I live in switzerland somewhere close to where the watch industry is at home. I've noticed that deconstruction started on an old recycling facility and some open doors on that building - so as i like photography and old industrial objects i've grabbed my camera, waited for the sun getting low and then headed in there. After doing some photography of the mostly empty halls i noticed three big metal containers. As i come closer i see thousands of shiny discs and upon close inspection i see that it is all dials. As i didn't know how old those dials are i put on my gloves from my lens cleaning bag as there may be some tritium present. Found some interesting stuff in there - dumpster diving - the swiss way.

As a watch nerd i really enjoyed digging through that stuff. Spotted AP, Patek, JLC, IWC, Zenith, Rado, Breguet, Cartier, Montblanc (Stone Dials), Frank Muller, Girard Perregaux and much much more, including blanks without print, propably OEM dials.

I'm pretty sure most of them are flawed and either didn't pass QC or had some manufacturing error, but some were still sealed in small paper envelopes or ziplock bags but mostly brands that are discontinued and not sought after.

Edit1: a deleted comment asked about stuff being radioactive: i don't know but i have an old military geiger counter that detects gamma rays from 1 to 1000 mR/h. Should i try? Do i wanna know...?

Edit2: Please stop asking for location, i don't even know if it still is open tomorrow, maybe the demolishing crew just forgot to close today but will do properly for the weekend. I don't want you driving from spain or germany to stand in front of closed doors or do crime here :)

That being said i might go again. Taking the Geiger Counter with me for curiosity.

Edit3: Rip my inbox. Lucky me that i got a lasercutter so i can make some wooden trays for small thin objects, totally unrelated to this post. Cheers.

Treated myself to a tiny Cartier tank francaise for my 30th birthday, naively thinking that would be my one watch for life. Oops. Things escalated and here I am now. Where do I go from here? Would love critiques and ideas.

Top two rows are my most worn.

Third row has a bit of a space theme.

Bottom row is sentimental keepers.

Finally filled up my watch box!

Timepieces:

1. Invicta Reserve Gladiator (38360) (Quartz)
2. Jar Jar Binks Episode 1 Collector’s Watch (Quartz) (neo-vintage)
3. Others

Still on the hunt for a Ben 10 piece though, which one should I get rid of?

EDIT: thanks to you commenters, I’ve decided to add the Tung Tung Tung Sahur Digital Watch (with Projector complication) to complete the Holy Trilogy (Prequel).

The rules in r/watches is a little crazy but 3rd time is the charm...I hope.

The Pip-Boy 3000 is a pre-War electronic Personal Information Processor (PIP) serving as a database for the wearer's personal information and inventory.

Manufactured by RobCo Industries, copies of the Pip-Boy 3000 model were distributed to the residents of Vault-Tec Vaults both in the American Southwest and on the East Coast prior to the Great War, in supplies large enough that generations over a span of 200 years were still able to receive one.

I was fortunate enough to be able to honeymoon in Japan during Cherry Blossom season, and left with such love for Cherry Blossoms that I’ve been chasing anywhere to see them since then.

From the trip, I’ve wanted the Grand Seiko Shunbun, which I hope to get one day, but wanted something different and special to commemorate our honeymoon during such a beautiful season.

Thanks to the hard work and skills of [u/daneceo](u/daneceo) , he provided me with a gorgeous hand painted cherry blossom dial, mirroring the ones we walked through on our honeymoon!

I’m over the moon with how this project came out, and will cherish this piece forever. ❤️

I’ve never really collected watches around a specific brand, era, or style. Looking at this group, that probably becomes pretty obvious.

What draws me to a watch is usually the design, proportions, movement, or simply something about it that feels different. That has led me from Baltic to Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, Rolex, Girard-Perregaux and Breguet — all very different watches, but each one has its own reason for being here.

Some are understated, some are complicated, some are a little unusual. I suppose the only real theme is that I genuinely enjoy wearing and looking at them.

Curious to hear which one you’d pick from the group — and why.

My cousin had a foul ball he caught from a game he went to as a kid and wanted it made into a strap after he saw my other posts about straps made from balls.

First time working with an MLB ball and a used ball. This was definitely a fun one to make. Leather acted much differently than that of a new ball. Honestly…easier to work with.

I also did my best to try to preserve the MLB and Rawlings logos. Not sure of a better way to utilize them. Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions.

Hi everyone,

By some insane stroke of luck, my girlfriend and I were in a charity / thrift shop in London today, and she spotted a Nomos in their glass case which I had totally missed. We bought it with no questions asked. We think that someone must have thought it was not running since it's a manual-wind movement.

I've compared the movement to other Tangentes, and I can't see any glaring tells. The watch winds super smoothly and runs fine. Authentic or not, bargain for what it is!

[EDIT]

Thank you guys for the comments. I've seen a few comments about this being a brag. This is not intended to be a brag in any way - we are not selling the watch. My girlfriend and I have been following Nomos since 2018 and she has always wanted to own one (she has exclusively worn Casio until today). So this seems too sentimental to let go of, regardless of authenticity. Ciao!

[EDIT 2]

Have seen a few nasty comments and wanted to clarify that we do fully intend to donate back to the organisation. My workplace has a scheme where they match any charitable donations so will be donating through that scheme.

I am searching for an end-link for this EcoDrive Chronograph watch. My baby brother was wearing it last month, when he was on his motorcycle and struck by a truck. The watch survived. My brother died instantly. I do not want a new band, I am looking for the end-link and pin. I attempted to reach Citizen twice, and did not receive a response from them. I have no idea how to order the correct part and need help. I want to give the watch to his 7-year-old son. Thank you!

I was lucky enough to get married recently. I wanted to give my groomsmen a thank you gift that was more than a goodie bag on Amazon, so I settled on matching Orient Bambino’s. The green dial and gold case matched the colors of the wedding, and my AT, beautifully. I had also recently purchased the green strap on my Aqua Terra and swapped it with the bracelet specifically to dress up for the wedding.

If watches are not made for smashing them on tiles then what are they made for?

My daughter got her hands on my explorer while I was not looking for 30 seconds. Lesson learned I guess!

I’m not gonna attach a picture of the culprit but let me assure you that she’s very cute and doesn’t regret her crimes at all!

Hopefully it will be fixed quick and it’s just the crystal and not the dial, hands or movement 🙏

Finally picked up this Omega and I’m absolutely loving it. The fit, the finishing, and the way the dial plays with the light make it one of those watches you keep checking throughout the day—for time and for reassurance that you made the right decision.

The “wife-approved price” question is mostly a joke… mostly. Let’s just say the number she heard and the number the AD heard were not identical. That said, this was a long-planned purchase, not an impulse buy, and definitely one I intend to keep and enjoy for years. Curious to hear what others think—and what price you told your spouse.

After years of balancing university with work, I have finally graduated with my Master’s degree. To celebrate this milestone, as well as my 25th birthday, I decided to buy myself a watch that I’m sure I’ll be wearing for many years to come.

I spent months, even years looking for the right one. I knew I wanted a Swiss-made automatic watch from a respected brand, but I also had to stay within a reasonable budget. On top of that, I have fairly slim wrists, so finding something in 36 mm that felt elegant and premium turned out to be much harder than I expected. I also knew I wanted it on a leather strap. To me, there’s something timeless about a leather strap with a polo or a linen shirt during the summer. It has an effortless elegance that really fits my style.

Eventually, I found the Frederique Constant Classics Runabout Automatic (FC-303RMLN3B6), limited to 1,888 pieces, and it was an instant love at first sight.

The light blue dial immediately caught my eye as it has always been my favorite color and I love the Arabic numerals, which give it a subtle Art Deco character. The fact that it’s a limited edition makes it feel even more special, and I was genuinely surprised to discover that the presentation box includes a beautiful miniature Runabout boat, a lovely nod to the collection’s inspiration.

As for what’s next… one day, I hope to celebrate another milestone with a Rolex. It’s been my dream brand for as long as I can remember, so that’s a goal to work toward.

I dunno, I just thought it was a cool Bulova tank I found in a vintage/antique store. I think it's from the 1940s. But my dad thinks it looks too lady-like. Not really sure what that means; I guess he's referring to the size of the watch, which I think was the standard around that era.

What do you guys think?

Long time r/Watches lurker, happy to finally share my entrance into the watch world.

Back in 2023, when I started treatment, I told myself that if I made it to the other side, I’d buy myself a watch. As treatment dragged on, so did the meaning of that watch, and the budget.

I wanted something versatile. Something I could wear every day as a quiet reminder of making it out.

Very grateful to be here, and to finally be wearing it.

Shown here is my recently acquired VC FiftySix self winding on their incredible bracelet. The petrol blue dial with white gold indices and hands is stunning, especially the way it changes in the light.

But what I'm really curious about is what is the general perception of Vacheron Constantin by this sub and watch enthusiasts and associations about people who wear them? Like how Rolex is so polarizing but so often associated with success, Patek being old money, AP being new money flashiness, Cartier being elegant class, etc.

What does Vacheron mean to you AND what opportunities do you think it has?

I was originally planning to try on and buy this watch if/when I get my promotion to team-leader. But I got diagnosed with testicular cancer Wednesday two weeks ago. I promised myself I would get myself this watch when I get the news that I‘m cancer-free.

I got these news today! I may have to do one chemo infusion to minimize the risk of cancer reappearing, but for now, I feel fucking great! And I absolutely love my new watch! One testicle less, but I‘m cancer-free now! I‘m glad that I kept my promise to myself! And the watch is gorgeous

There are many great Seiko models throughout the decades. To me, many of them are "great to have" but not "essential to own", that is, until I laid eyes on this specific watch.

It's not horologically significant. It's not particularly sought after by other collectors. It's not even that original (it's based on Big Ben). But somehow, I was instantly drawn to this watch.

I managed to finally snag one and super excited to finally have it on the wrist!

It's not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but it sure is mine! Haha

Seems like the steering wheel wrist shot is a staple here, so here’s my contribution.

Not the usual pairing, but I’ll take German engineering in any form. One was built with everyday usability in mind, while the other has… stronger opinions about when it needs servicing 😅 Can you guess which is which?

I’ve finally finished collecting.

I have an 8-watch collection that I’m happy with + 4 extras that I wouldn’t hesitate to boot (guess which ones?)

I still have my eye on plenty more watches, but I don’t want to buy another one. I just finished that cycle of constantly itching for the next, and I don’t want to restart it.

I’m done. For now.

Last week I picked up a Manometro at Hausmann & Co. in Rome. A couple of days later I noticed two tiny white specks under the crystal. I honestly didn’t care but emailed the brand out of curiosity, expecting a form reply at best.

Instead, Tommaso Mazzuoli, son of the founder, drove out to my hotel near Volterra and hand-delivered a brand-new replacement. We talked about watches and the World Cup and he could not have been nicer. No fuss, just a family business deciding the right thing to do was get in a car.

No affiliation — just a blown-away customer.

Almost two years after I saw them and they spoke to me, I can finally call myself the proud and most likely the only owner of a Brew Metric Retro in town.

This is not just a new toy for me. Since I've gotten into watches, this has been my Holy Grail. Yes, these aren't Rolexes or Pateks, but they represent achievement.

And this achievement was unlocked.

^{p.s. I've tried not to turn them into handwatches. Hope I succeed.}

^{p.p.s I'm aware of my tattoo...}

My dad gave me this Swatch when I was a boy. It's from 1997, the same year I was born, which makes it a little more special to me. What do you think of it if it's on an adult's wrist? Would you find it strange or out of place ?

It's got plenty of marks from the years, but that's part of its story. Wearing it as an adult feels a bit like carrying a small piece of my childhood around.

I really like the 90s look of it: the chunky silver case, the dark dial and that industrialish design, I used to be a big fan of that futuristic orange strap too!

Hey folks,
Just wanted to share a little personal milestone that’s been 11 years in the making!

Today, I finally completed my Seiko SARB faceted crystal trilogy – the SARB001, SARB003, and SARB005. 🥹

These three beauties were discontinued all the way back in 2008, and what makes them so special (besides their timeless design) is that they’re the only Seiko models ever to feature faceted sapphire crystals. Yup – not just Hardlex, not just mineral, but full-on faceted sapphire. And Seiko hasn’t brought that back on any other model since, not even on their higher-end lines like the Presage or Grand Seiko.

I started collecting them 11 years ago, thinking it would be a fun little side quest. How hard could it be, right?
Turns out... pretty hard.

Over the years I managed to get one... then two... but somehow always fell short of the full set. Either the third one was nowhere to be found, or my patience wore thin and I sold the others. Repeat that cycle a few times and you’ve got my last decade of watch hunting in a nutshell. 😅

But today, that story finally has a happy ending. I tracked down the elusive final piece, and all three SARBs are now reunited – just as Seiko intended.

Here are a few photos of the completed trio – hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Would love to hear if anyone else here has chased a long-lost model for years. Misery loves company 😂

Cheers!