Two old pocket watches - worth repairing ?
Discussion
Hi All,
I've two pocket watches which I believe to be 'run of the mill' pieces; I've been given them by my father . . . who was given them by his grandfather, so I believe that they are at least 100 years old.
I'm not sure what to do with them, neither works, but both ran for a few minutes when I opened them up to take some pics. Can anyone give me an idea, of what it might cost to get them cleaned/fixed ?
The first watch is a Swiss Made 'LIMIT' watch - not a brand I've heard of previously. It doesn't appear to be silver
The second watch is JG Graves and to my untrained eye, looks to be of rather better quality.
On this pic, what is the 'nodule' button on the edge of the rim at 7 o'clock ?
The movement is in very clean condition . . . but doesn't run for more than a minute.
I don't suppose that I'm the first, or will be the last, who is unsure what to do with such pieces.
Perhaps if I get one of them cleaned, I could wear it to a 'period' party . . . not that I ever get invited to such events.
So if these were you, would you get them fixed and use them ? Or, something else ?
I've two pocket watches which I believe to be 'run of the mill' pieces; I've been given them by my father . . . who was given them by his grandfather, so I believe that they are at least 100 years old.
I'm not sure what to do with them, neither works, but both ran for a few minutes when I opened them up to take some pics. Can anyone give me an idea, of what it might cost to get them cleaned/fixed ?
The first watch is a Swiss Made 'LIMIT' watch - not a brand I've heard of previously. It doesn't appear to be silver
The second watch is JG Graves and to my untrained eye, looks to be of rather better quality.
On this pic, what is the 'nodule' button on the edge of the rim at 7 o'clock ?
The movement is in very clean condition . . . but doesn't run for more than a minute.
I don't suppose that I'm the first, or will be the last, who is unsure what to do with such pieces.
Perhaps if I get one of them cleaned, I could wear it to a 'period' party . . . not that I ever get invited to such events.
So if these were you, would you get them fixed and use them ? Or, something else ?
My Dad has a few of these, last I knew they were still working, think he bought at auction about 30 yrs ago. If they were pieces handed down through the family I'd get them cleaned and keep them in the family. Limited use admittedly and also limited value, seems plenty on ebay (I know nothing about either make), so more about family than anything else.
I'm probably going to end up with two Pianola's - which are going to be much more difficult to shift.
I'm probably going to end up with two Pianola's - which are going to be much more difficult to shift.
Depending on the movement size, possibly could be worth looking at a 'marriage watch's conversion. Turn it into a (large) wrist watch... if the white dial is a porcelain face, can look vet striking when popped under some new crystal and in a nicely made case. Think I was lucky to drop on it but have a 30's Vulcain done by a Polish chap, which is very nicely done indeed and great to wear for a social event.
If a clean is all that's needed then somewhere between £100 and £150 would be my guess.
For servicing there a two PHer's currently taking watches. Joe at Anglesea Watch Company (Variomatic, but he hasn't posted for ages) and RiggaTheMighty.
Since you don't put your location in your signature, it's impossible for anyone to know if it's worth recommending their own local watchmaker to you.
The button at 1 o'clock is for setting the time. The movement is a "pin set". You're right in thinking that the graves is rather nice.
Very occasionally I wear a pocket watch with jeans. After all many jeans still have a pocket specifically for a pocket watch. I converted a silver albert chain to hook around a belt. All it needs is a keyring on the very end, through which you pass the bar.
For servicing there a two PHer's currently taking watches. Joe at Anglesea Watch Company (Variomatic, but he hasn't posted for ages) and RiggaTheMighty.
Since you don't put your location in your signature, it's impossible for anyone to know if it's worth recommending their own local watchmaker to you.
The button at 1 o'clock is for setting the time. The movement is a "pin set". You're right in thinking that the graves is rather nice.
Very occasionally I wear a pocket watch with jeans. After all many jeans still have a pocket specifically for a pocket watch. I converted a silver albert chain to hook around a belt. All it needs is a keyring on the very end, through which you pass the bar.
They are both very nice looking watches. I am quite a fan of a pocket watch. I wear one every time I have my suit on, which is twice a week. 
The first one is the lesser of the two, but still a valuable item. As it is, it’s likely worth around £150.
Cleaned up and on a nice Albert, it would look lovely.
The second is very nice, I have a couple of graves watches.
Some of them are great and some of them are not, but yours looks pretty good.
The non-fusee later models were much better and easier to maintain. Which is why they generally last the test of time.
It has a more modern style movement than the fuse ones, which were more intricately detailed.
At a rough guess, that one could achieve £300-350.
That being said, a watch is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I’d be more than happy to take a look at them if you wanted further info on them or would like them to get some tlc.
The first one is the lesser of the two, but still a valuable item. As it is, it’s likely worth around £150.
Cleaned up and on a nice Albert, it would look lovely.
The second is very nice, I have a couple of graves watches.
Some of them are great and some of them are not, but yours looks pretty good.
The non-fusee later models were much better and easier to maintain. Which is why they generally last the test of time.
It has a more modern style movement than the fuse ones, which were more intricately detailed.
At a rough guess, that one could achieve £300-350.
That being said, a watch is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I’d be more than happy to take a look at them if you wanted further info on them or would like them to get some tlc.
RiggaTheMighty said:
They are both very nice looking watches. I am quite a fan of a pocket watch. I wear one every time I have my suit on, which is twice a week.
The first one is the lesser of the two, but still a valuable item. As it is, it’s likely worth around £150.
Cleaned up and on a nice Albert, it would look lovely.
The second is very nice, I have a couple of graves watches.
Some of them are great and some of them are not, but yours looks pretty good.
The non-fusee later models were much better and easier to maintain. Which is why they generally last the test of time.
It has a more modern style movement than the fuse ones, which were more intricately detailed.
At a rough guess, that one could achieve £300-350.
That being said, a watch is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I’d be more than happy to take a look at them if you wanted further info on them or would like them to get some tlc.
PM'dThe first one is the lesser of the two, but still a valuable item. As it is, it’s likely worth around £150.
Cleaned up and on a nice Albert, it would look lovely.
The second is very nice, I have a couple of graves watches.
Some of them are great and some of them are not, but yours looks pretty good.
The non-fusee later models were much better and easier to maintain. Which is why they generally last the test of time.
It has a more modern style movement than the fuse ones, which were more intricately detailed.
At a rough guess, that one could achieve £300-350.
That being said, a watch is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I’d be more than happy to take a look at them if you wanted further info on them or would like them to get some tlc.
Hi All,
I started this thread just over a month ago.
I'd like to thank all those who provided replies and especially, I'd like to express my gratitude to forum member @RiggaTheMighty - he agreed to look at my JG Graves watch and has done a brilliant job on it.
I found RTM to be very helpful indeed (like most on this forum) and I (unreservedly) recommend him to fix your timepieces.
Before it was even given to me, this was a watch that had languished in a drawer for at least 50 years - untouched and not in working order. I was given it, and and it has subsequently lain out of sight for many more years - until recently, when I decided to face up to the fact, that I ought to do something with it - such as get it fixed.
I was given the watch by my father; he is in his 90's, and I doubt that he has ever seen the watch working . . . or looking in such great condition; he'll be really delighted to see it. When I finally expire (hopefully, some years hence), I'll have something that I'll be able to leave to my son - a watch that actually works.
I don't suppose that I'm alone, in keeping (hoarding) watches that aren't working - if this sounds like you, send your watch off to RTM.
I'm very pleased indeed, for what RTM has done; the outcome is, I now have a watch that I'm proud to own and in fine working order.
What a great forum this is !
I started this thread just over a month ago.
I'd like to thank all those who provided replies and especially, I'd like to express my gratitude to forum member @RiggaTheMighty - he agreed to look at my JG Graves watch and has done a brilliant job on it.
I found RTM to be very helpful indeed (like most on this forum) and I (unreservedly) recommend him to fix your timepieces.
Before it was even given to me, this was a watch that had languished in a drawer for at least 50 years - untouched and not in working order. I was given it, and and it has subsequently lain out of sight for many more years - until recently, when I decided to face up to the fact, that I ought to do something with it - such as get it fixed.
I was given the watch by my father; he is in his 90's, and I doubt that he has ever seen the watch working . . . or looking in such great condition; he'll be really delighted to see it. When I finally expire (hopefully, some years hence), I'll have something that I'll be able to leave to my son - a watch that actually works.
I don't suppose that I'm alone, in keeping (hoarding) watches that aren't working - if this sounds like you, send your watch off to RTM.
I'm very pleased indeed, for what RTM has done; the outcome is, I now have a watch that I'm proud to own and in fine working order.
What a great forum this is !
NDA said:
Fantastic.... thanks for the update. Always good to see something finished.
Indeed !The story of my life, is a wide variety part-finished projects - be they written work to be completed, jobs to be done around the house and garden etc., etc..
If RTM hadn't offered to evaluate the watch, it would have been stuffed back in a drawer for many more years.
Note to self - 'finish what you start !'.
Just seen this, my "pocket" watch is a Jays 8-day Goliath. It's got a 2 1/2 inches dial and keeps excellent time (well, there's about a minute and a half's slop in the movement but who cares). Belonged to my gt uncle who took in my father and his brothers in WW2 after they got bombed out and his brother, my grandfather was killed. Have family pics of me in his arms in the early 1960s. My gran (who survived the bombs despite being blown up) kept it in her kitchen and I've followed suit.
Worthless and priceless in equal measure
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|https://thumbsnap.com/lRVBTBtz[/url
Worthless and priceless in equal measure
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|https://thumbsnap.com/lRVBTBtz[/urlEdited by checkmate91 on Sunday 22 September 17:51
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