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American Timekeeper
Home
Services
  • Verge Fusees
  • Pocket Watches
  • Regular Cleanings
  • Specialized Services
Shop
  • The Store
  • Sold Archives
  • The Accessories
  • Consigned Watches
Learning
  • Basics
  • Dials
  • Jewels
  • Pitfalls
  • Histories
  • Advanced
About
  • FAQs
  • About
  • Subscribe
Contact
More
  • Home
  • Services
    • Verge Fusees
    • Pocket Watches
    • Regular Cleanings
    • Specialized Services
  • Shop
    • The Store
    • Sold Archives
    • The Accessories
    • Consigned Watches
  • Learning
    • Basics
    • Dials
    • Jewels
    • Pitfalls
    • Histories
    • Advanced
  • About
    • FAQs
    • About
    • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Services
  • Shop
  • Learning
  • About
  • Contact

Regular Cleanings

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Routine Maintenance

These wonderful mechanical antiques need periodic cleaning and maintenance, and we've cleaned hundreds - the right way, the only way - so trust us with your treasured family heirlooms for expert servicing that will take just a few days.

Read The Reviews

COA - Clean, Oil and Adjust

Before and after sludge on watch jewels

Regular Maintenance

If you carry your watches, then routine servicing is important. Organic and synthetic oils both start getting gummy after only a few years, requiring periodic maintenance. Running your watch beyond the service life of the lubricants will begin grinding up the pivots. You wouldn't go years without changing the oil in your car's engine, so why do it to your great-grandfather's watch?


COAs starting at $95.  Visit the Price Page for more info.

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Complete Disassembly

  The only way to do a proper COA is to completely disassemble the watch so it can be cleaned in solution using an ultrasonic. Inspection of all parts comes before reassembly with synthetic oils, followed by checks on the balance wheel, mainspring and gear train, and finally, accuracy testing on the digital master.

There is a vast difference between a dunking and a full cleaning.

Hidden damage on a pocket watch

Hidden Problems

COAs are not just about changing the oils. It also means examining every component for correct fit and hidden issues:

  • Nascent rust, stripped screws or missing hardware
  • Loose jewels or loose curb, guide and banking pins 
  • Reamed out bushings and bent or scarred pivots
  • Rub marks, binding or bent teeth in the gear train
  • Intentional damage or workaround "fixes"

Accuracy And Timing

Find out how your watch should perform after years of service.

What To Expect

Case Work

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Display Conversion

If your watch has a dazzling pattern, we can mill the back cover into a bezel, turning your vintage timepiece into an instant showpiece. Only certain types of cases make good candidates, so be sure to contact us first. We only cut into cases that are worn or damaged.


Display conversions starting at $75

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Case Polishing

Nickel or silver watch cases can be polished up like new, unless there is ornate engraving. Gold cases shouldn't be buffed at all.


Case polishing starting at $25

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Bows and Crowns

 Crowns and bows wore out the quickest and are now getting very difficult to find, especially gold and gold-filled.


Starting at $30 if available

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Pendant Parts

The stem and sleeve often go ignored for years and will be cleaned and adjusted or replaced if necessary.


Pendant parts starting at $45

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Crystal Replacement

New and NOS glass crystals are available in open face and hunter in all styles and thicknesses.


Crystals starting at $35

Dial and Cosmetic Work

All dial and cosmetic work is done during the servicing of the watch and none are offered as separate services.

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Dial Refurbishing

Watch dials are fragile things made from porcelain, and like a mirror, once it's cracked it cannot be reversed. We offer basic repairs, although the dial has to be reasonably intact for us to have any kind of success. White porcelain dials only, please.


Dial refurbishing starting at $25

Pocket watch enamel replacement

Enamel Replacement

Harsh chemicals can scrub the enamel inlay from the plate engravings, so we offer enamel replacement in both black and the brick red found on several Illinois models. It's a very tedious and time-consuming process, but definitely worth it.


New enamel starting at $25

Pocket watch hand bluing

Hand Coloring

Wartime material shortages meant using acrylic for crystals, which yellowed and caused the hands to rust. If the hands on your watch aren't too pitted they can be polished out and returned to the factory colors of either plum or cobalt blue.


Hand coloring starting at $15

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Hardware Bluing

Nothing sets off the plates of a movement like blued hardware, and  If your watch is missing a few blued screws we can give it back that factory look. Cap jewels, regulator arms, and even hairspring mounts can also be blued.


 Hardware bluing starting at $15

The Prices

Current pricing on most of the common replacement parts and the cost of repairs.


Parts Price List

How To Start

The first step is to write us.

Attach Files
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Don't forget the photographs.

Payment and Shipping

Forms of Payment

Shipping, Insurance and Packing

Shipping, Insurance and Packing

We accept Paypal, personal and cashier's checks, money orders, and US cash only. Credit cards can be used through Paypal.


To use Paypal for repair work, click the Pay Now button below.

Shipping, Insurance and Packing

Shipping, Insurance and Packing

Shipping, Insurance and Packing

 We use the US Postal Service, and any insurance is entirely your choice in either direction. Please make sure that anything you send is securely packed in a sturdy box with plenty of padding! The shipping/mailing address is on the Contact page.

Watch Repair Invoices

American Timekeeper

PO Box #1 - Darien Center, NY 14040

(585) 547-9989

All photographs protected by copyright.

© 2007 - 2021 American Timekeeper v3.2.5

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