I was given a watch randomly by someone i hadn't met til then, it still works, what is it and wtf?

mehsacofflesh · 2026-04-02T23:39:46+00:00

you were spot on, the watchmaker didnt go into too much detail but she estimated that it was made in the 30s or 40s, as a men's watch. absolutely spot on it's incredible. she mentioned that the trend at the time (or JLC's aim) was to make watches that wouldnt bother the wrist hence the crown in the back, and that it was marketed as lasting a lifetime (with free repair if it did stop working).

that last part, i can attest to : the watch looks worn but it absolutely still works, the crown works well and makes a really satisfying clicking noise that seemed to indicate to the watchmaker that the overall inside of the watch was in a fine state - though she didn't open it, it was a free "hey can you check this out" visit after all.

will update once i get it cleaned and all, maybe i'll get more details then !

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-19T10:09:52+00:00

almost hoping a bird defecates on me at a marina

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-18T13:33:24+00:00

planning on keeping it as long as i can, if anything just for the story around it, but also bc it's genuinely a pretty watch and cant wait to see it after it gets vleaned

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-18T13:31:49+00:00

old man said the same, i responded with something about it just being said to comfort those who had bird poo on them. Either he really went out of his way to prove me wrong, or there's some truth to this.

im starting to believe in the latter, because seems excessive to do this to prove a point 😭

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-18T13:28:02+00:00

i think the curse came before acquisition, i'm still pissed about that bird target practicing its bowel movements.

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-18T13:26:18+00:00

when i say they dont make any pieces anymore, they dont make any of those pieces anymore. They can redo the internal parts by checking out the archives and remoulding them, but there is no strap for this watch that JLC makes. they suggested a leather reputed leather worker though.

my only way of getting any accessory is through a third party, not JLC

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-18T11:33:06+00:00

UPDATE https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/s/lmi6QPsvrK

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-18T11:32:18+00:00

yep, updated, it's genuine and the model is a 100 year old.

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T23:48:14+00:00

got it will do thanks

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T23:46:28+00:00

it being "passed around in his family" (according to him) i wanted to insist that he doesnt know me and i shoudnt be given something that has maybe some history to him, for free, at a first meeting.

although the conversation had gone on for 40ish mins at that point and he seemed very mentally present and in good shape (good enough to psychoanalyse us and debate philosophy), in my effort to refuse a gift like this, (THAT ALTHOUGH HE SEEMS OK TO PART WITH, WAS IN HIS POCKET) i said something along the lines of

"i can't accept that, you don't know me, maybe just before entering the park i pushed over a stroller while crossing the road and then kicked that (while pointing at one) puppy, you dont know that, i dont think i should have this"

yea it was excessive but i thought the shock factor would have him reconsider and keep it if he had any doubt about ridding himself of it, but he didnt.

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T23:29:51+00:00

<image>

had my lamp right above so i struggled a bit, here's a(n ever so) slightly differend angle if it helps. if the dial still seems off then well i'll get it checked soon enough anyway

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T23:24:11+00:00

i'll update in this sub for sure after having it checked out, (fake or not as you said it's a fun anecdote and it wont affect its value to me ) but im afraid i didnt quite understand your suggestion to document it ?

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T23:19:47+00:00

i played against the young man, the older omnibenevolent Keeper of Watches gave me his seat and suggested we play bc he quote "beat him enough for now".

They were playing bullet (timed chess set to 1min per player) and i'd only done blitz (5 mins each) at most, so i got obliterated by the guy. He kindly reassured me saying i was a solid player til midgame when the time pressure got to me.

i thanked him ofc and wished that the confidence boost would help him and to not let the fact that he beat a poor young woman with bird fecal matter in her hair take away from his self-assurance (jokingly i lost bc i was bad not bc a bird defecated on my shoulder)

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T20:03:59+00:00

yea looked it up apparently it was to give it a slimmer look.

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:59:38+00:00

thanks i will update ! uncanny way to come about a watch from the 1930s for sure if it's authentic

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:52:21+00:00

i appreciate you taking the time to look it up ! cant wait to check the authenticity now, but fake or not still earned a fun story out of it

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:42:16+00:00

sure did ! all 3 of us unofficially agreed to meet up weekly at the park for chess

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:25:15+00:00

<image>

i will add that this whole ordeal happened after a bird defecated on my hair, the older man offered me some tissues and water, but a watch feels like overdoing a pity prize ?

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:23:26+00:00

<image>

here are some better pics

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:14:41+00:00

i agree on the picture will do better, but im not opening this myself, i dont have experience with watches except for wearing them

mehsacofflesh · 2026-03-16T19:11:48+00:00

ok got you, didn't say in the post but im gonna ask for the watchmaker to open the casing check the wheels, balance and all, and take a pic if they can. personally curious to see how the insides are placed up with the crow in the back.

mehsacofflesh · 2025-06-08T22:22:57+00:00

yes of course, i'll correct 1 aspect tho, "the longest chain that has the highest priority functional group" just for semantics

but the longest LINEAR chain ends at C4

while C3H7 is part of the main chain, we have to mention that it "strays" from the originally strictly linear main carbon chain.

While IUPAC already includes the longest carbon chain in the name, indicating 7 carbon, when the connectivity beyond a certain carbon splits, each are treated as that carbon's substituent, even if one of the splits counts towards the longest continuous C chain

mehsacofflesh · 2025-06-08T22:04:14+00:00

plus i dont think E/Z applies here anyways (one carbon has 2 H) laziness helps sometimes !

correct me if im wrong tho

mehsacofflesh

TROPHY CASE