That weird perfume smell of vintage watches

[Hypnogagia]

It seems like half the time when I get an old watch from eBay it has a weird old lady perfume smell to it. I’ve been collecting antiques for ages (toys, motorcycles, cigarette lighters, books, etc) but it seems like the perfume smell is mostly on watches. Is it some kind of jewelry cleaner maybe?

[Hidden Impact]

Perfume or cologne is typically sprayed on the wrist. This gets transferred to the watch. That’s been my understanding


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[jrlmsla]

Man buys watch.
Man wears watch for many years.
Man dies preceding his wife (as men typically do).
Woman goes through his stuff and sees his watch which he wore everyday.
Woman cherish watch and places it in The safest place knows, her jewelry box.
Woman keeps it there and brings it out occasionally to think of him.
Watch is surrounded by woman’s jewelry which smell like her.
Woman dies.
Couples stuff is sold off in an estate sale where a random dude buys a bag of jewelry.
Random dude sees watch in bag, looks up value and lists it on eBay.
Purchaser receives watch and notices perfume smell.

[wwwEvgeny]

pocket watches from Egypt has the wiriest smell ever

[Philip1944]

It's the Nile.

[Yoda]

I have only experienced it with leather straps, even with newer watches.

[Hypnogagia]

Man buys watch.
Man wears watch for many years.
Man dies preceding his wife (as men typically do).
Woman goes through his stuff and sees his watch which he wore everyday.
Woman cherish watch and places it in The safest place knows, her jewelry box.
Woman keeps it there and brings it out occasionally to think of him.
Watch is surrounded by woman’s jewelry which smell like her.
Woman dies.
Couples stuff is sold off in an estate sale where a random dude buys a bag of jewelry.
Random dude sees watch in bag, looks up value and lists it on eBay.
Purchaser receives watch and notices perfume smell.

This makes a lot of sense. A bit of memento mori always goes with any watch or clock, this just more so.

@wwwEvgeny i know right? Pocket watches from Egypt are like high octane gasoline fused with smelling salts and an electrical fire. I’m pretty sure that last Nomolas I serviced sent me on a vision quest.

I also have an Omega 960 movement that I bought from Athens but was originally from somewhere in Italy. It is soaked in the absolute BEST cologne I’ve ever smelled. I refuse to clean and service the movement and I’m keeping it sealed in a bronze Fiddy case until I can find a perfume guru to tell me what the cologne is. I wish there was an internet search engine for smells, but maybe we’re all better off there isn’t.

[straps68]

If every old watch you smell in your hand has the same scent, maybe it ain't the watch LOL. This is a wonderful hobby

[Hypnogagia]

If every old watch you smell in your hand has the same scent, maybe it ain't the watch LOL. This is a wonderful hobby

Oh no, you’re saying maybe it’s like that goofy face looking reflection in the pictures of all of my watch crystals? NOOOOOOOOO!

[straps68]

If every old watch you smell in your hand has the same scent, maybe it ain't the watch LOL. This is a wonderful hobby

Oh no, you’re saying maybe it’s like that goofy face looking reflection in the pictures of all of my watch crystals? NOOOOOOOOO!

Honestly, I never saw your face . Just screwing around, trying to be funny