How often should a clock be serviced? Is your watch worth repairing? This depends on many factors that I will explore in this article.
People buy old and antique watches for many reasons, and in this post I will explore four reasons why your watch is worth fixing. With our clock repair near me experienced units, we carry out all operations with an indefinite guarantee.
1) Spiritual value
The first is a watch that has emotional or spiritual value.
How often should a clock be serviced? It could be an antique passed down from a family member and the current owner is planning to pass it on to their children. The watch can also carry some special feelings or meanings for the person, such as an anniversary gift, a retirement gift, a gift from a close friend. The most important factor here is not the replacement value, but the emotional value. This type of watch is considered “one of a kind” and is irreplaceable. A professional repair is worth the cost. If the repair is done properly by a professionally certified, trusted mechanic (horologist) and you love your watch, it’s worth the cost, regardless of its resale value.
My 114-year-old Gustav Becker 2-pound Vienna Regulator was received by my wife as a retirement gift. It was advertised on eBay as a project watch and although it looks fascinating today, it took many additional dollars to get it to work properly. In a situation like this. repair becomes an operating expense rather than an investment. You will pay whatever is necessary to repair your watch.
Gustav Becker two weight regulators
Gustav Becker two-pound organizer retirement gift from my beloved wife
I have a Ridgeway grandpa watch that I’m thinking of giving to my kids. It has sentimental value because it reminds me of a watch my wife and I almost bought. 30+ years ago, we stepped back from a grandparent clcok deal but promised ourselves we’d make one someday. In 2012 we purchased a Ridgeway Hamilton Country grandfather watch, made in 1996 and in pristine condition. When it fails and one day it will fail, the cost of the repair will be equal to the value of the watch, but I think the repair is worth it.
2) Ornament: Second, the watch, which has no emotional value for man
It is a functioning watch that no longer works but has decorative value.
It may have been designed as a decorative piece you might have found at a flea market; you managed to run it but it no longer works. You have two options, let it sit or fix it. If you decide to repair it, the replacement value of the part should be a factor in your decision. If it will cost more to repair the clock than to replace it, you can replace it too. If you have the tools and knowledge to fix it yourself, consider the time and cost of new parts.
If it is a quality watch, even a complete overhaul of the clockwork will cost less than the actual value of the watch. Common antique clocks, such as American mantel or wall clocks, will often cost very close to their true value, or perhaps more. For rare or unusual parts, the repair cost will be less than it’s worth.
3) Collector value
The third is the collector value.
If the watch has been purchased for “investment” purposes, for resale, or for collection purposes only, the cost of repair must not exceed the watch’s value. If the watch is of high quality and needs repair and parts cannot be found, you should question whether you should have it repaired. If you’re planning to sell it, you should keep in mind that buyers almost always want a working watch.
I recently purchased this miniature Vienna Regulator, which is not only in good working order but is in exceptional condition for a 145 year old watch.
Value is not easy for collectors to determine, as watch prices have fluctuated wildly in recent years, but there are certain watches such as quality French braces, English lanterns, car watches and jewelery organizers that have managed to retain their value. Unique, elegantly made, low-production, one-of-a-kind watches are worth more than ordinary mass-produced watches.
4) Quick resale
The last one is watches for quick resale.
Many people are engaged in the trade of antiques and old watches. Online sales sites and watch sellers do this for the sole purpose of making a profit. Buying a watch at a reasonable cost with the intention to sell means taking your time and parts/repair cost into account if you want to make a profit. Buyers almost always want a working watch, and a fully serviced watch is more desirable (and more valuable) than an unmaintained one.
This Ingersoll-Waterbury fireplace clock (see photo above) was purchased from a flea market for a very reasonable price. The clock is fully served. If I sell, I have to get back the initial cost plus my time and materials.
Many watches are sold to unsuspecting buyers on online sites. Sellers often claim that “the watch is in perfect working order but may need adjustment after shipping”. On the one hand, be aware that buyers want a bargain if you are in the trading camp, and on the other hand, you may not always get what you think your watch is worth.
