Disposable Wrist Watches/When & Where?

[BristolCavendish]

Case(s) in point. When the servicing/overhaul accounts for 75-80% of what you paid for the watch, is it a sound use of monetary resources to proceed with the expenditures? Sentimentalities and various 'handed-down' issues aside, sometimes it doesn't seem very cost-efficient.

I was discussing this issue with a friend who has a cigar box full of non-operable watches (some inexpensive, others more noteworthy and/or expensive). Looking through this eclectic mix of brands, here's where he drew the line: (1) a Zodiac Sea Wolf that he paid $100.00 for in 1967 stopped running and required servicing during the mid-1970s. Cost was estimated at $90.00. Result: cigar box. (2) a Seiko 5 ($25.00 at military PX during the late 1960s) conked-out. Repair cost: $60+. Result: cigar box. (3) Assorted Timex watches (either losing time or in need of batteries/watchstraps). Result: cigar box. (4) a mid-1970s Rolex Submariner (about $450 back in the day). RSC overhaul cost (during the 1980's) around $350. Relegated to the cigar box (although its current value in relation to a regular servicing interval is now somewhat justifiable). (5) Assorted analog quartz watches (primarily Seiko/Citizen) that have undergone several battery replacements but no pressure tests/new gaskets due to the service + gasket costs exceeding the initial price of the watches. Water resistance being compromised, they are now used as 'beaters'.

It's kind of like refurbishing older cars and vacuum tube audio equipment. Depending on the make (and its resale desirability), there is sometimes a point of no return. Result: cigar box.

[TheVTCGuy]

Tell your friend I’ll buy the submariner from him for $500, more then he paid and he won’t have to worry about the RSC cost, I’ll pay for that too....

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Tell your friend I’ll buy the submariner from him for $500, more then he paid and he won’t have to worry about the RSC cost, I’ll pay for that too....

i'll double pauls already generous offer to $1,000


it surprises me what broken watches sell for because of the high cost of servicing though, when I was looking for my first midsize Rolex, I noticed many non working models were fetching almost as much as their working counterparts

[swils8610]

Other than the Sub I’d cut them all loose unless they have sentimental value. Maybe I’d consider servicing the Zodiac or a mechanical Seiko.


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[SearChart]

The thing with the mechanical Seiko's is that one hour of labour costs more than a replacement movement...

Like stated above, only repair them when they are of sentimental value.

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by SearChart

The thing with the mechanical Seiko's is that one hour of labour costs more than a replacement movement...

Like stated above, only repair them when they are of sentimental value.

And you can DIY the repairs! This has always been my thought with few exceptions.

I have a 40’s Leonidas Chrono with a Valjoux 22 in it that I paid a few hundred dollars for on Ebay that I will put more than what I paid into it in restoring the watch. But when it is done I should be able to break out of it if that is what I want to do, but it will be beautiful and I will not be able to part with it.


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[Valenciawatchrepair]

I do repairs. And there is one thing I have learned over the years. Cost of repair has NOTHING to do with the monetary value of the watch. It's simply a choice. As stated above, a Seiko movement can be replaced way easier and cheaper than being serviced.

Sentimental value also trumps almost any logic here, as it should. I've had customers pay $200 retail to have a watch repaired that might sell for $30 in its current condition. But, because of a lack of parts, I may have to buy a complete donor watch to get the movement out of, as well as service the donor movement before it goes in.

Cost of parts+labor+retail markup makes a lot of repairs expensive. Yet, if the majority of my customers strictly made their decision on monetary value vs repair cost, I'd probably be out of work.

My advice for the cigar box. Give them to someone who might tinker with them. Or someone like me. I like fixing up even plain stuff and wearing them myself, or giving them to less fortunate ones that can't afford a decent watch. Usually a good polish, gaskets, and crystal and these watches are ready to serve a few more years.

[RW16610]

Less is more, at least in my eyes. Although relatively inexpensive these costs can add up quickly for a large collection held over time. They can always be fixed but unless he has any real reason to want them operational I wouldn't bother, other than the Submariner that is! An independent can do the service and he'll not have to worry about the suggested dial swap or what not Rolex could want done.

[Abdullah71601]

I had a $40 Timex with a bad stem fixed for $10. Seemed like a good deal. My nephew has the watch now. It will probably outlive me.

[AzPaul]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

My advice for the cigar box. Give them to someone who might tinker with them. Or someone like me. I like fixing up even plain stuff and wearing them myself, or giving them to less fortunate ones that can't afford a decent watch. Usually a good polish, gaskets, and crystal and these watches are ready to serve a few more years.

If there's a 50's Omega bumper in there, my guy could use it.

[tamiya]

Most ppl would've thrown them out, not accumulate in a cigar box.

Speaking of which... passed local fancy tobacconist the other day and they were SELLING cigar boxes for $10-50ea!! empty ones, nothing too special... see what happens when the Quit campaign meets the Etsy makers?

[BristolCavendish]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Tell your friend I’ll buy the submariner from him for $500, more then he paid and he won’t have to worry about the RSC cost, I’ll pay for that too....

Originally Posted by andromeda160

i'll double pauls already generous offer to $1,000

Originally Posted by swils8610

Other than the Sub I’d cut them all loose unless they have sentimental value. Maybe I’d consider servicing the Zodiac or a mechanical Seiko.

The funny thing regarding that 1680. At a ballpark figure of around $1K for servicing, the guy feels it's a rip-off given what he initially paid for it.

So it's back to the cigar box.

[Secondhandunwinds]

Less is more. I have a couple Citizen/Seiko that are sentimental, but only cost is the batteries since they are quartz. I think for mechanical watches only having a couple makes the most sense.