A much-belated
Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date:
Wednesday, 14 June 2006, at 1:21 a.m.
I bought this one in November of 2004, one of my first watch purchases after being infected with the WIS bug. There's a bit of a story behind it...
I program and support several Citizen CNC Swiss-type lathes as part of my job, and have always been impressed with their quality and reliability. Citizen machine tools are top-notch! And, yes, they're manufactured by the Citizen Watch Company. As I understand it, Citizen couldn't find machine tools with the exact mix of features they desired, so being Citizen, they simply made their own.
That was in the late 50's or early 60's, and Citizen still makes extensive use of their own machine tools in the manufacture of watches.
In any case, I decided that I really, really needed a Citizen watch. Had to be a mechanical movement, and preferably of a vintage which placed it near the time that Citizen bagan manufacturing machine tools. I spent several weeks in the search, considered and, for various reasons, rejected quite a number of pieces. Some just didn't grab me, some were too expensive, too rough cosmetically, etc. When I came across this one, though, it was love at first sight!
41 Alarm/Date,
seller's photos
Mind you, the price was, at $125, nearly enough to scare me off. However, a bit of research led me to believe that this was a fair price for this particular watch.
For one thing, it really is quite a rare piece, judged by how infrequently they show up on
And I'm awfully glad that I didn't! Even now, going on two years later, it remains one of my favorite watches. I don't know why, precisely, but it is. There's the Citizen machine tool connection, obviously. I think it's safe to say that I'm one of a select few persons on the planet who came to know and revere the
Mainly, though, this watch is, IMHO, just drop-dead gorgeous. The case is perfectly proportioned, the placement of the crowns perfect, the alarm function truly useful. And something about the way the gray dial catches the light is a joy to me.
Mind you, there were a few dissapointments. Chief among them, the watch was not in quite as good of condition as I'd hoped. It was as described in the
And the OEM bracelet was sized a good inch too short for me.
I had no luck turning up spare links. I tried Citizen and, after the nice phone rep puzzled over the non-standard SN, then realized that the watch in question was 40 years old - well, they were apologetic, and very nice about it - but also no help. I got the distinct feeling I made their day. I've got a mental picture of them going on break and having a good laugh with their colleagues over the silly fellow who called and tried to buy links for a 40 year-old-bracelet.
After all that you're probably primed for some pics. Here's the first one I took after buying the watch:
Pitiful, I know, but that was the best out of 20 shots.
The wabi is evident, for sure.
Then I tried it on the flatbed scanner:
Still pitiful.. but at least there's more detail.
You'll note that all these show the OEM bracelet, which I was never actually able to wear. What did I use, you ask? Good question! First, for nearly a year, was a generic black croc-patterned strap. Then, for a few misguided months, a gray NATO. I love NATOs, mind, but it just didn't seem to fit the character of this watch. Then a cheap-a$$ folded-link bracelet, the twin of which you see on so many of my watches. Hey, use what ya got, right? But, alas, while it worked OK, there was no real joy there, either. Ironically, I have not a single photo of any of those combos.
Strange, isn't it, that your favorite watch is not necessarily your most photographed? For me it seems that the more I love the watch, the more I despair that my photography skills aren't up to the task. That's why I hate Kelly so much. (Hi Kelly! Just kidding!
) In the specific case of this watch, I think it's 'cause the wabi shows up SO well in photos. I mean, I look at these pics, and the watch looks like a trashed-out POS. But it's not nearly so evident to the naked eye! I swear!!
ANYhow, a couple of months ago I got a wild hair to try the 41 on a brown strap, and after a quick
kludge, took these pics:
Some of you might remember them. I know our current WotM does, since he won the modest prize associated with that post...
Here are some (previously unrevealed!) shots from the same photo session:
Sorry about the wabi! But I tol' ya' so!
The story doesn't end there, though. Couple of weeks ago I finally found a donor watch with the same bracelet what came OEM on the Alarm/Date.
Perhaps I should say 'cosmetically the same' for, while the links from that bracelet did fit, they were not identical. I had assumed that the 7 was of a vintage comparable to the 41, based on the bracelets alone. But the 7 appears to be a much newer vintage. A reissue? A
bracelet frankened to a newer watch? Who knows? 'tis a mystery. I can tell you for sure, though, that the 41 links have a thin metal 'web' 'twixt the open ends of the links, and the 7 links did not. Maybe that's why the 7 broke and the 41 did not?
In any case, after judicial use of my more advanced watchmakers implements, I was able to make it all work. And here's what the watch looks like right now:
More? OK!
If there's one slight drawback, it's the extreme flexibility in the XY axis..
..which means it can sometimes sit rather 'oddly' on the wrist. However, this attribute is growing on me, as it also means that this is, bar none, THE most comfortable bracelet I've ever worn.
So, there you go, my beloved
Memovoxes. But, for me, if you're talking mechanical alarm watch, THIS is the schnitzel!
Just MHO! Contents May Settle During Shipping. Close Cover Before Striking. Your Mileage May Vary.
-Ricky
Messages In This Thread
(views: 215) That is a great
Ricky!
A really rare
and unique watch. Great pics,
too!
(views:
4) (views:
4) (views: 4)What is the lug width? What is the width at the clasp? If you're not as
concerned about keeping an OEM wrapped link bracelet on it, and if the lug width
and width at clasp are proper, you could replace it with an aftermarket, heavy
solid link Jubilee. Transplanting a folding clasp is usually not too difficult
provided clasp width and bracelet width at the clasp match. If you're lucky,
only the signed shell need be moved. Other times the entire z-fold with shell
has to be transplanted. I've done it now with at least three bracelets (those
are the ones I can remember). It's not without pitfalls, and it pays to measure
things carefully, and examine the potential replacement carefully first. -- John
..tapering to 16mm at the clasp.
Hmmmm. After going to so much trouble to get the bracelet sized, I'm not
quite ready to ditch it.
But it's a good idea! Perhaps I will go to an aftermarket solid-link Jubilee
in the future. I'd certainly want to keep the signed clasp.. even the Z-fold, as
it bears the brand,
too.
Thanks!
-Ricky
for the (views: 5) A nice of a super nice I do
remember the contest! I also had a couple...
(views: 16)
What does the
script say.. >> (views: 1)..on the SS one on the left? Right under the -Ricky logo.. I
can make out "Auto", but not the rest.
(views: 5) Super review,
really enjoyed it, (views:
5) (views: 6) >>
(views: 10)I do plan on giving this one a full-boat professional restoration, at some point.
That point being when I feel I can be seperated from it from a month or two
without going into withdrawal!
Somehow, I've come to think of this one as my "lucky watch". I don't know why, quite. Nothing earth-shattering has ever happened when I wear it. No Powerball wins or the like.
Yet.. there's always some LITTLE thing, you know? Like I'll hit every light green on the way to work. Or my boss will leave early on the day I need to leave early. Or a long lost friend I haven't talked to in ages will call.
's strange, but something good always seems to happen when I wear it...
-Ricky
(views: 4) (views: 6) I've never seen
one before (views:
7) Paul! I've only
seen a few others.
> (views: 18)This is the closest I've ever encountered on :
It went for a slightly higher price than mine. I like mine better, so I feel
vindicated.
Careful googling will turn up a few more:
The one on top appears to a fraternal twin of mine. Alas, no sales prices are revealed on this private sales site. I do wonder, though..
This one, which I really like, went for a mere $85 on the 'bay:
But you'll notice it's a 'Citizen Alarm' not an "Alarm/Date". Which
actually makes it more rare, as far as I can tell. I almost bid on it, but I
have enough gold watches already and, in any case, felt I had this particular
segment covered.
But, yet, looking at the photos now, I regret it. Ah well, stories about "the one that got away" are always worthy.
-Ricky
