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Turk10mm · 2 July 2021, 05:08 PM

Title says it all. I have a beautiful Patek that i inherited from my grandfather. The watch, I believe, is circa late 1920s early 1930s. I'm not worried about how much its worth, but I do want to preserve it while being able to actually enjoy it. I know its not a unicorn, but its an amazing piece to me.

Does anyone have any thoughts about how I would go about wearing this watch as a wristwatch without damaging it. Can the movement be placed into a different case, anything? I assume you could put lugs on it, but again, I don't think that's a good idea.

I have a link to a newspaper from Krakow Poland in 1938 listing the watch maker, but no mention of him after the war.

Thanks

MILGAUSS88 · 2 July 2021, 10:58 PM

The movement could be put in a wrist watch case.
Most cases are made for USA sizes and not European, so it might be a little bit of work.

I have seen some leather straps that enclose the pocket watch in a "pouch" for lack of a better word.

Pocket watch movements are not shock resistant like newer wrist watch movements, so care must be taken when wearing them.

MILGAUSS88 · 2 July 2021, 11:09 PM

Both are available on ebay and amazon.
I am not able to attach photos at this time.

Just Google pocket watch leather strap.

Here is a link to a case maker. Which is more expensive.
And they just print out the cases.

https://vorticwatches.com/?utm_sourc...saApH-EALw_wcB

MILGAUSS88 · 2 July 2021, 11:25 PM

RGM might make custom case for it.
That option would b much higher quality, with the price tag to prove it.

Turk10mm · 2 July 2021, 11:48 PM

I was sort of thinking about a custom gold case with lugs. I wonder if there’s any amount of shock resistance that can be built into a custom case. Probably not.

Thanks for your thoughts.

MILGAUSS88 · 3 July 2021, 03:26 AM

There seems to be a lot of Jewelers in Eastern Europe and Vietnam that do that kind of work.
But I wouldn't feel safe sending them a Patek.
I would call RGM in Pennsylvania. And see if they will do that kind of work.
There may be Jewelers down in Texas that do that work but I do not know them.
This might be a better question to put under "other watches" section.

iPPi · 3 July 2021, 03:27 AM

Do you ever wear business attire? I’ve always wanted to wear a pocket watch when I wore a three-piece suit but never had a pocket watch.

Dr.Stu · 3 July 2021, 03:37 AM

Please post a pic!

Also, have you considered getting a small display stand for it & using it on your desk as a desk clock? Then you could see it every day & not subject it to wear & tear. I, personally, would not try to convert an heirloom piece like that into a wristwatch.

MILGAUSS88 · 3 July 2021, 04:25 AM

By the way, the last time I got a quote on making a custom pocket watch case, it was $4'000 in silver and $10'000 in gold.
And that was in 2008.

Turk10mm · 3 July 2021, 04:53 AM

DrStu Pics below. That's not a bad idea actually. I'm an amateur wood worker so maybe this is a viable option. Make something special for it.

iPPi I do, but not a 3 piece suit. A Blazer is about the dressiest I go.

Milgauss88 I spoke with Roland. We both decided that this watch is overly large for a wristwatch. Not to mention your stainless price is just over half of a rough estimate today. Not viable at all.

Thanks for the feedback. I need to consider my options a bit more.

Turk10mm · 3 July 2021, 04:53 AM

Watchdoyouwant? · 3 July 2021, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Stu

Please post a pic!

Also, have you considered getting a small display stand for it & using it on your desk as a desk clock? Then you could see it every day & not subject it to wear & tear. I, personally, would not try to convert an heirloom piece like that into a wristwatch.

This by far makes the most sense to me. It would allow you to use and enjoy the watch and keep it safe.

HMHM · 3 July 2021, 06:41 AM

I am not sure if it is still possible, but if I am not mistaken, Patek did make a new case for someone else's old movement previously due to the owner's sentimental reason. That was before all this crazy demand for watches.

Turk10mm · 3 July 2021, 07:38 AM

No way I could afford Patek making me anything. If it was a 50k watch, maybe. But its a 5k watch max. Maybe even as low as 4k. Even if it is priceless to me.

I've started getting some ideas about building a custom turned mount with a glass cloche cover for it for my desk. Probably makes the most sense and is ultimately the safest choice for the watch.

77T · 3 July 2021, 09:39 AM

Just a thought

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Turk10mm · 3 July 2021, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77T

Just a thought

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yeah I’m looking to make something like this. Would give me a neat project to build and be part of it.

Thanks everyone

JR16 · 3 July 2021, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turk10mm

Yeah I’m looking to make something like this. Would give me a neat project to build and be part of it.

Thanks everyone

That looks like a great idea - I have a few old American pocket watches I’d love to display like this - let us know how it turns out !

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Dr.Stu · 3 July 2021, 02:07 PM

Beautiful timepiece! It should be on display- thanks for posting the pix! Good luck with your project & be sure to show us the finished product!

2 July 2021, 05:08 PM	#1
Turk10mm "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 13	Vintage Patek Pocket Watch - How can I wear it? Title says it all. I have a beautiful Patek that i inherited from my grandfather. The watch, I believe, is circa late 1920s early 1930s. I'm not worried about how much its worth, but I do want to preserve it while being able to actually enjoy it. I know its not a unicorn, but its an amazing piece to me. Does anyone have any thoughts about how I would go about wearing this watch as a wristwatch without damaging it. Can the movement be placed into a different case, anything? I assume you could put lugs on it, but again, I don't think that's a good idea. I have a link to a newspaper from Krakow Poland in 1938 listing the watch maker, but no mention of him after the war. Thanks

2 July 2021, 10:58 PM	#2
MILGAUSS88 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: mississippi river Posts: 2,960	The movement could be put in a wrist watch case. Most cases are made for USA sizes and not European, so it might be a little bit of work. I have seen some leather straps that enclose the pocket watch in a "pouch" for lack of a better word. Pocket watch movements are not shock resistant like newer wrist watch movements, so care must be taken when wearing them. Last edited by MILGAUSS88; 2 July 2021 at 11:16 PM.. Reason: ..

3 July 2021, 03:26 AM	#6
MILGAUSS88 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: mississippi river Posts: 2,960	There seems to be a lot of Jewelers in Eastern Europe and Vietnam that do that kind of work. But I wouldn't feel safe sending them a Patek. I would call RGM in Pennsylvania. And see if they will do that kind of work. There may be Jewelers down in Texas that do that work but I do not know them. This might be a better question to put under "other watches" section. Last edited by MILGAUSS88; 3 July 2021 at 03:27 AM.. Reason: .

3 July 2021, 03:37 AM	#8
Dr.Stu 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: New York City Posts: 530	Please post a pic! Also, have you considered getting a small display stand for it & using it on your desk as a desk clock? Then you could see it every day & not subject it to wear & tear. I, personally, would not try to convert an heirloom piece like that into a wristwatch. __________________ “Own time or time will own you.” —Brian Norgard

3 July 2021, 09:39 AM	#15
77T 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: PaulG Location: Georgia Posts: 40,848	Just a thought Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ Does anyone really know what time it is?

2 July 2021, 11:09 PM	#3
MILGAUSS88 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: mississippi river Posts: 2,960	Both are available on ebay and amazon. I am not able to attach photos at this time. Just Google pocket watch leather strap. Here is a link to a case maker. Which is more expensive. And they just print out the cases. https://vorticwatches.com/?utm_sourc...saApH-EALw_wcB

2 July 2021, 11:25 PM	#4
MILGAUSS88 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: mississippi river Posts: 2,960	RGM might make custom case for it. That option would b much higher quality, with the price tag to prove it.

2 July 2021, 11:48 PM	#5
Turk10mm "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 13	I was sort of thinking about a custom gold case with lugs. I wonder if there’s any amount of shock resistance that can be built into a custom case. Probably not. Thanks for your thoughts.

3 July 2021, 03:27 AM	#7
iPPi "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Earth Posts: 41	Do you ever wear business attire? I’ve always wanted to wear a pocket watch when I wore a three-piece suit but never had a pocket watch.

3 July 2021, 04:25 AM	#9
MILGAUSS88 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: mississippi river Posts: 2,960	By the way, the last time I got a quote on making a custom pocket watch case, it was $4'000 in silver and $10'000 in gold. And that was in 2008.

3 July 2021, 04:53 AM	#10
Turk10mm "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 13	DrStu Pics below. That's not a bad idea actually. I'm an amateur wood worker so maybe this is a viable option. Make something special for it. iPPi I do, but not a 3 piece suit. A Blazer is about the dressiest I go. Milgauss88 I spoke with Roland. We both decided that this watch is overly large for a wristwatch. Not to mention your stainless price is just over half of a rough estimate today. Not viable at all. Thanks for the feedback. I need to consider my options a bit more.

3 July 2021, 06:41 AM	#13
HMHM "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Real Name: HM Location: 🇲🇾 Posts: 2,368	I am not sure if it is still possible, but if I am not mistaken, Patek did make a new case for someone else's old movement previously due to the owner's sentimental reason. That was before all this crazy demand for watches.

3 July 2021, 07:38 AM	#14
Turk10mm "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 13	No way I could afford Patek making me anything. If it was a 50k watch, maybe. But its a 5k watch max. Maybe even as low as 4k. Even if it is priceless to me. I've started getting some ideas about building a custom turned mount with a glass cloche cover for it for my desk. Probably makes the most sense and is ultimately the safest choice for the watch.

3 July 2021, 02:07 PM	#18
Dr.Stu 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: New York City Posts: 530	Beautiful timepiece! It should be on display- thanks for posting the pix! Good luck with your project & be sure to show us the finished product! __________________ “Own time or time will own you.” —Brian Norgard

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