Pocketwatch repair - worth it?

[midjd]

During the course of helping clean out my grandfather's house, I ended up with an old Waltham/Bartlett pocketwatch. It is essentially this one, but in much worse shape. 

I took it to the jeweler's down the street to get a quote on repair. Yesterday a clerk called and (I thought) said it would be $100. I thought, hell yeah! Today I stopped in and discovered that my hearing must be going, because she had actually said it would be $700. 

Paying that much to fix a pocketwatch that might be worth half that on a good day seems like a bad investment, especially as it doesn't have much sentimental value (my mom has no clue where my grandpa got it and I don't ever remember seeing it before). But I am still torn... it seems sad to let a beautiful watch just rust away. What would you do?

- Get another quote or two from an actual watch repair place (I'm assuming the jeweler's markup was pretty high) 
- Fix it anyway (probably not going to get any less valuable, right?) 
- Sell it as is 
- Keep it in its current (non-functioning) condition 
- ? ? ? ? 

[kittensaver]

I would find out what its value would be "fixed."

Then since it has no sentimental value, I'd decide whether it was worth fixing so it could be sold at a higher price. If not, it could be sold as-is.

Unless it has tremendous market value (making it "worth" fixing for sale at a profit), do you really want to be spending your time (pun intended ) and money on a watch that will sit in a drawer? Yes, I get doing that if it is a family heirloom you want to pass down. Otherwise - why?

[cael]

I probably wouldn't pay $700 to fix it, but I love antiques like that and my husband is obsessed with pocket watches, so we'd probably just keep it for sentimental/coolness value!

[imawino]

Jan 28, 2016 14:09:32 GMT -5 midjd said:

During the course of helping clean out my grandfather's house, I ended up with an old Waltham/Bartlett pocketwatch. It is essentially this one, but in much worse shape. 

I took it to the jeweler's down the street to get a quote on repair. Yesterday a clerk called and (I thought) said it would be $100. I thought, hell yeah! Today I stopped in and discovered that my hearing must be going, because she had actually said it would be $700. 

Paying that much to fix a pocketwatch that might be worth half that on a good day seems like a bad investment, especially as it doesn't have much sentimental value (my mom has no clue where my grandpa got it and I don't ever remember seeing it before). But I am still torn... it seems sad to let a beautiful watch just rust away. What would you do?

- Get another quote or two from an actual watch repair place (I'm assuming the jeweler's markup was pretty high) 
- Fix it anyway (probably not going to get any less valuable, right?) 
- Sell it as is 
- Keep it in its current (non-functioning) condition 
- ? ? ? ? 

That seems a pretty outrageous amount!   I paid a significant sum of money to get some older jewelry repaired, but it had both monetary and sentimental value.  I'm not sure that I would pay that much for something that didn't.  Hang onto it for a bit.  Carry it in a coat pocket like a little talisman.  See if you grow to like having it around, before you make a decision on spending that.   Depending on how you grow to feel about it you could decide to either have it fixed or just put a chain on it and carry it as is.  You're probably just going to look at your phone to check the time anyway. 

Oh - and I would get a quote from the watch repair place as well. 

[alabamagal]

Is there such thing as a watch repair place?  Back in the old days I would take my watches to the jeweler anyway.

I would keep in in non-functioning if you want it for sentimental value, otherwise donate it

[Green Eyed Lady]

I paid a lot of money to have a ring fixed that my grandmother left me. At one time, it had a pretty good value but somehow she cracked the stone making it worth a lot less. It was worth it to me because it's the only ring I remember her wearing constantly. She also left me a dinner ring that she never wore, but was worth a lot of money.  If it needed fixing and it was costly, I wouldn't have it done because it just doesn't have that sentimental value.  If the watch really doesn't mean anything to you, I'd just keep it for the next generation and let them decide.

[Deleted]

Tough choice. I have two non-working watches that both have gold cases- one is 18K, one is 14K. I wore them for years but now wear my trusty used Rolex daily. I checked back when gold prices were better what the "We Buy Gold" places would pay me and it was pitiful. You'd probably get an even worse estimate now.

Have you done an research on e-Bay?

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 28, 2016 14:56:04 GMT -5 imawino said:

Jan 28, 2016 14:09:32 GMT -5 midjd said:

During the course of helping clean out my grandfather's house, I ended up with an old Waltham/Bartlett pocketwatch. It is essentially this one, but in much worse shape. 

I took it to the jeweler's down the street to get a quote on repair. Yesterday a clerk called and (I thought) said it would be $100. I thought, hell yeah! Today I stopped in and discovered that my hearing must be going, because she had actually said it would be $700. 

Paying that much to fix a pocketwatch that might be worth half that on a good day seems like a bad investment, especially as it doesn't have much sentimental value (my mom has no clue where my grandpa got it and I don't ever remember seeing it before). But I am still torn... it seems sad to let a beautiful watch just rust away. What would you do?

- Get another quote or two from an actual watch repair place (I'm assuming the jeweler's markup was pretty high) 
- Fix it anyway (probably not going to get any less valuable, right?) 
- Sell it as is 
- Keep it in its current (non-functioning) condition 
- ? ? ? ? 

That seems a pretty outrageous amount!   I paid a significant sum of money to get some older jewelry repaired, but it had both monetary and sentimental value.  I'm not sure that I would pay that much for something that didn't.  Hang onto it for a bit.  Carry it in a coat pocket like a little talisman.  See if you grow to like having it around, before you make a decision on spending that.   Depending on how you grow to feel about it you could decide to either have it fixed or just put a chain on it and carry it as is.  You're probably just going to look at your phone to check the time anyway. 

Oh - and I would get a quote from the watch repair place as well. 

I would also recommend purchasing a monocle.

[midjd]

Is there such thing as a watch repair place? Back in the old days I would take my watches to the jeweler anyway.

I think there are a few around here -- I can't imagine there'd be too much demand for them these days, but apparently the jeweler sent the watch to someone on the other side of town for an estimate. I wondered if it would be cheaper just to go to that place directly and cut out the middle-man. 

The clerk at the jewelry store also mentioned that it is often hard to find parts for watches that old... so if I keep the watch for 30 years and DD decides she wants it repaired, it might be too late. (Of course, she was also trying to get me to pay $700 for repairs, so I'm not sure how true that is.) 

I will probably get another quote and then hang onto it until the estate is settled. If I end up getting more than expected (and I'm not expecting much more than the repair quote), I may spring for it (is that a watch pun? LOL). 

ETA -- and yes, I will definitely get a monocle too. Maybe even a cane and top hat.  

[MarleyKeezy78]

If it's not worth fixing, you could always make it a ornament for your Christmas tree or put it in a shadow box.

[debthaven]

We have a friend who was a trader in the City who couldn't take it anymore and retrained to be a watch repairman. He is VERY happy.

Mid it may not be "worth it" in the financial sense, but if it's important to you, and something you'd like to keep in the family, and you could afford it, I think it could be worth doing anyway.

[gregintenn]

$700 is crazy. What, exactly, did they say was wrong with the watch?

[sesfw]

I would take it to the watch repair guy directly. Talk to him about the watch and ask if he has the parts to repair it with and what it's monetary value is.

I received an old ladies watch that was rusted out and beyond repair.  The band was leather with turquoise and choral on it.  I took the band ornaments off and gave the watch to the jeweler so he could salvage some of the workings.

My late DH's Wittneaur (sp) watch is more that 50 years old and I need to get it in for repair.  I gave it to him Christmas 1964.  Safely tucked away in my heart and in the cedar chest.

[midjd]

Jan 28, 2016 18:21:38 GMT -5 gregintenn said:

$700 is crazy. What, exactly, did they say was wrong with the watch?

I know it needs a new crystal and hands (they were rusted and one broke off when DH was tinkering with it). The inside looked to be in OK condition, but they quoted a mainspring (?) replacement and cleaning, plus rust removal and refinishing the outside. I think that was it. 

The Christmas ornament is a great idea! 

[gregintenn]

I'd shop around. $100 sounded pricey to me.

[Deleted]

DH wants to know how many jewels the watch has? Not that I have a clue what that means. He has a couple of pocket watches so will spend what it takes to fix them. Well, he did when he was working. Now, ain't happening.

I did find a site on Google about Waltham/Bartlett watches. I work in Waltham so it's kind of personal to me. 

www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/waltham.html

[gregintenn]

I've a Waltham pocket watch in good, working condition, with a 14k white gold case I'd sell for less than $700. No way I'd give that to have one repaired.

[midjd]

Thanks for the link, Empress! I have no idea on the jewels, I will try to get a pic uploaded when I get it back. DH looked up the serial number and apparently it was manufactured between January - April 1884.

I have never had any interest in watches but it is really pretty cool. I was excited at the thought of getting it into good condition... probably not $700 worth of excited, though.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2016 22:32:20 GMT -5 midjd said:

Thanks for the link, Empress! I have no idea on the jewels, I will try to get a pic uploaded when I get it back. DH looked up the serial number and apparently it was manufactured between January - April 1884.

I have never had any interest in watches but it is really pretty cool. I was excited at the thought of getting it into good condition... probably not $700 worth of excited, though.

Believe me, I hear you on the lack of interest. DH does love his pocket watches though so he is interested in it. He probably would spend $700 for repairs but out here(NE), it means a little more than it would in Tennessee or the PNW. Well, that and he needs a hobby.

[gregintenn]

I'd put it up as a reminder of grandpa, and buy a working pocket watch if I wanted one. You could probably buy a similar watch and swap out parts yourself and have this one working fairly economically.

[Deleted]

I just realized finding the number of jewels on a Waltham watch looks impossible. DH and I just looked at 3 of his pocket watches and the Waltham is the only one we could not find a jewel number on. The other 2 had them loud and proud. Ugh. I am now more blind than ever. I forgot how damn tiny the numbers are on these things. If you ever buy that monocle, please send it here because I think I need it now.

[lund]

Are there any owner initials or dates engraved anywhere?

Over here (chiefly Lutheran country), they were a popular confirmation gift among those who could afford it, and they were often engraved.