Merry Christmas!
The FAQs
Some of the most frequently asked questions.
Of course not - one watch had a hole drilled completely through it, including the dial.
Most problems are usually fixable when attributed to the honest wear and tear of a century of service and the occasional drop, which can result in a broken crystal, balance staff and a jewel or two. We are not interested in spending days reversing watches that have been deliberately ruined by the local handyman, including Superglue fixes, half of the jewels broken, multiple stripped screws, balance weights that have been ground off, all of the hands wrong, etcetera.
We primarily accept heirloom American railroad-era pocket watches that have been in the family for generations and not been abused or tinkered with. We do not accept anachronistic messes or assembled-from-spare-parts Frankenwatches purchased from eBay flippers.
We also work on verge fusees, which are centuries old and were not built to run forever. Most are in very poor shape, so we try to concentrate our efforts on exceptional examples.
We do not. Anybody can replace a single part like a crystal, hand or mainspring, but we don't do that. Antique watches are machines in which every component must function correctly for it to run properly, and we can't replace just one part without checking all of the others.
Most costs are listed on the Prices page, but complete restorations usually range between $300 and $700 and we generally refuse pieces that will exceed this. If there is clearly more damage than your watch is worth we will ask you whether or not you wish to continue.
That being said, there are no shortcuts in the movement itself. Some work is cosmetic, like re-bluing the hands or a new glass crystal, but every component in the movement needs to be put back to factory spec for the watch to be accurate, and there is no stopping halfway.
Yes, we can give a you a rough starting price based on any photos that you send us via email. Photographs obviously can't tell the whole story, so please don't ask for exact repair costs.
Once you ship your watch to us and the dial and the balance cock are removed for a closer look, you'll be charged a $55 evaluation fee that includes photos of the larger problems. If you decide to have the repairs completed then that fee is put toward the invoice total.
If you change your mind before the watch even gets on the bench you will be charged $15 for return shipping, regardless if anything was done.
We accept PayPal, personal and cashier's checks, money orders, and US cash only, and credit cards can be used through PayPal. Checks are always preferred since we're tired of PayPal taking a cut for every transaction, so PayPal users will be charged 4% extra.
Usually three or four weeks, unless we're seriously backed up on the bench.
Simply write to us via the Contact page and make sure to send clear photos of the dial, a front and back view of the case, and the movement. When we get back to you we'll have a conversation regarding any visible issues, possible costs, and backlog delay.
Of course. See the Warranty section.
We do not accept farm work (third-party watches sent from jewelers) for several reasons:
First, the customer should know who's working on their watch and can deal with us directly. Secondly, the jeweler will usually mark up our invoice for doing nothing and we'll have to chase them for payment. Lastly, if there is a problem the jeweler can throw us under the bus.
Absolutely nothing, since such things are confidential. See the Privacy Policy for more.
We do not. We specialize in American pocket watches from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. We also do not work on music boxes, sewing machines, electric clocks, antique firearms, quartz watches, marine components, or anything battery powered.
We can if it's small enough to ship, such as a carriage or travel clock. The skill set is much the same for clocks but requires larger tooling, bigger ultrasonic tanks, and specific clamps to hold the movement, so we usually recommend someone who specializes in clocks.
The Disclaimers
1. There aren't enough hours in the day to restore every single watch, so our energies are focused on original, rare or exceptional pieces, so please ask first. We reserve the right to refuse any watch that will likely turn into a money pit or one that will be a disappointment for both parties. We may also refuse any customer who is overly rude, known to be a slow payer, or makes unreasonable or destructive demands, such as skeletonizing movements.
2. We only accept intact and cased movements. Bottom-feeding on eBay is the worst form of bargain hunting and nothing good will come of it except an expensive Frankenwatch, so we do not assemble watches by combining components from several movements. We also do not make or supply parts so they can be sent to the hobbyist that currently has your watch.
3. When the work is completed an invoice will be sent along with photos, and prompt payment is appreciated using Paypal, cash in USD, or personal or cashier's check. A reminder will be sent after 10 days and another after 20 days. If payment is not received after 30 days the piece will be considered abandoned and may be sold to recoup costs.
4. All returning watches will be shipped using cardboard boxes sized to fit most mailboxes, using plenty of padding, and double-boxed when appropriate. They will be shipped First Class with tracking via the US Postal Service, and any and all insurance in either direction is the customer's decision. Once your watch is in their hands it's out of ours, and should it arrived damaged or become lost in transit it is entirely your responsibility to pursue restitution from the USPS.
5. We believe in the preservation of our history and keeping American heirlooms here at home in America.
6. We are strongly against those parasites who part out complete watches or melt gold cases for profit, so we will refuse service to any customer openly engaging in or knowingly giving patronage to anybody doing either of those appalling things.
7. The photographs posted here on the site are protected by intellectual property rights, and may not be uploaded, copied, or used elsewhere without permission. Any pictures of finished pieces sent as a courtesy have our watermark on them to discourage piracy. Learn how to take your own photos before stealing someone else's.
Privacy Policy
All customer information - name, mailing and email addresses, phone numbers, payment methods, and collecting preferences - is held in the strictest confidence.
Nothing will get shared with anyone else without your prior written or verbal consent.
Implied Warranties
Guarantees of a precise length are a little silly when it comes to antique watches, given how delicate they are and the fact that we cannot control their safety during shipping or after the customer receives it, but if your watch fails within a reasonable amount of time in the very rare event that we missed something we will of course make it right.
This implied warranty is void if:
- You drop your watch onto anything harder than a pillow.
- You stick anything into the gear train, like a toothpick or screwdriver.
- You attempt to reseat, bend, or realign any of the hands.
- You open the back and spray the movement with oil or WD-40.
- You let your grandkids or your dog play with it.
- You shake it violently for any reason.
- You magnetize it while attempting to de-magnetize it.
- You remove it from the case just to see the gears in action.
Yes, all these things have happened shortly after the customer received the watch back, causing further damage and requiring a return trip for more work and a second invoice.
Restoration Highlights
One of the rarest of all Waltham dials - the coveted red guilloche with fancy hands, fronting a Model '88.