Anybody a pocket watch expert/collector?

[supernova]

I've got my grandad's pocket watch (mother's side) but have never had it appraised.

It's an Elgin with an art nouveau face. I'm sure it would work if I had it cleaned. I have had to working for short periods in the past. But I don't know enough about it to be comfortable taking it to someone to have it cleaned/appraised in person. I'm too afraid that they will replace the workings with imposter parts. Is that a rediculous notion? I'm pretty sure no one has had this thing open since grandaddy was alive and that's been at least 30 years.

The numbers are art nouveau style and appear to be either brass or gold. It's dirty so I can't tell. The hands are blue metallic and there is a little second stopwatch dial that the hand has fallen off (it could be fixed; it's still in there. The case is slightly tarnished so maybe nickel or if I'm luck platinum. If it were solid silver, I'd think there would be more oxidation on it. The overall appearance says to me 1910 or just before WWI. Though I'm not an expert. It definitely doesn't look art deco which would mean 20s or 30s. The back of the watch shows a type of banner/bunting design with a little box in the dead center. It looks perfect to engrave initials into, though it's not engraved.

edit: If you could help me shed some light on what I have, I'd be really grateful. :-)

edit2: After poking around on the net, it looks like this watch could be from the 1920s after all. And I understand that people used to buy the movement and the case separately. My grandparents' family used to run a general store (1/2 grocery store, 1/2 dept store) in a little mining town in western PA. It wouldn't surprise me if this was a watch that would have been for sale in the store.

Here's one with a very similiar face: http://www.onlineauction.com/index.php?page=auction:view_item&auction_id=243451&auction_name=1931%20Elgin%20Two-Tone%20Pocket%20Watch

[Richard Steele]

1. No, your fears are not "a ridiculous notion".

Movements and cases and faces were all STANDARDIZED,
and purchased seperatly.

That's why "railroad watches" are such a desired collectable, you know-
railroad switchers needed precise timing, so their estates have a lot
of very expensive & accurate watch movements in cheap blue-collar cases,
you know?

And it is -not- unheard-of for an unscruplous watchcleaner to recognize
a rare and expensive movement, and swap it for a cheap and common one.

[supernova]

2. Thanks for replying DS

I never did understand the significance of "RR watches" but what you write makes a lot sense. :-)

I wish I knew where to take this one. I'd actually like to wear it once in a dressy while because it is rather pretty.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. There are still watchmakers around.

If you can't find one, start by asking at a jewelry store. You want a certified watchmaker, not a guy named Joe who can change quartz watch batteries.

Watches need to be serviced, like cars. They need this every few years.

The biggest enemy of any watch is water. Even dampness. Rust is the biggest watch killer out there. Anything can be fixed (probably/within reason) but rust makes the chore more difficult by several orders of magnitude. Keep old watches nice and dry.

Expect to pay $60 to $100 for a simple COA (Clean-Oil-Adjust). More if other issues are involved.

If the dial (face) is dirty, you can get it replaced (maybe) or refinished (always available). No one is making parts for old watches so the parts come either from caches of NOS stuff found in closed shops or from salvage from other old watches. Dial refinishing is an easier thing. It is essentially a fine printing process onto the metal dial. The better redialers can actually even change a dial if you like. They also refinish hands and can add back the lost luminance with a non-radium material that relies on sunlight to 'recharge' it, unlike the original which was radioactive and glowed on its own.

Look for a member of the The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC)

Look, also/alternatively for a member of the AWCI (American Watch and Clockmakers Institute). Their website used to have a list of members with their locations. I'm sure Google will come up with their site.

One other thing ...... if this is a family watch, DO NOT EVER SELL IT. At most you'll get the cost of a night on the town out of it. But Uncle Harry had but one watch to leave you.