Ho Chi Minh Watchseek

Just happen to be in Vietnam this week for a few days, scouting around for watches.

Can't find anything of much interest, millions of fake but I'm more in old unique watches. There are many old Omega but a bit cautious on it since there are many old fake.

Few shops displaying these make to look old Crystal Ball "Omega" at USD 50 each before bargaining. I did not bargain because I think they are not genuine. When few shops selling same item, it can't be real antique.

Junk street in Saigon, not many watches. Mostly statues and porcelain.

This Wittnauer watch they asking 4000000 dong about USD180, should not be that price.

Being a Tourist in District 1 is not a good place for reasonable price vintage. I can pick up better watches back home or on ebay.

Some enthusiast advise me to be careful of Frankenwatchs or some called it "United Nation Watches" due to mixed and match parts even in a Rolex.

Cardinal Military Style Watch

This watch came in for overhaul and timing calibration, it is a Vintage Cardinal Military Style men watch. I had no idea how old is it.

This watch is made by Wotag Trading Company Inc using Universal Geneve Caliber UG D320

Military style dial but has no Second hand, a bit odd for a Military Style watch.

As marking it is a hand wind UG D 320 one jewel, could it be Universal Geneve movement.

Strip down will follows

All parts strip and in working order, just some rust on screws and few levers, Case needs buffing and polishing and glass will be replace. Dial I will leave it as is, it is very expensive to get the dial redo.

Spring okay, at first I though it was broken. After removing it from the barrel to take measurements, I found it in good order.

The spring in a close up.

Assemble and lubricated movement under test.

Dial installed and checking time for accuracy.

Titus Quartz Dress watch

This  watch came in for a check up..

Dunhill Men Dress Watch

An old Quartz, came in for a check.. will see what's the problem.

Alba Ladies Dress watch

This watch was sent to me for battery change after it was done by others and was draining the battery faster than it should.

I did not have the equipment to check for current consumption, so I can only do visual inspection to check for any sign of anomaly.

Timex Watch

This add to the list of never to buy watches... Timex !!! they are "dogshit"

They are design to be disposable and not repairable.. just pure dogshit !!!!

Services Watch

Services watch came in for service, it is an old vintage watch probably from the 50's and requires complete overhaul.

Below is the history of the manufacturer.

Gotham Inc. 17 Jewels

Got this from the flea market

Tag Heuer Divers 200 Meter Professional

This watch came in with broken crown.

Tag Heuer parts are difficult to get and it is expensive.

Broken stem and crown, I need to get a new Crown, stem and tubes.

New parts

The crown alone is RM 200 original, but the stem is cheap at RM 10.00 each. The crown came with tube because the replacement crown is a screw down type instead of the original only a water proof type.

Seiko 5 Automatic Boy Size - 7S26-02A0

This Made in Japan boy size Seiko 5 came in for normal servicing with intermittent operation. Will check, clean and lubricate as necessary.

Charles Jordan Men Dress Watch

This watch came in dead

Two missing screw

Guy Laroche Men Dress Watch

This watch came in dead, Guy Laroche with ETA 980.163 movement

Guy Laroche Ladies Dress Watch

This Guy Laroche Ladies dress watch came in for battery change, nothing much wanted to be done. A simple cleaning and fitting new battery all that is requested by the owner.

Citizen Eco Drive - WR100 Caliber E870M

This watch was not use for a long time, not charged. I end up has to charge it under inspection light for 3 days to get it going steady.