I recently bidded on a vintage Citizen Automatic Chronograph from the 1970s. Its running on the Citizen 8110 movement so it's a Flyback chronograph.These vintage chronographs are extremely good deals because you pay small money for very good movements. A Swiss equivalent of a Flyback chronograph would probably cost 20 times as much, conservatively. The more common ones are the Citizen Bullhead chronographs, which are always on Ebay. I guess they are in abundance because collectors prefer the larger Seiko Bullheads instead of the smaller Citizens.
So this piece caught my eye (seller's pic) because it looks really like those German pilot watches. Think in the lines of Tutima, Bell & Ross, Sinn, etc. It is also less common, compared to the Bullheads. I won the bid and so the watch arrives today.
However when I put it on my wrist and press down the snap on clasp, the crystal popped off. I was
seated and the crystal landed on the coffee table in front of me. The sub-second hand at 6 O clock dial also went missing. I looked high and low, but couldn't find the sub-second hand.It seems that the friction fit ring around the crystal had already worn off and when I examined the inner rotating bezel attached to the crystal, there are brown stains underneath. I am not sure but maybe its dried glue. I fear that the crystal is attached to the watch via those glue.
It's a real pity, cause the watch is really nice and is in good condition cosmetically. Although I think the
case had been refurbished to a mirror polished surface. I think it should be a brushed surface originally. In fact I had been thinking of sending it to Jakub for a bead blasting job, but now I guess I should scrap the plan.I have notified the Ebay seller about the problem, it seems that he is willing to work out a solution with me. I hope he will make things right. I will post again on the outcome later.
Whatever it is, I guess it seems likely that more cost would have to be incurred. Oh well...
12 comments:
Just visiting to lend some support to my buddy
Best wishes to you
Thank you brian :)
This post really has lots of humour. I like yr style of writing bro!
Hello Dennis! Thank you!
I have the same watch!
I ahve purchase from a guy in the Philippines, mine is in good general conditions and keep good time, the bezel and the glass are firmly so I have not experienced any problem... my only issue with this watch is that is a little smaller for me, when I have seen in the pic I have imagine that the watch was a little bit bigger.
What I appreciate?
The inner countdown bezel, I get crazy for the countdown bezel at all!
Indeed Cristiano, I think we have very similar taste in watches. Many space watches are chronographs or military related so naturally a lot of chronographs, be them related to space flight or not, military or civilian, makes their way into collection.
It looks like a mini version of Sinn 142 crossed with Tutima, don't it?
The Philippines seems to have ample supply of vintage Japanese watches, but thus far had not bought from them yet coz many of them takes payment via Xoom only.
Shipped the faulty watch back to the seller today... hope everything goes fine.
Any news about it?
Cris, thanx for your concern. It turns out that the seller is a great guy. He had been keeping me updated of the progress regularly without me having the need to prompt him. He also said he will give me a full refund if he can't find spare parts for it. I hope everything goes smooth. I will post an update when the issue concludes.
Good, Anton, this is fine for you to have meet a serious seller.
I hope your Citizen will come new at you, or you can find another one!
I received a full refund today. I should post a new message later about his good business ethics.
Done, please check:
http://anton-c.blogspot.com/2008/07/update-on-bad-ebay-purchase.html
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