The Beltex continued/Watch Gang 10 Carrero

It's a beautiful day here in Ventura, and I'm sitting in my backyard listening to People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, 1913-1938, something I picked up years ago and don't know if I've ever played. I do have a bit of a thing for murder ballads and western swing, affinities that I have always had though I know not why. My parents certainly didn't listen to this, and I was born a bit after the 'Cowboy Show' of the 50s.

I picked up my Beltex a few days ago, and it's beautiful. I've found a few more things about it. (There's one on Ebay right now, if you're interested). It's a Swiss made watch that likely dates from the 50's. There's not a lot of information on the brand, but it appears that by the 1950's Beltex was a 'fashion brand,' only making casings and not movements. According to the internet, the movement was made by Venus, and was used by several smaller Swiss brands. That is why you see similar faces on watches by Huer, Gallet, and many others. It is a good movement, and apparently parts are available.

At the end of the day, I probably overpaid for it all, but I smile when  I look at my wrist, and I know that the servicing is recent. Tom the 'Watch Doc' threw in a crystal since I was paying cash, and it looks really good on my wrist.

The Watch Doc, Toluca Lake

Which brings me to what will likely be my final Watch Gang watch. 

The Carrero

According to the tag attached to this watch, the MSRP is $1475. On the website, the Carrero CS17733MR is also listed at $1475. EBay gives you the true worth, though, and there are 50 Carrero watches ranging from $75 to $1400.

The first thing I noticed when I took it out of it's rather plain box is that it weighs a ton. It's also the first Watch Gang watch that I've opened that wasn't running when I opened the box. Even the automatics were wound and running when I got them. This had the plastic piece that keeps the watch from running down the battery still in place.  

According to the Carrero website, this is a stainless steel watch with a mineral crystal. It has a 44.5 mm face, and a Japanese Epson VR33 muscle movement. The three smaller dials represent the stop watch second hand and minute hand, as well as a 24 hour dial. Interestingly, for a watch at this supposed price point, I'd want the stop watch second hand to line up at zero, which it does not. The 24 hour dial doesn't quite line up either.

On my wrist, after removing a link, it still feels heavy. No sharp edges, though. The face appears to be a deep burgundy.

It's not an unattractive watch, and according to their website, 34 of these have been sold. I will say there's no way in hell that I'd pay $1475 for this watch-maybe $150-200. The movement, for what it's worth, can be purchased for $16.99.

I'm going to wear it tonight. Right now I've noticed that the clasp doesn't seem to stay closed, but that could just be me.

A few days later

I wore the Carrero for a couple of days, and my initial assessment stands-it is a heavy watch, and though the clasp isn't broken, I feel like I have to fight with it a bit more than I should in order to get it to close.

It does have a nice look on my wrist, but not so much that I'd have actually picked it up on my own. I think this will be the last Watch Gang watch for me. I'm going to take the money that I'm not spending on my monthly membership, and start looking for the two watches that have fascinated me for ages, the Hamilton Ventura and the Bulova Accutron Spaceview. Also, I'd love to find the Citizen Bullhead watch that Brad Pitt wore in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. And if you'd like to toss me a Rolex or Omega, I'd take one.