Digmenow
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- Mar 26, 2011
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My Father passed away almost 10 years ago and I've had his daily wear wristwatch in my possession for almost as long. He wore it for years. It's a gold plated/silver face Bulova Caravelle presentation watch that he, an aircraft mechanic (A&P/R&E for those of you who know this stuff), received for his years in the union.
My Dad was thrifty but he wasn't cheap. He simply never spent a nickel that he didn't have to and his lifetime of parsimony is now paying for my Mother's final years in a nursing home but that's a different story.
Here's what's left of the watch.
As you can see, there is no band. I don't know what kind of band originally came with the watch but I'm pretty certain that a number of long gone Speidel twist-o-flex metal bands kept the watch on his wrist. He liked to push it up whenever he worked on anything mechanical rather than take it off. As the crystal is plastic, it has numerous scratches but obviously, you can still easily tell time with it and it appears to keep time and date without issue.
My intention is to have it cleaned up with perhaps a light polishing of the gold plating, then inspected for proper operation, maybe a replacement crystal and install a new band so that I can wear it from time to time (family gtgs, etc). I am wondering what would be an appropriate band for this watch and before anyone suggests Hermes, that loud noise you hear is my father spinning madly in outrage at such an expense. Does it look like a leather band would compliment it or should I go back to a metal band?
As to the crystal, the watch repair shop has quoted $35 US for a replacement and I would, of course, keep the original. OTOH, every scratch on that crystal came from something that he was physically involved in and each one is a reminder of the things of which he was capable when it came to working with his hands.
So.
Do I honor his memory by restoring the watch to as new (as possible) condition or by keeping it as he wore it?
New crystal, yes or no?
Leather band or metal?
If metal, back to the Speidel or a somewhat nicer clasp bracelet?
Since he would not approve of any precious metals, gold tone or gold/silver mix?
If leather, what color/texture?
I would like the watch to be as nice as possible but still retain as much sentimental value so what would YOU do?
Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.
My Dad was thrifty but he wasn't cheap. He simply never spent a nickel that he didn't have to and his lifetime of parsimony is now paying for my Mother's final years in a nursing home but that's a different story.
Here's what's left of the watch.
As you can see, there is no band. I don't know what kind of band originally came with the watch but I'm pretty certain that a number of long gone Speidel twist-o-flex metal bands kept the watch on his wrist. He liked to push it up whenever he worked on anything mechanical rather than take it off. As the crystal is plastic, it has numerous scratches but obviously, you can still easily tell time with it and it appears to keep time and date without issue.
My intention is to have it cleaned up with perhaps a light polishing of the gold plating, then inspected for proper operation, maybe a replacement crystal and install a new band so that I can wear it from time to time (family gtgs, etc). I am wondering what would be an appropriate band for this watch and before anyone suggests Hermes, that loud noise you hear is my father spinning madly in outrage at such an expense. Does it look like a leather band would compliment it or should I go back to a metal band?
As to the crystal, the watch repair shop has quoted $35 US for a replacement and I would, of course, keep the original. OTOH, every scratch on that crystal came from something that he was physically involved in and each one is a reminder of the things of which he was capable when it came to working with his hands.
So.
Do I honor his memory by restoring the watch to as new (as possible) condition or by keeping it as he wore it?
New crystal, yes or no?
Leather band or metal?
If metal, back to the Speidel or a somewhat nicer clasp bracelet?
Since he would not approve of any precious metals, gold tone or gold/silver mix?
If leather, what color/texture?
I would like the watch to be as nice as possible but still retain as much sentimental value so what would YOU do?
Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.