Johnny,
Your father's watch is one of the 218 family of watches. A look inside will till which one of approximately ten versions made. If I had to guess which one would have been in a watch made in 1972, I would go with 2181F. The "F" suffix movements had an electrical hack feature. It would have been Swiss made. Originally, that movement took a mercury battery (343) that is no longer available and has been replaced by a silver oxide battery number 344.
Although I can't read the markings on the case back in your photo, it looks to be one with a 14K (solid) gold case. That alone makes it quite valuable and highly collectable. Many have been melted down for their gold content and for that reason, I have seen that dial (2 luminous dots at the 12 o'clock) offered for sale on complete movements but without a case. I don't have the model but a case number from the inside of the case back may give a clue.
As for servicing your watch, that would depend on your location but I think that most of us here will agree that it should be serviced first rather than just sticking a battery in and taking your chances.
Your father's watch is one of the 218 family of watches. A look inside will till which one of approximately ten versions made. If I had to guess which one would have been in a watch made in 1972, I would go with 2181F. The "F" suffix movements had an electrical hack feature. It would have been Swiss made. Originally, that movement took a mercury battery (343) that is no longer available and has been replaced by a silver oxide battery number 344.
Although I can't read the markings on the case back in your photo, it looks to be one with a 14K (solid) gold case. That alone makes it quite valuable and highly collectable. Many have been melted down for their gold content and for that reason, I have seen that dial (2 luminous dots at the 12 o'clock) offered for sale on complete movements but without a case. I don't have the model but a case number from the inside of the case back may give a clue.
As for servicing your watch, that would depend on your location but I think that most of us here will agree that it should be serviced first rather than just sticking a battery in and taking your chances.
