Keeping "A Watch" ... On Time...

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With NO Cell Phones Back in the 1990's, we all had to carry Pagers and also relied upon wearing Reliable Wrist Watches. I rocked either a Seiko Two-Tone S/S & Gold Watch with a Quartz Movement and my other favorite was an unobtrusive, Genuine Stainless Steel Swiss Army Military Issue Quartz Analog Watch.

Both of these were handsome and useful time pieces and were never taken for granted as they seem to be today. But back then... THE Watch that I ALWAYS wanted to wear was being advertised on TV Sports and Auto Racing Networks at well over $1,000.00 and that was a price just a little too dear for the likes of MY Wallet. Yet, THIS unforgettable Time Piece was indeed... A Work of Art:

The TAG Heuer 4000 Professional:

In any case, I'm pretty sure that in the 30 or so years that have passed since I've actually NEEDED to wear a Watch for work and family demands, I haven't given that Tag Heuer 4000 Professional Watch a "Second" thought... until I "Watched" THIS Video today...

...and then found THIS Identical Watch being offered for sale on eBay over in Fukuoka (...or Nagoya?), Japan at a "Bucket List" price I was now willing to pay. Besides resurrecting this same time piece in more ways than one, the SVOP (Second Video Original Poster) is just Drop Dead Funny in ALL of his other Watch Repair Videos and well worth killing some time "Watching" him as he works his Magic Skill Set upon THIS Identical Watch and many other "Very Bling" Time Pieces.

FWIW... eBay still has quite a few of these being offered for sale right now; some at very low prices considering the TAG Heuer Pedigree of these Wrist Watches:

tag heuer 4000: Search Result | eBay

Buy and sell electronics, cars, fashion apparel, collectibles, sporting goods, digital cameras, baby items, coupons, and everything else on eBay, the world's online marketplace

www.ebay.com

 

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Well... It's "Time" for Part 2 of this Saga...

After receiving the TAG Heuer 4000 Diver's Watch and wanting to "Re-LUME" the Dial Chapters & Hands, I did a LOT of Research Watching a LOT of YouTube Videos while trying to Dope Out all of the Tools, Parts, Pieces & Gear available on eBay and Amazon that might come in handy once I Burglarize The Watch Case and get into doing this Job.

The 'Thing' of it is, I had NO Idea How Much STUFF actually goes into Working on Watches for ANY Reasons; even just to Clean, Time & Oil Them UP. Yup... They all occasionally require a 'Tiny Drop of Special Oil(s)' here and there; even inside TAG Heuer Quartz Watches with their (7) Ruby Jewel Bearing Movements. Anyways, I gradually acquired at least one or more of everything I saw "The Pros" were using as shown below from either Amazon or eBay:



And THAT is when I stumbled across THIS Three Part Series on How to Re-Lume 'The Big Daddy' of All the series od TAG Heuer Gentleman's Dive Watches:

The Top-O'-The-Line TAG Heuer Stainless Steel Model 6000 WH-1111:

Part 1:

Part2:

Part 3:

Long Story Shorter, I went back to that same Japanese Collector over in Nagoya, Japan I used before and he had One EXACTLY like the One featured in those Three Videos... but IT would come with the $600.00 OEM S/S Bracelet installed (and NOT the usual leather flavor band).

Even so, the S/S Bracelet Band is a little bit TOO Small for my Wrist at present, so I had to seek out and try to get (5) additional Complex S/S Band Segments from other eBay Watch Vendors ...and this involved a lot more expense than I'd care to admit to anyone 'at this very moment'. :>(

Now even though some of these Luxury TAG Time Pieces start at around $1,200.00 and can go for as much as $2,000.00 in the S/S WH-1111 Design and upwards of around $30,000.00 for the Solid 18k Gold Versions and even though their Last Date of Manufacture was in the Year 2002... These 20 Year Old Classic TAGs are STILL bringing in Premium Prices to Collectors and Watch Enthusiasts alike. And No Wonder... IT'S A PERFECT MAN'S WATCH IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY!

Sure enough... We soon settled on THIS One... (shown below alongside the TAG Heuer 4000 with the Anthracite Dial Face on the Left) at a very reasonable price of only $400.00. I know... It seems like 'An Awful Lot of Bread' for something I had only just recently bought in that earlier 4000 Series. But... Dammit ... I want to make sure that my Son AND my Grandson can EACH have their own TAG Heuer Watch after I'm gone. And perhaps 'in Time' ...They'll take a 'moment or two' to Think about this Old Man ..."From Time to Time" :>)



Take Note... The Rare TAG Heuer 6000 Man's Watch Bracelet has almost 250-300 sub-pieces in its full assembly. So with something THIS incredibly intricate, when I install those (5) Extra Links...(Two are still enroute from Nippon) I'm going to be VERY Careful with them:



Here... In THIS YouTube 360 Degree "Glamour" Video, these views give a MUCH better impression of what All this *Stainless Steel Beauty, Complexity and Functionality* actually looks like... :>)

 

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They say that "The Third 'TIME' is The Charm..," and for this 3rd and Last Segment of this Thread, the same thing applies where getting the Last of these Three TAG Heuer Watches in this story is concerned.

I thought I was 'sated' with this matter from my previous two excellent buying experiences ... that is until I saw THIS TAG Heuer 6000 "Navy Blue" Dial Model# WH-1115 that is ordinarily only available in Men's Sizes in Good Condition starting at around $600.00 and ending up at $1,850.00 in a Box Set featuring a S/S Watch Head with18 Kt Gold Inlays and the matching 18 Kt Gold Watchband segments. The Solid Gold TAG Heuer 6000 Chronograph Models run anywhere from $18,000.00 to $30,000.00:



Anyhow, I could not justify spending THAT much Bread on yet One More Watch and so after poking around on eBay, I found JUST the TAG Heuer 6000 Model# WH-1115 Navy Blue Dial Watch Head I wanted in Near Perfect Condition for only $285.00 with Thirty Bucks for S&H.

My thinking back then was that I'd "Just GET That Watch" and worry about getting a S/S Band Bracelet like the one I have on my other Ivory Dial 6000 Model# WH-1111 version a bit later. But Oh Boy.... Later on... I really started to regret taking this 'Penny Wise and Pound Foolish' approach.

This is because JUST getting the necessary S/S Band alone after that would run me an additional $600.00 if I decided to Pull The Pin and Make The Buy. I was very "Sticker-Shock-Stunned" and 'Buy-Shy" for quite a while after that.

So my alternative course of action was to consider getting the TAG Heuer "Stainless Steel Delivery Clasp" and then get a decent pair of High Quality Animal Leather Band Segments to sort things out. However THAT proved to be another Devilish and potentially Costly Eye Opener too, as the OEM Blue Calf Skin Leather Band Segments depicted below from the TAG Heuer OEM Selections shown here (without the $100.00 S/S Delivery Clasp included) Costs $700.00.... WTF!


But without understanding WHY this was apparently so, I'd forgotten to consider that the TAG Heuer 6000 Series Men's Watches really are among "The Collectibles" now in The Watch World. Uniquely, they also require an additional Rare Set of (4) Tiny S/S Screws needed to secure both ends of each Eyelet(s) on the S/S Tangs of either ends of the Two Leather Segments that attach to the underside of the Watch Base.They Do NOT Attach using conventional, ubiquitous "Push-Pin" Style S/S Retainers.

It follows on that I did some more digging and discovered a company over in England called "WATCHSTRAP WORLD UK" that was selling OEM High Quality Natural Leather Replacement Bands for only $60.00 that WOULD suit very nicely as Replacement Leather Bands designed JUST for the unique Delivery Clasps made exclusively for the TAG Heuer 6000 Series of Watches:


The only problem that evolved after ordering the Black Alligator version featured in those images was that they did NOT come with a Full Set of the Tiny Metric Screws necessary for the Band Attachments. So... once again, I dug around some more and tried to get some Used OEM Fasteners from eBay (BUT... No Soap) Then I went right back to order Two Sets of these (4) Screws in the Phillips Head (Cross-Cut) Design from "WATCHSTRAP WORLD UK".

Note that these TAG Heuer OEM versions sport Tiny, Straight Slot Cap Screws:


Over a month came and went after that until finally, I dropped the OEM eBay Seller an inquiry message. They came back with a Great Response and after a Quick Check on their end, they decided the Tiny Screws they'd sent along 'Must Have Gotten Lost Somewhere in the English Postal System'. "NP..." Said I, and they instantly Shipped me Two New Sets of S/S Screws; Free of Charge or for any S&H. These just arrived today on Saturday, 06/18/2022... So... YAY!

But what is Especially Cool about it is THIS: LOOK CLOSELY AT THE RECEIPT... They included Documenting the TAG Heuer Full Machining Specs for these Rare Fasteners so if I require any more of them in the future, I can probably get them State-Side using THESE Dimensions:

TAG Heuer 6000 Model Watch Band Screws
Part Number: TH-6000-SCR-4
Head Diameter: 1.6 mm
Size and Thread Count: M1.2 X 2.1

Look inside these Tiny Zip Lock Baggies...


Now it just remains for me to Put All of These Items Together and then after having waited several months, I'll finally get the chance to try on and wear THIS PERFECT TAG Heuer"Navy Blue" Dial Quartz Watch and "I'll Be Styling in Black-N-Green 'Gator..." :>)






I saved the Best Part For Last about this Strange Time Keeping Tale. HERE is How the Pros Across The Pond at WATCHSTRAP WORLD UK Perform this Task:

 

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Even though I am Head Over Heels in LOVE with all of my TAG Heuer Watches.... I stumbled across THIS Horological Oddity that WILL Impress and Interest MOST of us engaged with using Stainless Steel in Time Pieces married to Technology that was just emerging out of "Silicon Valley" back in 1987 that literally DESTROYED The Chronometer (Mechanical Mechanisms) Market for quite a while as soon as Quartz Watch Technology came into being.

Of course, I'm speaking in this case of the Timex "Q" Model Dual Digital Analog Watch. This unit had a unique rectangular Casement back then in Base Metal with an equally striking, thin Stainless Steel Band.

Well... For some reason... Timex decided back in 2020 to Revitalize its Watch Selections by re-creating this Incredibly COOL Watch ...with some major improvements in the Movement, the Mineral Glass , the Lithium Battery, and by using ALL Stainless Steel in designing this as a New Creation.

As soon as I saw this being offered in Limited Numbers back then for $150.00 and lately, after I spied it on Amazon for around $127.00... I KNEW I'd have to get a Factory Fresh BINB Version on my wrist.

By any standards... THIS watch might have seemed a bit ostentatious for anyone NOT carrying 'Pocket Pen Protectors and a Few Slide Rules' around in their Valise' because of its large size and spacious LCD Digital Screen. This area is large enough in fact to comfortably support the following features:

(1) LCD Analog (Hands) and Digital Time Keeping via Hours, Minutes and Seconds.

(2) Daily Alarm Clock and Hourly *Chimes* Feature.

(3) 24 Hours Stop Watch with Split Time

(4) 60 Minute Countdown Timer

(5) Dual Time (Second - Dual Time Zone)

(6) A "Night Light" Button for Viewing in Darkness

(7) A Clear Legend Line for Menu Choices

And all of this is arrayed in such an attractive Layout as to make THIS Time Piece a worthwhile consideration for either a Dress Watch or for Daily Use of a "Non-Submersible" life style even though the watch is said to be good down to about 30 Meters. I still would NOT use this as a Dive Watch.

In addition... it sports a Diamond Cut, Rolled Plate Design Watch Band that has MORE than enough 'Extra Segment Adjustable Length' to suit all but the MOST Massive Wrists around.

AND.... even though the edges seemed to be Quite Sharp... when I Put this Watch On... I forgot all about any chance to get snagged arm hairs or of getting *nicked* by it. It is so EXTREMELY Thin, Lightweight and Comfortable that you will forget you're wearing it within just a matter of minutes!

Take a look at the images... and Keep THIS Time Piece in Mind for an addition to your own Men's Watch Collection:




Amazon Dropped the Price on the Gold Version of this Watch down to $102.00... So IT will also be added to my collection of Retro-LCD Watches:

 

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Just when you think that a "Story Worth Watching" just cannot get any Better... Oh Man... :>)

So I wake up at in the Wee Hours of The Morning (Having to WEE ...and having to UN-FUBAR a Very Bad Feeling on my Left Wrist because of my Retro-Timex... Literally .."Pulling My HAIR Out..."). So naturally... I dealt with the most immediate of these Two Issues first ...and then immediately ventured over to Amazon seeking "An Entirely Different Watch Band".

So...I'm NOT Kidding... The VERY FIRST ONE That Pops Up... Turns out to be "THE BAND of ALL THE BANDS" Around AND Absolutely Solved ALL of these Must Have Issues:

(1) It HAD to be CHEAP (YES! Twenty One Bucks & Change).
(2) It HAD to be 20mm Wide at the Lug (IT'S EXACTLY 20mm).
(3) It HAD to be LARGE in Length (IT IS At LEAST 7.5" to 8").
(4) It HAD to have a Double Locking, Cantilever Latch. (YES!)
(5) It HAD to have a Similar Shape & Motif to the Watch.(YES!)
(6) It HAD to arrive Soonest (Came Same Day- 6 Hours Later!).
(7) It HAD to be Well Made & Tight (Yes! HQ Workmanship!).
(8) It HAD to Have a More MUSCULAR In Design vs. the OEM.
(9) It HAD to Fit and Feel PERFECTLY on my Wrist (IT DOES!).
(10) It HAD to Come Complete w/a Segment Tool Kit (It DID!).

See For Yourselves...



So Guys... If you are getting THIS Particular TIMEX "Q" Retro-Dual Digital-Analog LCD Man's Watch in the Stainless Steel Version (NOT the Yellow Gold Version) ... Then get THIS 20mm @The Lug Watch Band at the Very Same Time... Too!

I don't know who makes it... I only know that THEY are PLUGGED IN to the Horological Forces in the Universe that DEMAND SYMMETRY AND ORDER... !!!

I Love how the Individual Band Links Plane out in the Exact same Relative Size, Bevel Angle, Color Match and Segment Shape as that of the S/S Timex Watch Case... They move into a Chessboard-Like Image whenever the Light glides over it!

So... Magnus Carlsen... EAT YOUR HEART OUT, BROTHER!

'Farvell... Jeg Har Litten Tide...'
(Farewell... I Have Little TIME...)




"We're Putting 'The Band" Back Together..."
Jake Blues (RIP John Belushi) to his Brother, Elmore (Dan Akroyd)
...from John Landis' "The Blues Brothers

 

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Another thing worth mentioning about 'Powering Up' these Unique Watches...

When you think of the expression, "Watch Batteries", one imagines the Bad Experience of momentarily looking away when swapping out a Watch Battery in your Wife's Time Keeper... and dropping or LOSING the Battery (... usually one about the size of a Deer Tick) as it Falls Out of the Watch and disappears forever into the plush carpet. 'OH, NO ...DAMMIT!'

But NOT in this case... THESE Babies are about the Size of "Tea Biscuits". This Big, Thin Battery occupies nearly the ENTIRE inner, under-inside compartment of these Timex "Q" LCD Watches:



In this instance, once you can get the Back of the Case pried loose from that One, Single Notch located in only one corner of the Watch Case... there is a Large Rectangular White Plastic Insulator just inside that separates and guards the inside of the Case Cover from making direct contact with the Old Battery Anode inside.

There is Black Writing on that Plastic White Card that Warns the Watch-maker to "Remember to Short the Gold Contact Wire to the Inside Back of the Battery in Order to Re-Set the Electronics". Just Touch the Tip of that Gold Wire against the Battery ...and then slip that Wire right back through the 1/16" Hole in the White Plastic Rectangle.

That Wire appears as a Thin, Coil of Gold Wire, Wound Like a Spring and emanating from once edge of the Green Logic Board LCD Unit. It angles outwards, ending up with its 3/4" long Gold Tip poking through that hole in the Plastic Wafer. Ultimately, it is supposed to make sole contact with the inside of the Back Stainless Steel Case Cover to complete an Electrical Circuit once everything gets "Buttoned Up"..

This is important...

Next, get the Old Battery released by carefully prying it loose from BOTH of its Green Plastic Holding Points. Then after inserting the Brand New Panasonic 3 Volt DC Battery, you'll have to "Get the Hang" of 'Juggling' the LCD-Green Logic Board evened up with the White Plastic Insulator and align them both inside of the hollow of the Watch Casement.

But before doing this and before inserting the Back Cover down inside the edge of the Watch Casement... Make Damned Certain to have that Thin, Square Rubber "O" Ring inserted firmly and deeply into the perimeter groove around the edges of the Back Case Cover.

Do NOT Over-Stretch it... This delicate "O" Ring will NOT stay in place if this happens. Using the Tip of a Pen Knife to urge its cooperation before trying to 'Clam Shell' all of these pieces back together will help get this part done right.

Then, insert one entire edge of the Case Back into the Watch Casement Slot and VERY CAREFULLY Press down uniformly around the Case Back Perimeter ...just hard enough to allow the "O" Ring to settle into place.

Then SQUEEZE uniformly upon the Case Back... back and forth while holding all these components in between the Thumbs and Fore-Fingers until you can feel and hear a Distinct *POP*. Once the Case Back is finally installed, Flip the Watch Over to perform the Time and Date Re-Sets and then... You're DONE. :>)

 

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*Whew....* I thought these Last Two Watch Bands would NEVER Get Here... But ...As it happens...THESE are Both Inexpensive, Very Light Weight...TOTALLY ARM HAIR SNAG FREE AND SATINY SMOOTH...and at 20mm in width for their Full Length... IT LOOKS AND FEELS EXCELLENT.

Because I LIKE the "Chess Board" Design Watch S/S Band I focused on and installed on the Pure (Plain?) Stainless Steel Timex "Q" LCD Watch mentioned in prior Posts... I only installed the Rose Gold, Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Watch Band on this Yellow (ish) Metal version, just to get a feel for how it might look:



I suppose "The Purists" will wonder why I did NOT select the Yellow Gold version also available from BANDINI instead. My answer would be that I 'just wanted to see' how that Rose Gold Version plays off, color wise. But for only costing $24.00... I may still order one of those Yellow Gold Bands as well: