$35 Mechanical Field Watch Challenge
Posted: Mon May 11, 2020 7:22 am
Now that things have settled down from the last challenge and we are getting used to a COVID-19 world, it seems like a good time to start the next watch hunting challenge. This will be a real challenge as a decent mechanical for $35 is a pretty tall order. At any rate, I hope that you will come along for the ride by either watching our antics or joining in on the hunt.
This challenge topic was suggested by AnimalMother, who happens to be crushing it with the challenge ideas. AM has agreed to let me host this challenge, so let's get on with it already.
Rules
For this challenge, the following criteria apply:
-Must be classifiable as a field watch. See below for field watch details.
-Be mechanical in nature (i.e.: hand wind or automatic), so no quartz, digitals, sundials or anything like that.
-Exclusive of shipping/taxes/duties/etc., it should cost no more than US$35, GBP£29, CAD$49, EUR€33, or equivalent (no more than 1 US or CAD$/€/£/ over please).
-When purchasing a lot, the whole lot (minus shipping) counts towards the amount spent regardless of the cost per item within that lot.
-The watch should be for you, a friend or a loved one to actually own and use.
-Should be in a useable condition. Adding a strap, doing service, movement swaps, shoehorning, building up from parts you purchase or whatever you need to do is fine so long as you spend less than $35 in total.
-All contest purchases must be purchased within the contest 'shopping period', which will be between May 11th and June 30th.
-Entries must be presented to the forum on this page between July 1st and July 14th, 2020, along with a description of the watch.
-If you would like to participate, you must state your intent prior to the end of the shopping period.
-One watch per entry and one entry per participant.
-Public voting will be used to determine the winner(s) of this contest, and will take place from July 15th to July 22nd, 2020
-As a curtesy to your fellow challenge entrants, please refrain from posting pictures of your entries here, or on any other MoT thread until after the shopping period has closed. Sharing photos by DM and through other channels is fine.
Field Watch Defined
So, what is a field watch? That's a good question. This has been discussed and argued over for years. This contest is not about rehashing that, so AnimalMother has come up with some guidelines to help us out.
-Automatic or hand wind
-Three hands
-Relatively thin watch
-Arabic numerals on all or most of the hour indexes
-Indexes for seconds in 'train track' or other style
-Lume of some sort (optional as it may be faded due to age)
-Day and/or date complication acceptable
-No rotating bezel
-Traditional(ish) watch shape (see W10 below for variation)
-Wrist mounted
Examples
Here are a few modern versions of some classic field watches to give you an idea of the kinds of watches you are looking for.
A-17 (Seiko, Timex and Hamilton A-17s)
When we think of a field watch, it's probably the A-17 that pops into mind. The prototypical A-17 would be the Hamilton Kahki, though this style has been made by many companies at a variety of price points.
PeskyDonuts has quite a collection of A-17s in a variety of dial colors and manufacturers. Shout out to PeskyDonuts for letting me use this picture.
A-11 (MKII Cruxible)
Pre-dating the A-17, we can see the high visability white on black layout with a sparse outer minute track. Less busy than the A-17, with a focus on ease of readability.
W-10 (CWC W-10)
This is a British design and the precursor to the well loved quartz G10. Similar to the A-11, the W-10 lacks a 13-24 hour track, but has a more detailed minutes track. It has a slightly non-traditional case, but has all other field watch qualities.
Trench Watch (Rolex Trench Watch)
I would be remiss in failing to mention the iconic trench watches of WWI. While they lack the brutal efficiency of more modern watches, they seem more refined with the cathedral hands and beautiful numeral font. In short, a trench watch is an elegant watch for a more civilized age.
The examples above are British and American designs, but I'm sure that there are interesting field watches out there from other countries as well.
Radium Warning
Warning about radioactive lume.
Many of the watches that you may be looking at for this challenge are likely to have radium on their dials and hands that may be flaking off.
This is a very dangerous material.
If you are not setup to work with radioactive materials, please do not open the watches to the point where you can access the radium as the powder can get into the air where it can get into your lungs.
When the watch is protected by a crystal you are generally OK, but when the powdered radium can get into your body then you can get into trouble.
To be safe, you should assume that vintage field watches contain radium and take appropriate precautions. In this case a respirator and gloves would be appropriate.
The first challenge was a really fun experience for all involved and I hope that you will join me as I defend my 2nd place finish in the Leap Year Challenge and try for that top spot.
Edit: added clarification about field watches being wrist mounted.
Edit: added Radium Warning.
Edit: clarified that taxes and duties do not count towards the purchase price of the watch for the purpose of this challenge.
This challenge topic was suggested by AnimalMother, who happens to be crushing it with the challenge ideas. AM has agreed to let me host this challenge, so let's get on with it already.
Rules
For this challenge, the following criteria apply:
-Must be classifiable as a field watch. See below for field watch details.
-Be mechanical in nature (i.e.: hand wind or automatic), so no quartz, digitals, sundials or anything like that.
-Exclusive of shipping/taxes/duties/etc., it should cost no more than US$35, GBP£29, CAD$49, EUR€33, or equivalent (no more than 1 US or CAD$/€/£/ over please).
-When purchasing a lot, the whole lot (minus shipping) counts towards the amount spent regardless of the cost per item within that lot.
-The watch should be for you, a friend or a loved one to actually own and use.
-Should be in a useable condition. Adding a strap, doing service, movement swaps, shoehorning, building up from parts you purchase or whatever you need to do is fine so long as you spend less than $35 in total.
-All contest purchases must be purchased within the contest 'shopping period', which will be between May 11th and June 30th.
-Entries must be presented to the forum on this page between July 1st and July 14th, 2020, along with a description of the watch.
-If you would like to participate, you must state your intent prior to the end of the shopping period.
-One watch per entry and one entry per participant.
-Public voting will be used to determine the winner(s) of this contest, and will take place from July 15th to July 22nd, 2020
-As a curtesy to your fellow challenge entrants, please refrain from posting pictures of your entries here, or on any other MoT thread until after the shopping period has closed. Sharing photos by DM and through other channels is fine.
Field Watch Defined
So, what is a field watch? That's a good question. This has been discussed and argued over for years. This contest is not about rehashing that, so AnimalMother has come up with some guidelines to help us out.
-Automatic or hand wind
-Three hands
-Relatively thin watch
-Arabic numerals on all or most of the hour indexes
-Indexes for seconds in 'train track' or other style
-Lume of some sort (optional as it may be faded due to age)
-Day and/or date complication acceptable
-No rotating bezel
-Traditional(ish) watch shape (see W10 below for variation)
-Wrist mounted
Examples
Here are a few modern versions of some classic field watches to give you an idea of the kinds of watches you are looking for.
A-17 (Seiko, Timex and Hamilton A-17s)
When we think of a field watch, it's probably the A-17 that pops into mind. The prototypical A-17 would be the Hamilton Kahki, though this style has been made by many companies at a variety of price points.
PeskyDonuts has quite a collection of A-17s in a variety of dial colors and manufacturers. Shout out to PeskyDonuts for letting me use this picture.
A-11 (MKII Cruxible)
Pre-dating the A-17, we can see the high visability white on black layout with a sparse outer minute track. Less busy than the A-17, with a focus on ease of readability.
W-10 (CWC W-10)
This is a British design and the precursor to the well loved quartz G10. Similar to the A-11, the W-10 lacks a 13-24 hour track, but has a more detailed minutes track. It has a slightly non-traditional case, but has all other field watch qualities.
Trench Watch (Rolex Trench Watch)
I would be remiss in failing to mention the iconic trench watches of WWI. While they lack the brutal efficiency of more modern watches, they seem more refined with the cathedral hands and beautiful numeral font. In short, a trench watch is an elegant watch for a more civilized age.
The examples above are British and American designs, but I'm sure that there are interesting field watches out there from other countries as well.
Radium Warning
Warning about radioactive lume.
Many of the watches that you may be looking at for this challenge are likely to have radium on their dials and hands that may be flaking off.
This is a very dangerous material.
If you are not setup to work with radioactive materials, please do not open the watches to the point where you can access the radium as the powder can get into the air where it can get into your lungs.
When the watch is protected by a crystal you are generally OK, but when the powdered radium can get into your body then you can get into trouble.
To be safe, you should assume that vintage field watches contain radium and take appropriate precautions. In this case a respirator and gloves would be appropriate.
The first challenge was a really fun experience for all involved and I hope that you will join me as I defend my 2nd place finish in the Leap Year Challenge and try for that top spot.
Edit: added clarification about field watches being wrist mounted.
Edit: added Radium Warning.
Edit: clarified that taxes and duties do not count towards the purchase price of the watch for the purpose of this challenge.