Cleveland, Ohio – Part II

…continued

We were interested in wristwatches. Of course, the most important and most expensive were the Rolex and Patek Philippe watches. LeCoultre wristwatches made in the past five years were selling well for one dealer. The Futurematic (the first fully automatic self-winding watch-it has no winding stem), chronograph (stopwatch) wristwatches, and Omega Speedmasters (first made in 1957 and used by astronauts) also were in demand at prices from $1,000 to $3,000. More-ordinary vintage ladies gold watches were $150 and up. You could even get a “fixer” for as little as $5 from a box of odds and ends.

“Funky” items came in all sizes and prices. Gold buckles for watch bands were $150 to $300. Many were displayed upside-down so the maker’s marks showed. Gold watch keys were selling as jewelry for $80 to $150 each. Members wear them as pendants, charms on bracelets, or added to watch fobs. The empty boxes with a leather look and a brand name were $30 to $40; a plastic Hamilton box was $25.

Our tips from the convention:

• Go to either learn about clocks and watches by looking and listening or go to buy. If clocks and watches aren’t your passion, it won’t be fun.
• If you go with a friend, set a time and place to meet if you get lost. We depended on our cell phones and they wouldn’t work in the large convention hall.
• Wear a bright scarf, hat, or shirt so your friends can find you.
• Don’t depend on the Mart for food.
• Watches with leather bands are “in” right now.
• A watch that needs winding should be wound 30 times away from you toward the 12. (For those who are dyslectic like us, think about it-the stem should be wound clockwise.)
• To join the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, write to the association at 514 Poplar Street, Columbia, PA 17512, or visit Nawcc.org.