Reply With Quotegreat story...even better pictures :)
i feel the same sense of history and pride every time i wear my grandad's omega...i remember it was constantly on his wrist up until he died almost 20 years ago.
cheers
kozza.
Hello everybody,
today I would like to show you a couple of pics of my dad's Alpina chronograph. He received this watch as a present from my mother when they both still looked like that:
Since I was a newborn (1976) my father wore this watch on a daily basis. Although it was quite expensive at the time my father never babied the watch but wore it on all occasions no matter what he was doing. (Carrying me around the garden for instance...)
In 1979 my father helped my uncle moving into his new house. While they were carrying a heavy sofa my dad banged the watch against a steel post and cracked the crystal without noticing.
The next day my parents went swimming in a lake nearby and the watch was virtually flooded. Although it was taken to a watchmaker who dried the movement and dial, it was not repaired and my father never wore it again. The 80s came and everybody started wearing tiny and shitty watches.
Practically during my whole childhood the watch stayed in my mum's jewel case. From time to time I took it out and played with it not knowing what the pushers, hands, and subdial were for...
I grew older and after a couple of Swatch and early G-Shock models my uncle (the sofa one) showed me his vintage Heuer Camaro chrono which needed a service. He asked me if I could take the watch to Rainer Nienaber for a service as his workshop is only 10 minutes from where I live.
I instantly thought of my dad's Alpina and brought it along. At that time I had thought about having it repaired from time to time.
Nienaber said that the watch could be restored to a very good overall condition and the watch was worth doing it. ....That was when I felt that famous (or infamous) itch (!!!!) for the first time.
Finally R. Nienaber restored both watches to almost perfect condition.
While he was at the movement I sent away the case to "Wolf Beschichtungstechnologie GmbH" for a Chromenitride PVD coating. They applied an extra thick tool coating which preserves the surface very well without changing the colour of the case (only slightly).
This is what was carried out:
-Full movement service
-Dial touched up and relumed as the water destroyed all the tritium markers
-Hands repainted and adjusted
-Case restored and PVDed
-Two flat sapphire crystal for front and back
-Rotor ground and gold plated as the original nickel finish was severely corroded and virtually eaten away.
-Internal bezel assembly fitted with new parts that Rainer Nienaber made on his own lathe.
This is what the watch looks like since 1998. Can't believe it's more than a decade since this madness began. Rainer Nienaber did an amazing job on this watch!!!
The refurbished Lemania 1340:
Neat hand job :wink:
Between the first and last pic of this post lies one full generation. Kinda makes me proud somehow...
Thanks for reading.
Jan
Last edited by Jan; 3rd August 2014 at 11:22.
great story...even better pictures :)
i feel the same sense of history and pride every time i wear my grandad's omega...i remember it was constantly on his wrist up until he died almost 20 years ago.
cheers
kozza.
Great story and a really lovely watch especially handed down from your Dad it's a stunner, enjoy wearing that :D
Andy
Jann, what a superb post ! The watch looks fantastic and the emotion and memories tucked up with it makes it priceless for you, I hope you enjoy it for another 35 years and hopefully you will be able to pass it on to your next generation :wink:
Cheers
Simon
Ralph Waldo Emerson: We ask for long life, but 'tis deep life, or noble moments that signify. Let the measure of time be spiritual, not mechanical.
Hi Jan!
A beautiful story about a beautiful watch and a beatiful wife as well!!!
You lucky bas..... :mrgreen:
Regards,
Marc
Fantastic story,beautiful watch :wink:
This is what WIS dom is all about - great story and lovely watch.
Andy
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Thanks everybody. I think there is no cure to WISdom :lol:
Great watch with a nice family history!
Thanks
Mark
Enjoyed reading that Jan. A stunning watch to boot.
Thanks for sharing
He certainly did, that looks great.Rainer Nienaber did an amazing job on this watch!!!
Chris.
Great post. It's nice when watches stay in familes like that. My Longines is curently away for a service - it was my grandfathers but it's had an easier life than yours. :lol:
Fantastic story and post Jan, it's what this watch stuff is ALL about :D
Cracking looking watch, and lovely story to boot.
Very cool!!
Frank
Great watch and fantastic story, thanks for sharing.
Stern
Fantastic story. Great read. Thanks.
Excellent story, and beautiful watch! That is truly a watch that has meaning, and history.
I lost the Seiko chronograph my father gave me when I was about 7 years old-wish I could remember the exact model. It's the one that started the interest for me
Best,
Chris
great story and that alpina is absolutley stunning!!!
love it
cheers
chris
A very nice story, and a smashing watch.... :lol:
Great feel good story, The watch looks perfect with so much history for you, I guess its worth an awful lot more to you that the money value,
It's good when a watch gets handed down and is cherished. I love the look of that Alpina - I want one.
What a beautifully engaging story with some excellent pictures and a fabulous watch. Vielen herzlichen Dank!
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
great story, great pics, great watch.
excellent thread :)
:shock:Originally Posted by Jan
That is one stunning job. I don't want to be crass, but did it cost much the same as buying a new mid-high end watch? 'Cos if it did, it was totally worth it.
Nice one Jan.
Giles
Excellent post, extraordinary family story and cute watch..Thanks for posting :) .
Nice write up, that is a seriously great looking watch 8)
"I looked with pity not untinged with scorn upon these trivial-minded passers-by"
Great watch and a great story.
This makes me think about how not so long ago, it was perfectly common place to own and enjoy one single watch :shock: amazingly, and appreciate it for what it is. It would appear it's an idea of the distant past for most these days but I for one rather like that notion. That idea would be my grail, he says with his three watches :)
Great story Jan. 8)
Coincidentally, I recently restored a very similar model from Nivada which had been 'resting' for 25 years after breaking the glass...
Before...
After...
Great watches, 70's solid!
Rich.
Wonderful story and watch!
Are you far from Rainer? I live about 40min away.
German members GTG??
That watch looks simply 8) !
Well done for restoring it mate, you should be wearing it in pride and health
Alex
Allways great to see anything that has memories . when it has been lovelingly restored ,
Many happy memories for all your family. well worth reading
The watch loooks very clean and new :D
I can't add much more to this but I had to say thats a realy nice story and repair, I can only guess how good it must feel to wear the watch now.
I have a Orfina Porsche Design from my uncle which has a significant attachment for me.
Great story :) Stunning Aplina 8) A huge pat on the back my friend.
Stunning Alpina
Lost for words, Jan! What a great story and an even more awesome (and priceless) watch.
Rich - (so you don't feel left out!) - that's a truly impressive job. Seriously, well done!
Fantastic job!
It's just a matter of time...
Great looking vintage, an absolute stunner. Amazing work as well. I'm a big fan of the older chrono's and it looks like you made a great decsion.
Enjoy that beauty
That is indeed a beautiful watch.
Fantastic story, and what a great job Rainer Nienaber did 8) .
This is one watch to treasure, and a keeper I'd say :)
Cheers,
Daddel.
Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!
Thanks everybody!! I am truly overwhelmed by the amount of resonance. I am so glad that you enjoyed reading that!!
Richie_101, your Nivada looks fantastic too. I think this watch was made by several companies at that time. I've seen similar Nivadas, Delbanas, Sinns and Dugenas (Alpina once belonged to Dugena).
The restoration did cost a severe amount of money, patience, and ellbow grease but I really wanted to bring the watch back to life. I would have loved to keep the bracelet my father wore this watch on but first it's broken and second it's not an Alpina bracelet but my mum bought this watch fitted with a Mido bracelet. I have no idea what the salesperson was thinking...
Andy, I live approx. 7 km away from Bünde were Rainer Nienabers workshop is. I bet he curses the day I entered his shop for the first time. :wink: He's not only a true watchmaker but also whitty person and a very pleasant guy to deal with.
Thanks again everybody!
Hi Jan
Cracking watch & great story....looks fab ! 8)
Neil
lovely watch and amazing story made me kinda nostagic and pulled out my dads last watch to look at it
Great story and watch, I hope you get years of pleasure from it ...
One of the best posts in a long time! Great story!
Tremendous story and pictures. Health to enjoy your father's watch, Jan.
Pete
Thank you so much guys. I'd never thought this would gain so much interest. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jan
Only been to his shop once but i did enjoy having a good look at all his retrograde watches, i remember one with the most wonderful silvered dial with a new york skyline only visible at certain angles.
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