Heirloom watch dialemma...

[PaulSecteur]

Hi,

My granddad passed when I were a nipper of about 6, 32 years ago.

I can still remember him taking me for a walk over to the post office on pension day, buying me a wagon wheel then going to the pub and him buying me a pint*.

At around the age of 14 my Mum and Dad told me he had left me a watch, and I should have it when I was old enough. It was a Smiths Astral. I wore it everyday for about the next 3 years until I somehow put a gouge in the glass. I swore I wouldn't were it again until I had fixed it, and then not wear it for work (if I were doing a manual job where damage was likely). It was given to my mum for safe keeping. I took it to the Jewellery Quarter for a quote for a repair and service, about £50 for the glass, and £125 for the glass and a full service and clean. It turns out the "Brown mottled face" should actually be silver! Grandpops was a bit of a smoker and it had taken its toll. The value of the watch was given as "about £150".

At the time I didn't have the cash... Cars, girls, booze...

Recently I was looking for a new watch and remembered Grandads watch. Im sure it wont have gone up in value (Im not selling it so that's never going to be an issue) but Im pretty sure the cost to get it fixed will have at least doubled (again, not really and issue, Im not Richard Branson but I can afford this).

But here's where the dilemma is, do I...

1-Go for the complete glass, clean and service.
2-New glass and service, but keep the face original.
3-Nowt, it keeps decent time, and besides - he wouldn't have changed the glass just for a deep scratch.

If fact, writing this down has helped me decide (No.2 - Service and new glass, but with the mottled brown face it will still be "granddads")

But I would be interested to hear what others have done (or would do) in a similar situation.

Paul
*Well, letting me have the froth of the top of his half of Banks`s, but it felt like my pint at the time!

 

[guitarpete247]

Same as you. Keep the face as granddad left it. You'll always check the time and remember him. Service will keep it going. And new glass to see the face clearer.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I think as long as you use it, your Grandad would be pleased
I'd go for 2 as well

 

[tyred]

Definitely 2. Patina of age - you'll never get it back.

 

[Profpointy]

if it keeps decent time I'd not get it fixed. Whilst in theory a bit of (the right sort of) oil properly applied might help its longevity - if it runs ok can't be much wrong with it. A lot of things can be made worse by a so-called service. If it merely runs, but keeps poor time I'd be inclined to just tweak the fast-slow gizmo inside.

If it doesn't run, then fair enough - I'd spend couple of hundred to fix me grandad's watch even if it's not worth much (in money) - and I'd have the glass done at same time. I'd only take it to someone recommended though - not just any old shop.

Funnily enough - I have my grandad's old pocket watch somewhere - might get that repaired too

 

[swee'pea99]

I reckon your Grandad would turn in his grave if he knew you were proposing to shell out that kind of money for a new glass when 'there's nowt wrong wi't'one it's got!' Can you read it? Leave it. (The only thing that might make me reconsider would be if it's actually structurally weakened, in which case, I'm sure Grandad would concede the point.) I'd go for 3.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

2 - definitely; it's what makes it special.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Im defiantly not getting it cleaned, and I would go for option 3 if it wernt for the "You twonk" reminder I get every time I think about that scratch!

Im liking what @Profpointy says, why service it if its OK? Im sure its not a complicated watch as far as these things go, but the less people fiddling with it the better while it continues to work.

 

[MarkF]

You are being ripped off, a service is not £125! It's about £30/50, that by a real watchmaker too. A generic glass is pennies.

Unless it's an auto and gold plated then it's not going to be worth much at all, sorry. There is patina and "manky old watch", pic? If I liked it I'd be tempted to have it like new for sub £100 and wear it for years.

All mechanical watches need servicing, the oils thicken and clog.

 

[Profpointy]

You are being ripped off, a service is not £125! It's about £30/50, that by a real watchmaker too. A generic glass is pennies.

Unless it's an auto and gold plated then it's not going to be worth much at all, sorry. There is patina and "manky old watch", pic? If I liked it I'd be tempted to have it like new for sub £100 and wear it for years.

£30 for a service - how does that work? Surely stripping down, cleaning, reassembling a watch is gonna take more than an hour? And if you don't strip clean oil, reassemble, then what exactly is being done for £30 - wind it up and polish the glass?

 

[MarkF]

£30 for a service - how does that work? Surely stripping down, cleaning, reassembling a watch is gonna take more than an hour? And if you don't strip clean oil, reassemble, then what exactly is being done for £30 - wind it up and polish the glass?

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

 

[EltonFrog]

If I remember correctly from when I used to work in Jewellers shops in the olden days, a little Duraglit wadding rubbed on the glass surface would remove nearly all scratches from watches. No need to service it if it works and keeps good time.

 

[PaulSecteur]

A quick look of google images... this one seems about the closest to what I remember... But browner!

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....

 

[Over The Hill]

Glass will perk it up but not take away its character. I would leave the face as it is. It is more likely to just be faded than tobacco as a watch is fairly well sealed.

Service is needed now and again really as with a car.

 

[MarkF]

If I remember correctly from when I used to work in Jewellers shops in the olden days, a little Duraglit wadding rubbed on the glass surface would remove nearly all scratches from watches.

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

No need to service it if it works and keeps good time.

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.