The Prices
Pricing on restoration work, cleaning, and watch and case parts as of April 1st, 2025.
Any part that requires custom milling, like a balance staff or a jewel blank, will be billed the hourly rate in addition to the part. All parts prices are based on availability and include installation.
Watch Services
Payment
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.
Estimates
Visual Only
Based on your photos without shipping the watch here. It's not possible to fully diagnose any watch using this method and is only a rough starting price.
Evaluation w/ Photos
Removing the balance cock and/or the dial and writing to you with a short list of the obvious problems that were found, along with a few close-up photos.
Deposits
A deposit may be required if your watch is worth less than what the invoice is likely to be, based on its condition, grade, and rarity. If your watch is found to be too damaged or if the anticipated cost exceeds your budget, then the deposit will cover our evaluation and the watch is returned.
Check or PayPal
The cost of an evaluation plus return shipping.
Pocket Watch Cleaning (COA)
All undamaged and unaltered American and high-grade Swiss pocket watches that need nothing beyond an oil change and basic maintenance, which are fairly rare. Hunters add $40. All wind-indicators and center-sweep chronographs add $150. Please don't ask about quantity discounts.
7 to 17 Jewels
Fully disassembled cleaning with timing and positional accuracy.
18 to 22 Jewels
Fully disassembled cleaning with timing and positional accuracy.
23 Jewels and Above
Fully disassembled cleaning with timing and positional accuracy.
Pocket Watch Restoration
Starting prices, plus whatever presents itself in order to to return your watch to factory specs. Hunters add $40. Please don't ask about quantity discounts.
Pocket Watches
Includes full COA (adjusted for jewel count), plus individual prices on any necessary parts or services to return the watch to factory specs.
Wind-Indicators
Includes full COA (adjusted for jewel count), plus individual prices on any necessary parts or services to return the watch to factory specs.
Chronographs
Includes full COA (adjusted for jewel count), plus individual prices on any necessary parts or services to return the watch to factory specs.
Display Only
Intended for family heirlooms that are too badly damaged to return to running condition but for those who still wish to show them off on the mantel. Hunters add $30.
7 to 17 Jewels
Complete disassembly, cleaning and dry reassembly, plus any individual cosmetic work necessary to spruce your watch up again.
18 Jewels and Above
Complete disassembly, cleaning and dry reassembly, plus any individual cosmetic work necessary to spruce your watch up again.
Verge Fusees
Starting prices, plus whatever presents itself. Please don't ask about quantity discounts.
Restoration
Includes full COA, regardless of jewel count, plus individual prices on any necessary parts or services to return the watch to factory specs.
Chain Replacement
When available, regardless of length.
Chain Repair
Single link, including pin fabrication.
Cosmetic Work*
Starting prices only.
Dial Refurbishing
White porcelain dials only.
Enamel Replacement
Black or red enamel only.
Hand Coloring
Colors of plum or cobalt blue.
Hardware Bluing
Screws, cap jewels, hardware, regulators, etc.
Watch Components
Balance Staffs
Prices only apply to NOS parts when available. Custom milling starts at $90 per hour. Restored watches that have been dropped, breaking the balance staff, will be charged $140 for reassembly.
Single Roller
Price based on availability and pivot size.
Double Roller
Price based on availability and pivot size.
Replacement Jewels
Prices only apply to NOS parts when available. Custom milling starts at $90 per hour.
Hole Jewels
Same price for balance or plate jewels.
Cap Jewels
Gold settings and diamond caps extra.
Jewel Resetting
Replacing the blown jewel in the existing setting.
Roller Jewels
All profiles, lengths, and types of stones.
Resetting
Re-mounting the roller jewel with fresh shellac.
Pallet Stones
All profiles, lengths, and types of stones.
Resetting
Re-mounting the pallet stone(s) with fresh shellac.
Timing Parts
Prices based on availability.
Timing Washers
Washers used for poise are no charge.
Balance Weights
Gold weights used when appropriate.
Mean-time Screws
Gold screws used when appropriate.
Mainsprings
Prices based on availability.
New-Old Stock
Same price for brace, hook, or T-end.
New Alloy
Same price for brace, hook, or T-end.
Hairsprings
Prices based on availability. Vibrating (timing) is extra.
Flat
Breguet
Hairspring Re-Colleting
When available. Does not include collet fabrication.
Flat or Breguet
Replacement Hands
Starting prices based on availability and style. The old hands are not returned unless broken.
Hour or Minute Hands
Colors of cobalt blue, plum or black.
Seconds Hands
Colors of cobalt blue, plum or black.
Full Set of Hands
Hour, minute and second in factory styles.
Fancy Hands
Gilt hands, known as Louis XIV.
Sweep Hands
Colors of white, black or red.
Indicator Hands
Rockford, Elgin or Waltham parts only.
Installation
Broaching / fitting a full set of hands purchased from another source.
Replacement Hardware
Prices based on availability, style and material.
American and Swiss
Screws, springs, canon pinions, regulators, banking pins, yokes, shuttles, dust bands, setting mechanism parts, etc.
Watch Case Work
Display Conversion*
Milling the rear cover into a bezel. Includes crystal installation.
16 and 18-size Only
Only cases with thread-on back covers and certain swing-ring-style cases that are damaged, worn, or have crudely-done inscriptions.
Case Polishing*
Nickel and nickel-silver cases only. Gold should not be buffed.
All Open-Face and Hunter Sizes
Muslin wheel buffing, followed by hand-polishing. Don't expect miracles if your case is excessively worn, scratched or dented.
Pendant Components*
Prices based on availability, style and material.
Bows
Price is for nickel. Add $10 for gold.
Crowns
Price is for nickel. Add $10 for gold.
Stems
Milling, threading or reduction may be necessary at $65/hr.
Sleeves
Milling, threading or reduction may be necessary at $65/hr.
Replacement Crystals*
Prices are for both new and NOS, based on availability.
Resetting
Any size, any thickness.
Open Face
Standard beveled and convex, with thicknesses from 1.2 to 1.8 mm.
Open Face
Thicker beveled and convex crystals from 2.0 to 4.0 mm.
Hunter
Standard heights of H1 through 8.
Flat, Bullseye or Vanishing-Edge
When available.
Re-Plating
Cases only
Gold or Silver
We do not offer plating of any kind because it doesn't eradicate dents, scratches or a century of use - the result will be a worn-out case that is now oddly shiny.
*Display conversion, cosmetic work, case work, and crystal replacement are all performed during service, and are not offered separately.
Restoration Highlights
One of Illinois's rarest watches was the 23-jewel Washington Lafayette. Only 190 were ever made.