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Ricky Lee

OK, I've had time to process everything, and even shot some photos. Won't be able to manage an post tonight (only fair to give you my impressions first) but probably tomorrow.

The Timex - exactly as expected.

The De Havilland - ahhhh.. a little more "out there" than I expected, but it certainly has character.

The Speidel strap - too short to be of use for me personally, but a welcome addition to the spare straps cache.

And the Main Show, the H*****.

Very nice package overall! The vintage H***** box is a nice touch, even if not original to this specific watch. I'd wager it is of no more than a decade or two later vintage than the watch.

The dial is not quite as good as I'd hoped. Turns out your photo was a very acurate representation, mind you, so I can't say it's less than I expected. But I'd hoped that the patina would be a bit smoother, less hard-edged than it is. Acceptable for now, sure, but right on that line where I'm torn between leaving it as is, or springing for a dial refinish job at some later date.

The case is good overall, but the ding at 8 is likewise enough to make me consider having it repaired. And whomever put that triform dent in the caseback deserves to be placed against a wall and shot! RAGE! (Unless it was you - if so, a right proper caning would do LOL!)

One last niggle before I get into The Good Stuff. The crystal ain't OEM, or even an OEM-spec replacement. It's clear, and in fine shape, but not a perfect fit - the gaps at the corners are wider than at the midpoints. Preferable to a totally trashed OEM crystal, I grant you, but.. well, "Close but no cigar" sums it up, I think.

OK, The Good Stuff. LOL!

The strap - it does fit! Barely, mind - I'm sure 'tis a Long, and not an X-Long as advertised - but, for me, a high-quality 16mm genuine lizard strap that actually fits is a thing so vanishingly rare that the only thing I can think to compare it to is an Honest Politician. LOL!

The real surprise is {drum roll} the movement! Sure, you said 'twas "in good condition 90% runs strong". But, with movements more than a half-century old, I've learned to take that statement with a grain of salt. Cases of this vintage offer no moisture resistance to speak of - you're lucky if they're moderately dust resistant! - so a bit of corrosion is the norm. But this movement is absolutlely PRISTINE!

Accurate, too! I synched a quartz CASIO! to it ~ 2.50 hours ago and, at this point the error rate is below the threshold of determination. +/- 20 per 24, at least. And for a 60 year-old movement, that's superlative!

So. Overall, I'm happier'n a slopped hog with the deal. In fact, I had so little invested in that CITIZEN! that I sort of feel guilty.

Tell you what, next time you're down Mississippi way, I'll make it up to ye - you get the Real Down Home Tour! Plenty of good blues music, home cookin', history lessons, fast motorcycles, huntin', fishin', corn liquor, lap dances.. pretty much anything you're into, We Do It Better In The Magnolia State.

CHEERS!