Antique pocket watch how to#
Antique pocket watch serial numbers#
Antique pocket watch serial number#

It’s no secret that antique pocket watches were made using a range of materials depending on their value, much today’s wrist watches. This requires a years of experience, knowledge and an understanding of how watches were made over the years.

Antique pocket watch serial number#

Swiss watches with no serial number have their age estimated by the style of the movement along with its construction.

Antique pocket watch serial numbers#

When determining the age of an antique pocket watch, particularly Swiss or European watches, it is much harder to determine its age because there are no serial numbers like their American counterparts. In order to determine an accurate valuation, you must first establish who made the watch (manufacturer), and gather as much information as possible about the model, ages, grade, size, complications, quality and unique features of your watch.

Antique pocket watch how to#

In part 1 we will be looking at how to identify your watch, how to define the age and how to establish the quality.Įssentially, if you don’t know what the watch in your possession is then there’s simply no way of telling how much it is worth. We are giving you an insight into the different ways in which a valuation is considered when looking a movement, from a UK pocket watch to Swiss and other European antique watches they are almost always valuated using these methods. Depending on the level of restoration, steel parts can be polished and the inlay can be renewed.Pocket Watch Guide: What is your antique pocket watch worth? Movement Restorationĭuring the restoration process, the movement will be disassembled completely, deep-cleaned, oiled, and adjusted to original factory specifications. Unless the original crystal is flawless, a new glass crystal will be installed to restore the clarity of the watch as if it were new. Over time, the glass or plastic crystal will become chipped, scratched, discolored, or cloudy. If the watch is missing hands or the hands are damaged beyond repair, a new set will be sourced to match the hands that originally adorned the movement when it was delivered from the factory. If the existing hands are in good condition, we can restore the original finish and color. Your pocket watch case will be deep-cleaned and polished, restoring the original luster.

When a replacement dial is necessary due to major damage, we will find a dial to match the factory original. Usually, an intricate cleaning process will brighten the dial and hide many defects. We recommend keeping the original dial whenever possible. Illinois Bunn Pocket Watch: After Restoration The watch is now ready for the next 100 years, keeping accurate time within a few seconds per day. The movement was fully serviced and restored to the original factory specifications. The dial was brightened and deep-cleaned to conceal the hairlines that had developed over time. This watch received a full top-to-bottom cosmetic restoration including a new set of hands and crystal.

It arrived to us in very poor condition, but we were up to the challenge. We take care to maintain the originality of your watch whenever possible and only use authentic replacement parts, typically sourced from watchmaker estates or donor watches.īelow is a 1903 Illinois Bunn Pocket Watch we had the honor to restore recently. During the restoration process, conservation is our primary focus.

Whether it is a family heirloom or a recent thrift store find, our antique pocket watch restoration services can completely revitalize these timepieces of history. Note: We are not currently accepting new restoration projects at this time.