Heirloom watch dialemma...

[Profpointy]

It is partially dismantled, cleaned, de-oiled, the right oils replaced, adjusted and checked. I collect watches and have had umpteen serviced. Repair, remedial work is expensive, servicing is not.....

£50 for a glass! Maybe a tenner fitted, tops, you are talking to the wrong people. Let me have a pic and I'll try to value it for you, the movement number would be helpful.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F67g_F_L14

Can you recommend someone ? At the risk of derailing OP's equiry my Grandad's Benson silver fob watch is bust and be nice to fix it. Needs a new hand (trivial) but more to the point, doesn't run - I've a recollection that it's the spring or the barrel the spring sits in - but can't recall why I think that.

 

[EltonFrog]

Depends on what the "glass" is, but you may be right, if it's acrylic, the scratches could buff out.

Ah yes, a memory stirs, it my only work on acrylic watch glass.

No, he's had it yonks, it needs servicing. Unworn, the oils will have settled, thickened and will not return to lubricate what and where they should. Metal v metal repairs will cost a lot more than servicing, he really will need it manually dismantled then.

I bow to your superior knowledge.

 

[MarkF]

I will do a photo when I get it from my Mums.

EDIT: Also, I think the £125 was to redo the body of the watch in the right colour too. Its been a while....

It's the movement that will give it any value. A re-chrome? Don't know how much here, I had my dad's old watch re-chromed in Poland for £6!

The Smiths doesn't have much monetary value now, because a buyer will ask when it was serviced, then knock off £50. A glass is a generic glass not a "Smiths Astral" glass, you can decide if you want it flat or domed, glass or acrylic, still, all peanuts. Faces are a few quid on Ebay. The watch below was probably as you described your Smiths, it was my pals that his dad left him, it was horrible, wrecked case, cracked glass and a brown dial. It was an oddball chronograph and I had to source the face from Germany. It's more complicated to deal with than yours but still, no way was there £150 put into it, sorry for the poor quality pic but when it came back we were amazed, like new.

.

 

[EltonFrog]

I too would like to know where to get a watch serviced, this thread has motivated me to dig out a watch my mum bought me in 1971 from my next door neighbours Freemans catalogue. I have just wound it up and I am wearing it, it seems to be working fine, though it looks a bit tatty. Its exactly the same as this one that went on the Bay of E a while ago.

Originally had a bracelet, but mine like the one above now has a leather strap. The extra little red hand is to set the alarm, which buzzes and vibrates a little when wound up.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Trigger's broom.

 

[MarkF]

Can you recommend someone ? At the risk of derailing OP's equiry my Grandad's Benson silver fob watch is bust and be nice to fix it. Needs a new hand (trivial) but more to the point, doesn't run - I've a recollection that it's the spring or the barrel the spring sits in - but can't recall why I think that.

My guy won't take on any new customers. But I can personally recommend Roy Taylor of RLT Bridlington, he is good and inexpensive, the downside is he can be hard to get hold of.
This guy is well known and respected in horological circles and I see his Smiths services costs are £40 manual, £60 automatic, about right. http://www.chealwatch.com/

 

[EltonFrog]

@MarkF To whom in Poland did you send it?

 

[MarkF]

I too would like to know where to get a watch serviced, this thread has motivated me to dig out a watch my mum bought me in 1971 from my next door neighbours Freemans catalogue. I have just wound it up and I am wearing it, it seems to be working fine, though it looks a bit tatty. Its exactly the same as this one that went on the Bay of E a while ago.

Originally had a bracelet, but mine like the one above now has a leather strap. The extra little red hand is to set the alarm, which buzzes and vibrates a little when wound up.

Tegrov were a Swiss 60-70's manufacturer, it will probably have a poor quality HK movement, but so did better known wacky retro watches from Sicura, Mortima and Sorna and they are fetching very good prices nowadays, that will only go up in value. Tbh, it's wonderful, I'd get it serviced, put on a 1970's rally strap,wear it and pretend you are Jason King.

 

[MarkF]

@MarkF To whom in Poland did you send it?

I didn't, I was working in Lodz.

 

[EltonFrog]

Tegrov were a Swiss 60-70's manufacturer, it will probably have a poor quality HK movement, but so did better known wacky retro watches from Sicura, Mortima and Sorna and they are fetching very good prices nowadays, that will only go up in value. Tbh, it's wonderful, I'd get it serviced, put on 70's rally strap,wear it and pretend you are Jason King.

I have his teeth, but not his hair. I like the idea of a 70's rally strap though.

The watch has Swiss Made on it, I guess that could bollix?

 

[MarkF]

I have his teeth, but not his hair. I like the idea of a 70's rally strap though.

The watch has Swiss Made on it, I guess that could bollix?

No, I really think that they were, some parts + assembled there at the very least, to qualify for "Swiss made".

 

[EltonFrog]

Tegrov were a Swiss 60-70's manufacturer, it will probably have a poor quality HK movement, but so did better known wacky retro watches from Sicura, Mortima and Sorna and they are fetching very good prices nowadays, that will only go up in value. Tbh, it's wonderful, I'd get it serviced, put on a 1970's rally strap,wear it and pretend you are Jason King.

Do you mean like this

 

[cd365]

For some reason I thought of this
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZo7GxOEm08


I would actually go for number 1, give it the full works.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Option 4 - Bum hole polish... Not even an option!

 

[MarkF]

Do you mean like this

Yes, RLT have them as "Racer".