My grandfather's wrist-watch

It is a Favre-Leuba Zenith, Swiss-make. My grandfather got married in 1914 and this wrist-watch was for that occasion. He used to wear it regularly. Its case is silver. Not too sure about its steel chain whether it is original or replaced. Now I use it occasionally. About 15 years ago while I was wearing it, I had an occasion to clap hard at some picnic. Much to my dismay, the machine fell out of the case (the glass can be opened like a door to aid blind people I presume) and the porcelain dial broke into small pieces around the *ten O'clock* area. I repaired it satisfactorily. The balance wheel had broken and so was the winding rod. There was no one who could repair, even though I knew all the mechanisms, I had to give it to someone. I desperately wanted to see it working again. Finally, I found a man in our office who repaired watches as a hobby and so I gave him this watch telling its sentimental importance. He kept with him for 2 years and after many reminders, he came up with the repaired watch in 1993. He has done a good job and I am happy to be wearing it again. The white dial and the Roman numerals are simply my favourites! This one is very special. Back to life after the accident. I make it a point not to clap while wearing this watch.

Close-up.

Ahh, Dinu... I remember when a watch handed down from generation to generation was a very special thing. Congratulations on yours... it is indeed splendid, both in reality and in memory!

Dinu, What a wonderful legacy from your Grandfather.
It is a lovely watch, and try to keep it safe. You must be one enthusiastic clapper.....

I am not that emotive by nature, but during that picnic, my very senior colleague did a dance and it was so very funny that all of us were clapping so hard. At the office there are some people who sport serious faces but here it was the other side of them. That added to the enjoyment. At that time, I never realized that such a thing would happen to my watch.

I've been using it sparingly and protected it. Here is a clearer shot with my own camera this time! So far, kept up the word pebble has wished.

Dinu, I have a watch just like that only a Bulova. It was my Dads and the only thing I have of his. He has been gone for 30 years and I know wore the watch at least 15 years before that. It has a cracked crystal but pulled it out the other day and wound it and it still runs. I don't know the value but know I wouldn't take a million $'s for it. So glad you got yours fixed its an heirloom to pass down for sure.

Yes, very true. An heirloom item. I'd posted another thread on an Ansonia clock we have.

I do love clocks and have a small collection old and new. Something about the styles and makes that keep you looking. Not many people even remember the wind up watches anymore as batteries have taken over.

This is strange that this should show up today. My DH's father passed away in 1986 and his mother kept his watch until she passed away this last December. Many things had to be done to get the house ready for sale. The family went in and each took things they wanted. Since my DH took almost nothing, they decided that he should have their father's watch. It took until this week to get the house ready and is being put on the market tomorrow. The watch was given to DH on Monday.

The symbol on the bottom is for Kennecott Copper Mine where his father worked as a truck mechanic. I don't know when it was given to him.

beautiful watch kwanjin, It must be a comfort thing to inherit watches. Just knowing they wore them all those years makes you feel closer to them at least thats the way I feel.

kwanjin, what a beauty that is! And what an heirloom to be proud of! So beautifully made too. Thanks for sharing it with us.

My DH was quite touched they would think he deserves it. He'd be pleased with your comments.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/377425/
That is the thread on the old clock I mentioned.

This message was edited Sep 17, 2009 8:00 PM

A very pretty clock!

When I finished school in '59 my dad gave me a wrist watch. I thanked him but asked instead for his railroad pocket watch. He didn't like to carry it so he kept the wrist watch for himself and gave me the pocket watch. It is an Illonis Central, twenty-one jewel. The watch was 50 years old when he gave it to me. I passed it down to my son about ten years ago.

The word Delhi caught my eye first, because there is one in India as well, the capital! But it is prefixed with 'New'.

Interesting heirloom. How these little things matter so much in our lives! There was one pocket watch that probably belonged to my great grandfather. I remember playing with it when I was young, probably because it was not working properly. My grandfather had given it (and another beautiful wall clock) to a known watch repairer near his office but that was the last we saw of both of those. These repairers are renowned for procrastination and a couple of years or so (methinks) passed and my grandfather died in 1976. So we never knew to whom it was given. We lost them that way. There is a chain with clip I have retained from that watch. Old things are so beautifully manufactured! The precision is quite something!

We pronounce the name of our town, Dell High. It got it's name from the floods. High Delta never flooded.

I once left my watch in my pocket and it went through the washing machine. I was afraid to carry it to a watch repairer. After two years, my sister told me of running into her first boyfriend in a mall in Memphis. He had a shop there where he repaired and sold watchs. She carried it to him. After that I retired it to heirloom state. It was the most accurate time piece I ever saw. My grandson is next in line to receive it. A lot of memories invested in that simple gold watch. Sentimental, don't you know.

Our Delhi is pronounced as Delli.

I'm sentimental too and I can fully understand what it feels like. This Favre Leuba is silver cased. It's nice to hand down things to the next generation. I've two daughters.

If we have taught them properly, then they to will appreciate the things from the past. All traditions are not good but some are very important. Especially to remember with fondness those who have gone before us. If not for them we would not be. Hopefully the values passed down to us can be passed to the next generations.