kev09
2463
If only they could talk.
In these very difficult times it seems that many of us have time on our hands as well as our wrists. I decided today to dig out a vintage watch to keep me company for the next few days and I thought I would share with you a bit of its somewhat unusual history. The watch is from E. Gubelin and dates from the 1940s.
The movement is a Cal. 83 from IWC and looks rather nice I think.
The watch was gifted to me by my late uncle about 10 years ago and when he gave it to me he told me the story of how it came into his possession.
In the early 1950s he was working as an engineer for the International Harvester Co. in the U.K. and it was his habit to call in to his local pub for a drink on his way home. One evening he was joined at the bar by a man he’d never seen before and got into a conversation with him. The man explained that he was a Sales Representative and would be in the area every couple of weeks. Sure enough, every 2 or 3 weeks he would appear in the pub and have a drink and a chat with my uncle.
These casual, infrequent meetings continued for some time until, one evening, he asked my uncle if he would lend him a few pounds until the next time he called in. Obviously, this gave my uncle pause for thought as although he liked the man, “a few pounds” in the 1950s for an ordinary working man was no small amount. Seeing his reluctance the man offered his watch as security explaining that it would certainly cover the loan. My uncle eventually agreed and money and watch were exchanged. The man was true to his word and returned a couple of weeks later, repaid the money and recovered his watch. He also explained that he’d bought the watch from a civilian in Germany in 1945 whilst serving with the British Army just after the end of the war. No doubt many fine watches were snapped up very cheaply from desperate people in those dark days.
Many months after this the same situation arose and money and watch were exchanged. This time however, as I’m sure you can guess, the man never returned and the watch remained in my uncle’s possession until he gave it to me.
The watch has initials engraved on the back and every time I wear it I can’t help wondering who originally owned it. Was it a present for a son or grandson? Was it to mark an important milestone like a graduation or a wedding or anniversary and what sad circumstances led to its sale to British soldier. We’ll never know but if only they could talk.
Thank you for reading.
Regards Kev.
If only they could talk.
In these very difficult times it seems that many of us have time on our hands as well as our wrists. I decided today to dig out a vintage watch to keep me company for the next few days and I thought I would share with you a bit of its somewhat unusual his...
Before all of this I was a one watch a day guy. Put it on in the morning,
wear it to the office, come home and take it off, repeat process the next day. Now that I am stuck at home, I find it fun to change watches a couple of times a day. It lets me wear some that don't typically get much wrist time, such as my vintage watches ...
Fascinating story, and thanks very much . . .
. . . for sharing. I've told the story of my engraved Seamaster DeLuxe many times; of the Tiffany-signed ref 2364, never. The initials on the back, BFW , stood for B ernard F W alker. Prompted by your post, I searched for online records. This . . . . . . ...
Gorgeous watch and fascinating story.
Many vintage watches will have seen interesting times, some happy and some desperately sad. As I said in my post - if only they could talk. Regards Kev.
That’s amazing. Although the lugs on the case are different...
...the dials and hands are almost identical and both with the lovely font for the numbers. It’s great that you have that information about it. I wish I knew more about mine, particularly whose initials have been engraved. Thank you very much for your comm...
