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Why do we repair watches?
- Thread starter fuzz1
- Start date
roughbarked
Registered User
Sentimental value may be a part of it in that the watch may have less importance if it doesn't work?
Manufacturers would prefer that a new watch was purchased.
In the past, it was because your watch needed a service every now and then to keep it in accurate timekeeping condition.
These days a quartz watch is like a lightbulb, in that when it dies you put a new bulb in it. Also that you are not surprised when an electrical component dies.
Manufacturers would prefer that a new watch was purchased.
In the past, it was because your watch needed a service every now and then to keep it in accurate timekeeping condition.
These days a quartz watch is like a lightbulb, in that when it dies you put a new bulb in it. Also that you are not surprised when an electrical component dies.
Skutt50
Registered User
I repair watches because it is fun. Kind of like a hobby. It is a challange to see what can be done and the feeling of sucess when a delaputated movement starts to tick is worth a lot.
The fact that it also can bring in some cash adds to the equation.
The fact that it also can bring in some cash adds to the equation.
roughbarked
Registered User
The fact that it can also require quite a large amount of cash out, may be a deterrent?
gmorse
NAWCC Member
Hi fuzz1,
If any non-working watch you came across still had replacement movements available at economic prices, it would seem sensible to replace the whole movement rather than going to the trouble of repairing it. However, that's increasingly unlikely the further back in time you go; many watches made as recently as the 20th century aren't available any more and once you're in the 19th century or earlier, there's no alternative to repairing what you have. Watches are dynamic objects and were intended to be run and used, although the conservation imperatives of museums don't necessarily follow that principle for their collections.
Regards,
Graham
If any non-working watch you came across still had replacement movements available at economic prices, it would seem sensible to replace the whole movement rather than going to the trouble of repairing it. However, that's increasingly unlikely the further back in time you go; many watches made as recently as the 20th century aren't available any more and once you're in the 19th century or earlier, there's no alternative to repairing what you have. Watches are dynamic objects and were intended to be run and used, although the conservation imperatives of museums don't necessarily follow that principle for their collections.
Regards,
Graham
Mk2
Registered User
What a great question!
For me, it's 100% a hobby, for the pleasure of doing it. Finding old bits of junk on Ebay, always for under $10 and then get them running, looking and working (almost) like new again with as little expense as possible, like new crystals, balance staffs, replacement hands, replating, new lume etc. On average, I'd guess I spend about $20 fully restoring a $10 watch (not including a new strap). But the restoration cost is the same for an expensive thing too, when people ask me to fix theirs Omega or old Seiko.
Stick a new strap in place and give them away to friends and relatives. Everyone loves them! It's like having a working antique running (accurately now) on your wrist. Always a talking point, as old mech watches from 1930-80's look so different. People clearly notice when you wear a watch that is different to modern types, especially in a social or office environment.
For me, it's 100% a hobby, for the pleasure of doing it. Finding old bits of junk on Ebay, always for under $10 and then get them running, looking and working (almost) like new again with as little expense as possible, like new crystals, balance staffs, replacement hands, replating, new lume etc. On average, I'd guess I spend about $20 fully restoring a $10 watch (not including a new strap). But the restoration cost is the same for an expensive thing too, when people ask me to fix theirs Omega or old Seiko.
Stick a new strap in place and give them away to friends and relatives. Everyone loves them! It's like having a working antique running (accurately now) on your wrist. Always a talking point, as old mech watches from 1930-80's look so different. People clearly notice when you wear a watch that is different to modern types, especially in a social or office environment.
In fact i was asking a question i find puzzled me. I ended taking a swiss watch to the dealer. They quoted a price that at first i thought was high. Now i realized not that much. I ended spending much more fixing watches. Though i must say I didn't stop at one but repaired a few. Now want to fix a watch of my mum and one of my grandma.
roughbarked
Registered User
Cost of repairs can often only require the time to disassemble clean and reassemble. If the watch is kept regularly serviced and not knocked about, they generally only need the service. However, if anything needs replacing or indeed you lose or break something, they can become quite expensive indeed.
Though I have rarely had anybody notice which watch I'm wearing. Even when it was their watch.
Though I have rarely had anybody notice which watch I'm wearing. Even when it was their watch.
Mk2
Registered User
That's hillarious! They didn't even notice their own watch... Speechless. SMH.
roughbarked
Registered User
Ripley's believe it or not. It is true.
Depends on the watch.
Most quartz and low to mid range mechanicals are not worth repair since very few people who own these care much about the movements, the makers marked parts such as the rotor of and automatic are easy to transfer so if my living depended on watch repair I would not repair these except for practice. For money I would replace the movement. It's cheaper and much less likely to come back. Also if its a current maker they probably won't sell you parts.
For old watches, heirlooms its a different matter. These movements if good ones have a history and value as they are.
Most quartz and low to mid range mechanicals are not worth repair since very few people who own these care much about the movements, the makers marked parts such as the rotor of and automatic are easy to transfer so if my living depended on watch repair I would not repair these except for practice. For money I would replace the movement. It's cheaper and much less likely to come back. Also if its a current maker they probably won't sell you parts.
For old watches, heirlooms its a different matter. These movements if good ones have a history and value as they are.
roughbarked
Registered User
Repairs on quartz watches can be done but the risks are higher as many of the wheels are plastic which is more easily damaged. Mostly they need new electronic parts. Back in the 1980's one could purchase new parts for quartz watches but that didn't last for long. Once quartz became cheaper and popular, parts supply ceased. When you can buy many quartz movements for less than $10, it stands to reason that it is less hassle to simply replace the movement. A quartz watch is like any watch in that once you become familiar with them, they are easier to put back together. I've repaired many. Often by using parts from otherwise dead movements. I have enough of those to last forever.
Mk2
Registered User
Was that same philosophy 40 years ago with mechanical watches? I only ask because i come across many retired watchmakers on ebay here in the UK selling off everything. Literally hundreds of complete, fully working movements, ready to fit (after a service). From the '40s up to around 1980.
Perhaps back then, mechanical movements were banged out just like quartz today? And again, cost of labour probably worked out more than simply swapping out a movement. I mean the 'regular' movements, not the pricier "fashion" brands like Omega and Rolex.
From my experience 40 years ago most watches in use were regularly serviced. The evidence for this is large number of parts assortments and movement encyclopedia extant. This system would not have come into existence without a network of watch repair shops well staffed.
More than 40 years ago, closer to 60, I bought my first pocket watch and immediately dropped it and broke the staff. The repair was done in a week at a cost of $15 which included cleaning the watch.
From the 50's to the 70's there were a lot of watchmakers and they were not paid very well. Many were maimed veterans who could be rained to do watch repair wheel chair bound. Parts were readily available from many retail and whole sale sources of you could buy spare part set ups to replace most of the parts that went bad. Repairs and service cost a lot less than a new watch and watches were worn for a long time so people got attached to them.
Mst of tehse had common movement by makers such as A. Schild. A parts assortment would cover a lot of these sold under various names. If your shop did not have it there was a parts dealer not too far away. A simple movement swap probably would have been better economy but it was rare.
I recall speaking with a watchmaker in New York's jewelry district who proudly showed me a new jewel he had made for a Hamilton pocket watch. He made it nicely but it looked wrong and he could have better spent his time walkign over to the parts dealer in his building a buying a Hamilton replacement for $0.50. Back them a watchmakers with that little business sense could survive.
The better makers, Omega especially made special tools and made them avialable to repair peopel as well as parts.
The watches in use also needed simple service often. When refrigerators began to be made with magnetic doors watches got magnetized and this often required a trip the local jeweler. Owners got to know their service people.
Part of the change is the very high cost of tools and training. In addition parts are not so available. For in-house movements this gives the makers a lot of control but for makers using stock movements it is not worth even trying to repair the movement simply buy the replacement.
To the thread theme, I do it because I often enjoy it. I like the tools and challenges. I am comfortable retired from another profession. One of the reasons I do it is because I can afford to. I do not attempt anything very tricky on high value watches and I "repaired" some watches for associated by replacing the movements. Two were low end Seiko mechanicals and one was a mid level quartz.
I did overhaul a quartz movement but only because it was a unique model and a replacement movement is very expensive if it can be found.
More than 40 years ago, closer to 60, I bought my first pocket watch and immediately dropped it and broke the staff. The repair was done in a week at a cost of $15 which included cleaning the watch.
From the 50's to the 70's there were a lot of watchmakers and they were not paid very well. Many were maimed veterans who could be rained to do watch repair wheel chair bound. Parts were readily available from many retail and whole sale sources of you could buy spare part set ups to replace most of the parts that went bad. Repairs and service cost a lot less than a new watch and watches were worn for a long time so people got attached to them.
Mst of tehse had common movement by makers such as A. Schild. A parts assortment would cover a lot of these sold under various names. If your shop did not have it there was a parts dealer not too far away. A simple movement swap probably would have been better economy but it was rare.
I recall speaking with a watchmaker in New York's jewelry district who proudly showed me a new jewel he had made for a Hamilton pocket watch. He made it nicely but it looked wrong and he could have better spent his time walkign over to the parts dealer in his building a buying a Hamilton replacement for $0.50. Back them a watchmakers with that little business sense could survive.
The better makers, Omega especially made special tools and made them avialable to repair peopel as well as parts.
The watches in use also needed simple service often. When refrigerators began to be made with magnetic doors watches got magnetized and this often required a trip the local jeweler. Owners got to know their service people.
Part of the change is the very high cost of tools and training. In addition parts are not so available. For in-house movements this gives the makers a lot of control but for makers using stock movements it is not worth even trying to repair the movement simply buy the replacement.
To the thread theme, I do it because I often enjoy it. I like the tools and challenges. I am comfortable retired from another profession. One of the reasons I do it is because I can afford to. I do not attempt anything very tricky on high value watches and I "repaired" some watches for associated by replacing the movements. Two were low end Seiko mechanicals and one was a mid level quartz.
I did overhaul a quartz movement but only because it was a unique model and a replacement movement is very expensive if it can be found.
Skutt50
Registered User
I have quite a few spare parts pocket watch movements that I have been given over time. Great when you need a special part and suprisingly often, when I get a watch for service or repair, I have a matching junk movement. Some are almost complete and when I don't have anything else to work on I bring one of these out, service it and stores it. Great to have specially when someone brings in a water damaged movement or a movement with servere damages..... I don't know if this is what old watchmakers did but one day (in a faar future) a number of functioning movements will come from my storage.....
roughbarked
Registered User
It has been a luxury for a long time.
Out of curiosity for the question are you asking us personally why would we repair our watches or is it more of a Why does anybody get their watch Repaired?
Oh and then there's the problem of definition of what a repair is? For instance swapping a movement is still a repair.
DeweyC
NAWCC Member
I service watches because it is a way to make money that suits my makeup. I pay others to kill my meat, others pay me to keep their timepieces in order.
Crass maybe, but there it is.
The nontangible rewards have been the pursuit of excellence, some peer recognition and the highly accomplished customers I have shared coffee/lunch with.
Customers have pieces serviced for a variety of reasons. All recognize it as a luxury and take pride in their role as a custodian. Many want to fill the holes in their cockpit with the correct instrument. Some want to use the M22 (and even a 4992B) as a primary source for blue water navigation. Others want to protect a family memory.
I started out 40 years ago not intending it to become a source of income. Did not even have a formal education until 15 years ago. But what drew me in was the opportunity for constant improvement and learning in the areas of theory and technique.
Crass maybe, but there it is.
The nontangible rewards have been the pursuit of excellence, some peer recognition and the highly accomplished customers I have shared coffee/lunch with.
Customers have pieces serviced for a variety of reasons. All recognize it as a luxury and take pride in their role as a custodian. Many want to fill the holes in their cockpit with the correct instrument. Some want to use the M22 (and even a 4992B) as a primary source for blue water navigation. Others want to protect a family memory.
I started out 40 years ago not intending it to become a source of income. Did not even have a formal education until 15 years ago. But what drew me in was the opportunity for constant improvement and learning in the areas of theory and technique.
roughbarked
Registered User
roughbarked
Registered User
So, could you say you spent half your life rolling your own?
As the tourist said to the musician; "I'd give half my life to be able to play like that".
The musician replied, "I did".
Spent the latter part of my life rolling my own (pipe tobacco) cause TAXES-TAXES-TAXES!
Hi
In fact I was asking myself the question why I got into repairing watches. The logical thing would have been to get something new that gives one the time when required. Instead I find myself attached to old pieces with scratches and not functioning.
For me as long as its back functioning correctly that is a repair.
everydaycats
Registered User
Why do people work on cars? Why do people play music? See where this ends
By the way, I'm headed out the door to go fishing.Regards
I ended repairing my watches cause i found out it was in a way a piece of my life
Had my first watch given to me by my dad
Another by my grandfather for passing my exams
Another by my mum while I was at University
Another by my wife as engagement gift
One that was given to me by my mother in law and she is no longer with us.
Fixing cars i do that too but for other reasons.
Those are some of the reasons i could find.
Had my first watch given to me by my dad
Another by my grandfather for passing my exams
Another by my mum while I was at University
Another by my wife as engagement gift
One that was given to me by my mother in law and she is no longer with us.
Fixing cars i do that too but for other reasons.
Those are some of the reasons i could find.
while researching a particular clock i discovered that there were 36 watchmakers in san francisco at the time of the 1906 earthquake.... different times, everyone had pocket watches....
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