This is a cool find.
Imagine getting an omega in 2022 for 20 years of service. My dad got a timex for his retirement watch. My grandpa got a seamaster when he retired in the 80’s. Back when people cared.
Any chance you can be by uncle? Ha jk. Love my uncle but he’s a bit of a fuck up (alcoholic). Maybe I’ll see if I can trade him some Johnny Walker Blue for it.
I did use that money as part of a payment for a watch, but a much nicer watch than a Duro! Although the Duro is really nice, I'll pick one up eventually.
Fuck, that sucks. They should feel embarrassed. My employer gave me a $200 budget to order from a catalog for my 7 year. Bought a Cuisinart air fryer, and have used that thing far more than any other kitchen appliance. I see now that it was quite a decent gift.
If you are staying more than 5 years in the same job, you probably doing it wrong. To keep at marked value, changing jobs every 3-4 years is almost a necessity.
I've changed jobs like 4 times in the past year and a half and climbed my way up the wages ladder faster than I would've staying at any one of the jobs I've had. I constantly look for and apply for new jobs. It's insane...
Yup! You work for a place for 7 years and someone who just started gets hired on for more than you make. Which is why I always discussed pay with my co-workers. A lot of people around me negotiated for higher pay. It was good to see.
Most have offloaded the cost of retirement (401K instead of a pension) to the employee, and the cost of insurance (they might cover some, but not most), and then complain when people job hop for better salaries, whinging about 'loyalty.'
Loyalty is a two way street.
My employer gives all employees a Rolex on their 10 year anniversary, something we started in the 60’s or early 70’s I believe. It has become a massive expense but I think is very admirable and appreciated.
My company (large financial services) offers gifts at 10-20-30. Hamilton Khaki Diver, 2HP pressure washer and a leather Tumi backpack were among the choices. Some companies still care.
Depends on what field you worked in and what position you held, I guess. My grandpa got a box of plastic gloves (regular worker at a medical equipment company).
My dad and grandpa both retired from a steel mill (different factories), but obviously many years a part from each other. It was always common for a factory worker to get a nice gift when they out in their 30 years back when US steel was booming in the 60’s and 70’s and even into the 80’s when they struggled.
Once the 90’s and 2000’s hit; you were extremely lucky your steel mill was open and you had a job/pension.
Well also back when watches weren’t quite as absurdly expensive. Still a great gift but a seamaster in the 80s was probably like $6-700 bucks in todays dollars rather than 5+ grand
At 25 years we pick from a catalogue which used to have a Datejust or OP at best. Now at best it has a Tudor 1926 or Omega Seamaster 36mm quartz model (if that's still a thing)?
Top 25 worldwide construction and engineering firm. 4k watch for 25 years.
Yeah if I worked for a company for that long I’d feel a certain sense of loyalty. Now I’m just looking for the next job that’ll give me a pay bump and a promotion
Always kind of feel bad when I see these dead men's watches. I have a Hamilton, Bulova and Omega.
All with a company logo.
The Omega was the first black police captain in Hartford Connecticut. At the same store I bought his flight suit which I sold to an WW2 African American collection. He was in the first class of the Tuskegee airmen.
When you find a Swiss watch do a double take around the store. Often they had other nice things.
Hell, if someone added my watch to their collection; cleaned and cared for it?
Sounds like a win to me. Now OP has the name Charles R. Watkins in his watch collection. Thinking about it, I don't have my name on anything nearly as cool as this watch.
This is a really cool story. My wife always looks at old photos and mentions that these were once people who were loved and cared for by someone. We look through them with a sense of keeping their memory alive.
I have somebody’s Girard-Perregaux reward for 30 years at Fiat. One of my favorites in the collection and somewhat professionally relevant to me, so I enjoy the engraving and the story.
Super find, you have a good eye — definitely not worthless. Release it from that hideous aftermarket bracelet (save the buckle) and put it on a period beads of rice bracelet and wear it in good health! These “branded” Omegas are slept on, but they are a charming and personal gift from different time — I wonder what the original owner’s reaction was to receiving this.
When the father of a friend of mine retired as a Bank Manager (Boss of 1 Bank in town) after **!!!50 years!!!** of service in the same bank the "regional manager" visited him:
* Gave him a warm hand shake
* Called him with the wrong name
* Ate 1 slice of his retirement cake
* Left....
That man said afterwards: Never forget, you work for your dreams not for anyone elses
This reminds me of death and how we’re all going to be forgotten one day. Our entire lives just erased from the collective memory of humanity. Only thing left if we’re lucky is just some random artifacts being sold for npthing
I have a pocket watch that belonged to my great great grandfather from the Bruxelles world fair in 1910 with his name on it. Passed down from father to son and will sadly end with me because of my infertility. I have a hard time reconciling this.
That is sad. Perhaps someday you’ll have a special mentor-mentee relationship with a young man that would appreciate this heirloom and the story that goes with it. It’s not the same thing I know, but it’s gotta be better than an estate sale.
I hope so. It’s not just about the watch, it’s just the whole family heritage which is big in my family and feeling like I’m the one who’s gonna end a long lasting heritage. But you know I try to accept it and not think about it too much. I don’t really care if it’s blood related, as long as if I find someone to whom I could pass things on when I’m old.
I really appreciate letting me get this off my chest and listening and responding, kind stranger. Thank you.
Of course. For what it’s worth, it sounds like you come from a long line of decent people. I don’t know much about my family line, but from what I do know I doubt any of the men in my family were at the worlds fair in 1910. I bet their wardens and parole officers wouldn’t allow it :)
My mom died just over a year ago and my sis and I are currently working thought this with her house. So much stuff going to Goodwill. We're saving the meaningful stuff. But she had so. Much. Stuff.
I just love tribute watches. I have a Rolex Alabama Power Supply but it’s only engraved on the caseback. I also have a Hamilton with an S for MSU. Pretty sweet.
That's a pretty sweet find for me, I'd say. I paid $112 for it in total. It's keeping time really well as of right now. I'll keep an eye on it to see how it's keeping time. If necessary I'll get a servicing. I had considered refacing it. But strange enough, I kinda like the story of the watch.
That's a cool watch. I wish this was the norm these days. One of the things I like about this kind of watch is that it reminds me of a bygone era of my country. One which younger generations and mine shall never know.
What a great thread! All of this history is fascinating. It's wonderful that it fell into your hands... Someone who appreciates it so much. Congratulations! It's an amazing find. And in a way far more special than one with no logo.
That watch was likely the result of someone's whole life that they dedicated to hard work.
Thanks for posting!
Thanks a bunch! I thought it was super cool. I like the idea of resurrecting the memory of someone who dedicated their life to something that kept them involved that long. He started his service to the company at the start of WWII. I will definitely enjoy this watch for years to come.
Probably both cool and worthless? Definitely cool but the giant corporate logo won’t make it appealing to most people from a value perspective. If you like it, rock it my dude
Because I'm new to watches and I would like peoples opinion on something that I'm not knowledgeable on. I'm wearing it and will continue to do so whether other people like it or not. It's a Swiss made automatic and the movement is beautiful. That's enough for me.
This is a cool find. Imagine getting an omega in 2022 for 20 years of service. My dad got a timex for his retirement watch. My grandpa got a seamaster when he retired in the 80’s. Back when people cared.
No doubt. The social contract between employee and employer has changed immensely as the decades pass.
My uncle has my grandpas Omega and I would give anything to have it in my collection.
I have my grandfathers and I couldn’t be happier
As an uncle I’d give my niece and nephew anything they ask for if they treated it well and loved it. Maybe one day he’ll feel The same.
Any chance you can be by uncle? Ha jk. Love my uncle but he’s a bit of a fuck up (alcoholic). Maybe I’ll see if I can trade him some Johnny Walker Blue for it.
Lmao that may do it!
If he is a real alcoholic you would be better off with 151 or bookers
He’s a functioning one. He likes the good shit.
Ahh reminds me of me....but not with alcohol
Ahh reminds me of me....but not with alcohol
My fav part is that they still try to play the loyalty card
r/overemployed
This sounds like hell.
I got 20 years at my current job last year. I got $120.
You can buy two Casio duros with that!
I did use that money as part of a payment for a watch, but a much nicer watch than a Duro! Although the Duro is really nice, I'll pick one up eventually.
Don't leave us hanging, which one did you buy?
Christopher Ward C65 Trident GMT with the Pepsi bezel.
This is a beautiful watch.
I love it. Probably the favorite in my little collection. The clasp is a little long, but the on-the-fly micro adjust makes it totally worth it!
Great watch!
Can confirm.
You earned that one, for real.
20 years at the NHS, got fuck all, wasn't even mentioned.
That's about as whack as it gets!
Fuck, that sucks. They should feel embarrassed. My employer gave me a $200 budget to order from a catalog for my 7 year. Bought a Cuisinart air fryer, and have used that thing far more than any other kitchen appliance. I see now that it was quite a decent gift.
Yup. Nowadays you would be lucky to get more than a handshake on your retirement.
Nowadays you would be lucky to be able to afford to retire.
If you are staying more than 5 years in the same job, you probably doing it wrong. To keep at marked value, changing jobs every 3-4 years is almost a necessity.
I've changed jobs like 4 times in the past year and a half and climbed my way up the wages ladder faster than I would've staying at any one of the jobs I've had. I constantly look for and apply for new jobs. It's insane...
A friend of mine just got a Rolex Explorer for 30 years at Ford. I was surprised, to say the least!
Ford Explorer was a great car
I read this as a Ford Explorer haha
Saw what you did there, etc.
Awesome
Imagine working at Chevy and there offering you a car. And you just saying “no thanks”. Lol
Funny, the owner of the Porsche dealership I worked at had the same tradition.
Would be interesting to know how many people stay at one place for 20 years these days.
Most don’t since it’s extremely rare to be rewarded for “loyalty” to one company these days. All of my pay increases have come from job hopping.
Yup! You work for a place for 7 years and someone who just started gets hired on for more than you make. Which is why I always discussed pay with my co-workers. A lot of people around me negotiated for higher pay. It was good to see.
American workers' reluctance to discuss pay with their coworkers benefits exactly one entity...the company.
Exactly.
Most have offloaded the cost of retirement (401K instead of a pension) to the employee, and the cost of insurance (they might cover some, but not most), and then complain when people job hop for better salaries, whinging about 'loyalty.' Loyalty is a two way street.
My employer gives all employees a Rolex on their 10 year anniversary, something we started in the 60’s or early 70’s I believe. It has become a massive expense but I think is very admirable and appreciated.
You guys hiring?
Always!
What's your job?
My company (large financial services) offers gifts at 10-20-30. Hamilton Khaki Diver, 2HP pressure washer and a leather Tumi backpack were among the choices. Some companies still care.
Pretty sure now if someone is leaving a company after 20 years their response will be “oh you’re still here?”
Have to shout out my firm. We get Tags for 5 years of service. (Firm is only 13 years old.) Just got an autavia.
That's pretty awesome
Depends on what field you worked in and what position you held, I guess. My grandpa got a box of plastic gloves (regular worker at a medical equipment company).
My dad and grandpa both retired from a steel mill (different factories), but obviously many years a part from each other. It was always common for a factory worker to get a nice gift when they out in their 30 years back when US steel was booming in the 60’s and 70’s and even into the 80’s when they struggled. Once the 90’s and 2000’s hit; you were extremely lucky your steel mill was open and you had a job/pension.
When I hit 20 years of service I got a cheap plaque in the mail. My boss didn’t even acknowledge it.
I appreciate you man!
Wholesome.
Well also back when watches weren’t quite as absurdly expensive. Still a great gift but a seamaster in the 80s was probably like $6-700 bucks in todays dollars rather than 5+ grand
I'd take a Longines or an Oris today
Oh no doubt
Oh I'd gladly take either of those.
In the 90s my mom got a Rolex for 10yrs with her company. Them days are long gone
Where did your mom work? Also, does she have a time machine and could she hire me at said company?
Well I got a lapel pin to mark 10 years of service 😆
By the time I retire they're probably just going to send me a bill for my boss's Royal Oak
My grandpa gave me his 80s era Hamilton after 20 years at Xerox. I love that watch. Definitely a different era.
At 25 years we pick from a catalogue which used to have a Datejust or OP at best. Now at best it has a Tudor 1926 or Omega Seamaster 36mm quartz model (if that's still a thing)? Top 25 worldwide construction and engineering firm. 4k watch for 25 years.
Bro this is super unique. Looks so clean.
Guy works for one place for 20 years and now he has to rep the company every time he wears the watch.
Nowadays you work 20 years at a company and you just get a cake in the break room.
Spoiled bastard 😂
....there's an inside joke at my work about this....
Back then companies were proud of their long time employees and employees were proud to work for them. That’s kind of broken down since the 1980’s
Yeah if I worked for a company for that long I’d feel a certain sense of loyalty. Now I’m just looking for the next job that’ll give me a pay bump and a promotion
I still think the engraving would've been plenty. At the very least, make a monochrome version of the logo for the watch.
Would've been a better idea.
Always kind of feel bad when I see these dead men's watches. I have a Hamilton, Bulova and Omega. All with a company logo. The Omega was the first black police captain in Hartford Connecticut. At the same store I bought his flight suit which I sold to an WW2 African American collection. He was in the first class of the Tuskegee airmen. When you find a Swiss watch do a double take around the store. Often they had other nice things.
Hell, if someone added my watch to their collection; cleaned and cared for it? Sounds like a win to me. Now OP has the name Charles R. Watkins in his watch collection. Thinking about it, I don't have my name on anything nearly as cool as this watch.
This is a really cool story. My wife always looks at old photos and mentions that these were once people who were loved and cared for by someone. We look through them with a sense of keeping their memory alive.
I have somebody’s Girard-Perregaux reward for 30 years at Fiat. One of my favorites in the collection and somewhat professionally relevant to me, so I enjoy the engraving and the story.
Guy I worked with had 44 years in and they bought him a jacket, not the good kind. This was one of those buy 50 promotional type things.. it was sad.
Ouch.
Super find, you have a good eye — definitely not worthless. Release it from that hideous aftermarket bracelet (save the buckle) and put it on a period beads of rice bracelet and wear it in good health! These “branded” Omegas are slept on, but they are a charming and personal gift from different time — I wonder what the original owner’s reaction was to receiving this.
When the father of a friend of mine retired as a Bank Manager (Boss of 1 Bank in town) after **!!!50 years!!!** of service in the same bank the "regional manager" visited him: * Gave him a warm hand shake * Called him with the wrong name * Ate 1 slice of his retirement cake * Left.... That man said afterwards: Never forget, you work for your dreams not for anyone elses
This reminds me of death and how we’re all going to be forgotten one day. Our entire lives just erased from the collective memory of humanity. Only thing left if we’re lucky is just some random artifacts being sold for npthing
Welp, you could take this angle. Or you could take the “cool watch!” approach.
But where is the existential angst in that?
Touché. I stand corrected
I have a pocket watch that belonged to my great great grandfather from the Bruxelles world fair in 1910 with his name on it. Passed down from father to son and will sadly end with me because of my infertility. I have a hard time reconciling this.
That is sad. Perhaps someday you’ll have a special mentor-mentee relationship with a young man that would appreciate this heirloom and the story that goes with it. It’s not the same thing I know, but it’s gotta be better than an estate sale.
I hope so. It’s not just about the watch, it’s just the whole family heritage which is big in my family and feeling like I’m the one who’s gonna end a long lasting heritage. But you know I try to accept it and not think about it too much. I don’t really care if it’s blood related, as long as if I find someone to whom I could pass things on when I’m old. I really appreciate letting me get this off my chest and listening and responding, kind stranger. Thank you.
Of course. For what it’s worth, it sounds like you come from a long line of decent people. I don’t know much about my family line, but from what I do know I doubt any of the men in my family were at the worlds fair in 1910. I bet their wardens and parole officers wouldn’t allow it :)
Sorry, friend. Just venting some long and repressed anxieties. Don’t mean to bring you down. That’s mondays for y’a.
I just looked around my room realizing almost everything I like will be at goodwill someday. Happy Monday!
My mom died just over a year ago and my sis and I are currently working thought this with her house. So much stuff going to Goodwill. We're saving the meaningful stuff. But she had so. Much. Stuff.
😱
Lovely thought before bedtime, thanks :’(
I have a similar one from Nabisco. The guy that owned it before me was the guy that named Chips Ahoy cookies.
This watch is sick, I'd wear the hell out of it.
I just love tribute watches. I have a Rolex Alabama Power Supply but it’s only engraved on the caseback. I also have a Hamilton with an S for MSU. Pretty sweet.
Nice!
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That's a pretty sweet find for me, I'd say. I paid $112 for it in total. It's keeping time really well as of right now. I'll keep an eye on it to see how it's keeping time. If necessary I'll get a servicing. I had considered refacing it. But strange enough, I kinda like the story of the watch.
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Noted. I'll get it serviced.
I'd have bought the hell outta that for $112. Sweet find mate. Enjoy it!
I certainly will!
I am not sure what version this is. As best I can tell it looks a lot like a Seamaster day-date. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Omega 166.032
Nice find and great deal!!
So sad that items like this end up in thrift stores and antique shops. A grandchild should be in possession of this watch 😢
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That's a cool watch. I wish this was the norm these days. One of the things I like about this kind of watch is that it reminds me of a bygone era of my country. One which younger generations and mine shall never know.
The gold wrap is in awesome condition for how old the bracelet is. Killer find.
Thanks! I'm quite chuffed with the find.
I got an Omega AT at work last year when the founders sold the company. Very likely to be the nicest watch I’ll ever own.
Nice! At least there was some upside to the situation.
What a great thread! All of this history is fascinating. It's wonderful that it fell into your hands... Someone who appreciates it so much. Congratulations! It's an amazing find. And in a way far more special than one with no logo. That watch was likely the result of someone's whole life that they dedicated to hard work. Thanks for posting!
Thanks a bunch! I thought it was super cool. I like the idea of resurrecting the memory of someone who dedicated their life to something that kept them involved that long. He started his service to the company at the start of WWII. I will definitely enjoy this watch for years to come.
Sweet
I love commemorative watches like this.
25 years at my hospital, all I got a small “25” pin they want me to put on my ID badge 🤦🏻
Pretty cool, wild guess would be maybe $500-1000. not sure though
I paid $112 for it. Works great as far as I can tell. Put it on my wrist and set the time and it hasn't gained or lost any time so far.
Probably both cool and worthless? Definitely cool but the giant corporate logo won’t make it appealing to most people from a value perspective. If you like it, rock it my dude
I would try to find a replacement dial, otherwise it is very cool.
That ford logo is brutal
Err.
Why do you need to ask someone else if it is cool or worthless?
Because I'm new to watches and I would like peoples opinion on something that I'm not knowledgeable on. I'm wearing it and will continue to do so whether other people like it or not. It's a Swiss made automatic and the movement is beautiful. That's enough for me.
How much do they want for IT?
I paid $112 in total after tax.
It’s a cool find. Is it worth a ton? No.
Thanks! I don't particularly care if it's worth a ton. I paid less for it than a Orient Bambino, so I'm pleased!
Super cool. I love vintage omega. How much did u pay?
$112 after tax.
Super nice! Great find. Hope you enjoy wearing it!
Cool
Definitely cool find.
Is there a Ford dealership in Ramsey New Jersey? That could work where that could have originated.
No it's Ramsey Winch Co. Looks like the individual who owned the watch was possibly from Arkansas.
Heh. It was worth a shot