]

Don't forget, the commonest clothes with special provision for a watch are blue jeans, . . .

I wear my pocket watch with jeans (attaching the 'ring' to the belt loops), so I must be doing something right!

Fashion victims @Hover Fly & @Mad Doug Biker show off their trendy jeans . . . . . . .

Fellas, you need to realise, that your watch needs to be complemented by the correct style of jeans - here are some worn by myself & forum fashion guru @rich p at the pub, after a CycleChat social ride . . . . . . . of course, to complete 'the look', one also requires a certain degree of 'poise' & grace.

 

[pubrunner]

Look for a letter F as one of the hallmarks. Denotes an import. .925 is Sterling Standard, .938 is Brittania Standard Silver.

I was wrong about the hallmarks !

The watch has 3 bears (1 small & two large), .935 (?) and what looks like a letter 'V'.

 

[Illaveago]

I was wrong aboutlook llmarks !

The watch has 3 bears (1 small & two large), .935 (?) and what looks like a letter 'V'.

View attachment 117267

I think you will find that those are Swiss hallmarks. You can look those up on the net if you search bear hallmarks.

I think the move to Swiss manufacture was something to do with tax as Rolex started off in London fitting Swiss movements into watch cases.

 

[Illaveago]

Hi pubrunner! I have just been looking at your original post and your watch seems to ring a bell. I will have a look through my dads old watches.

 

[classic33]

I was wrong about the hallmarks !

The watch has 3 bears (1 small & two large), .935 (?) and what looks like a letter 'V'.

View attachment 117267

Made between 1907 & 1933, unless "Destin�e � l'Angleterre" is on it and not in the picture.

"To confirm that they assayed at 0.935 the Swiss bureaux de contr�le marked cases submitted as "Destined for England" with three bears, a small one with two larger ones below.
The "three bears" showed that the silver was as good as sterling and became known and recognised by the British public.
The "three bears" mark was not a Swiss legal requirement so 0.935 cases could be marked with a single bear if the manufacturer wished."

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/british-hallmarking-imported-watches-927189-5.html

 

[classic33]

That's why I occasionnally go through things and donate them to museums and such like.

NOOOOOO, you are not!!
Alternatively, give your stuff to me and I'll sort it!

thanks!

Glass collection?

 

[simon.r]

Look for a letter F as one of the hallmarks. Denotes an import. .925 is Sterling Standard, .938 is Brittania Standard Silver.

Just to clarify, 925 (92.5% silver) is Sterling, 958 (95.8%) is Britannia.

 

[classic33]

Just to clarify, 925 (92.5% silver) is Sterling, 958 (95.8%) is Britannia.

Corrected now, thanks

Page I got it from doesn't have a .938!
http://www.925-1000.com/a_Standards.html

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Glass collection?

Not yet, I intend to keep and use them for the time being. Never say never though.

 

[Illaveago]

I found my dads watch but it said H Samuel . Manchester and not Sheffield.