really brightens
a Monday! 
Can anyone date this watch? 
An really brightens
a Monday! Can anyone date this watch?
Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date:
Tuesday, 6 June 2006, at 11:20 a.m.
Some of y'all might recall the 'Watch Incoming' post I made on this one:
seller's photos
If so, you'll also recall that I bought it mainly for the (busted!) bracelet. I have the same vintage OEM
bracelet, but needed several spare links to get in on me fat wrist. Well, the watch arrived yesterday and, I am happy to report, the links worked just fine!
Good thing, too, as, while the bracelet was an easy fix, 'twas also sized for about a 7" wrist. So now I have two, my original with 18mm endpieces, now sized for 8-1/4", and the donor with 20mm endpieces, repaired and sized for an aprox. 5-3/4" wrist (!).
The watch itself, though, was the big surprise:
Sure, the seller said it was in "like new" condition.. but I've learned to take such bold
While I'd stop short of calling it's condition "like new", it IS very, very good. Call it 9 out of 10. There are some fine, hairline scratches on the sides of the case, and also a couple on the crystal. But you've gotta look real close before you spot 'em!
How to wear it, though? I briefly considered repairing the OEM bracelet, but quickly dismissed that idea since, after all, the whole point was to use it as a spare links donor for my other bracelet. Hmmm. The only 20mm straps in the box are too short. What to do, what to do? Then I remembered that I had a cheapo
bracelet that might work and, sure 'nough!
While the fit of the endpieces was near perfect in profile, as you can see from the 2nd photo, it's less so from the side. Note how they fall about a half millimeter below the curve of the lugs at the tips. Ah well, close enough for government work! Of course, that bracelet needed a couple of spare links added, too, and these cheap-a$$ bracelets are a royal pain to size. Yes, I bollixed it up a bit:
Note the link below the RH lug.
Press-fit pins in folded links.. what were they thinking!
But, again, close enough. If I decide to keep it on this bracelet (and I might, I think it's a fairly good match), I can always straighten it out later.
This view also displays one nit I have with the watch - though the caliber 8200 apparently hand winds (I gave the crown one turn, and the movement took right off), the teensy crown makes it real hard to do so. No biggie, though, since the autowind seems very efficient. I wore it for a mere 2 hours before puttin' it on the nightstand, and it was still ticking this morning.
And speaking of the nightstand, when I turned off the light I got a very pleasant surprise:
The lume rocks!
And that's a bit puzzling.
'twas my understanding that this watch was manufactured in the 70's. But I've never seen lume that old glow this well! That, and the overall good condition of the watch, lead me to believe that it may be of a much newer vintage than I thought.
What say you
Dial - Citizen Automatic / 21 Jewels / N-8200-R12052-Y
Caseback - Citizen Watch Company / Water Resist / Stainless / 4-R02149 RC / 171296 / GN-4W-S
In any case, I'm most pleased with this li'l guy.
-Ricky
Messages In This Thread
really brightens
a Monday! Can anyone date this watch?
(views: 140)of new Citizen automatic watches coming up for sale on Ebay about 4 years ago that looked like that one. Some had display backs, but most were solid.
Nice watch...congratulations.
2 things in one
time.
(views:
2)
(views:
3) (views: 3) (views: 4) (views: 3) (views: 3) Congrats on the NICE
Ricky! (views: 4) I'd date her,
but my wife might object! (You left yourself open, sorry! ) (views:
8) (views: 4)
