[Av8tor1]

Chris has sent me some assembly pics of my hammy project watch...

This will be my second watch from W3, the first being one of his early Navigators.

German 42mm Double bezel exhibition case which is engineered for the size 10 Hamilton movement.
German "onion" crown, double AR sapphire glass, BOB strap
Swiss deployant
W3 Dial based on a classic Hamilton design
1946 Hamilton 917 movement, fully serviced and regulated
New style mainspring and modified NOS stem.

Its big brother, my W3 Navigator

Thanks for looking, I will update thread when it arrives

Happy camper

 

[skywatch]

That's absolutely beautiful! I love the spiral etching on the big gear - I think Nomos took a bit of a cue off of that one. The face is elegant and subtle. Enjoy this lovely rebuild! - R

 

[Suncoast]

Very nice, so what do you do? source the movement from a pocketwatch yourself via ebay or whatever and then send the movement to him to service and fit into a case etc according to your specs? Looks like a great one of a kind project. I'm intrigued and might like to do something similar myself.

 

[hidden by leaves]

That's really beuautiful... Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on arrival. I like the aviator too. I'm becoming more and more interested in hand crankers with historic/historically influenced designs and aesthetics (fliegers, marine chronometers...)

I think Chris has a really interesting little operation there. I was reading about it recently as I was researching the purchase (forum) of another of his early aviators... it's on its way to me now, I'm really looking forward to it. Here's a couple of pics of my incoming if you're interested:

Cheers,
HBL

 

[whatmeworry]

Very nice indeed. I love these little one man operations.

 

[downtempo76]

Wow it looks beautiful! Can't wait for the pics when you get it!

 

[arktika1148]

Gorgeous !!! Many congrats.

 

[Dennix]

That's really beuautiful... Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on arrival. I like the aviator too. I'm becoming more and more interested in hand crankers with historic/historically influenced designs and aesthetics (fliegers, marine chronometers...)

I think Chris has a really interesting little operation there. I was reading about it recently as I was researching the purchase (forum) of another of his early aviators... it's on its way to me now, I'm really looking forward to it. Here's a couple of pics of my incoming if you're interested:

Cheers,
HBL

Is that a Parnis? The crown and the backcase looks no difference from mine.

 

[Av8tor1]

Very nice, so what do you do? source the movement from a pocketwatch yourself via ebay or whatever and then send the movement to him to service and fit into a case etc according to your specs? Looks like a great one of a kind project. I'm intrigued and might like to do something similar myself.

Either way, in my case I had the movement.... but he also does builds using his supplied movements. I went through his "catalog" of cases, dials etc and picked out what I wanted.

Chirs is extremely good to work with and does beautiful work IMHO... I love getting the "as build" pics

Interesting you mention ebay for movements, with the price of gold what it is.... ebay seems flooded with hammy movements. People are scrapping the gold and selling their movments.

Look for 917, 921, 923, 945 movments
(IMHO 917's are the biggest bang for the buck with the 923 being the most expensive)

Caveat emptor, if you buy one that is wore out it can get expensive to restore..... I would talk to Chris first.

Thanks for the kind words.
Av

 

[hidden by leaves]

Is that a Parnis? The crown and the backcase looks no difference from mine.

No, it's another Wilson Watch Works. It is a Seagull movement though (TY-3621). Can't speak to the crown or Parnis, I don't really know anything about them.

Cheers,
HBL

 

[joey1320]

Beautiful work and great looking piece.

I'm a total noob to one man operations, and would love to learn how to get in Contact with Chris? Is there a website?

Tnx
Joey

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[Av8tor1]

Here ya go:
Contact Us

Beautiful work and great looking piece.

I'm a total noob to one man operations, and would love to learn how to get in Contact with Chris? Is there a website?

Tnx
Joey

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[joey1320]

Thank you for the information

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[Av8tor1]

Final "as build" pics from Chris...
Watch should arrive any day now >

Thanks for looking,
Av

 

[DM71]

Final "as build" pics from Chris...
Watch should arrive any day now >

Thanks for looking,
Av

Well done! That's a beauty. Wear it in best of health!

 

[Av8tor1]

It's arrived woohoo, and the "as-build" pics didnt do it justice. Awesome is the best word I can think of...
I sure dont remember my movment looking this good before I sent it
It might just be me, but seems like the Hammy has a slightly different sound then my ETA6498

Please forgive the quick pics and lack of comp, I laid the watch on the hood of my vehicle and just snapped some images....
Ill try to take some nicer ones this weekend if time permits.
But they are good enough to give some indication of her good looks though....

(yeah I know, I need to clay bar and wax my vehicle )

Thanks for looking, and thanks Chris.... well done mate.
Av

 

[saabnut]

Thank you for the very nice review, The photos are stunning!!

 

[bluloo]

The white dial is gorgeous. :-!