Antique Pocket Watches

If we are talking about available in virtually any specialty stores models of mass production contracts. XIX - 1 - th floor. XX centuries., There are important mark of the manufacturer, the total number of hours issued by this company and the circulation of this model. No less important are the owners of the first hours, which sometimes manage to obtain, for example, from the accompanying and / or vouchers, as well as state inscriptions on the back cover or case hours.

The next step in the evaluation of antique pocket watch and is the degree of their complexity.

The most interesting mechanisms are equipped with more than one additional devices (such as giving the lunar phases - a device built calendar; rehearsed - a special mechanism designed to display time using a different tone sounds and chronograph - additional mechanism to measure raised slots).

To assess the state of the old hours (hours as a whole or shells and mechanisms separately) is used 4 main categories: very poor condition; poor condition; good working condition or collection (perfect) condition. In doing so, special attention is given to the possibility (and feasibility!) Repair or restoration of hours, that is, bring them in perfect condition collection by cleansing, lubricants, polishing, applying special coatings, as well as the replacement, recovery of lost or manufacture of parts (restoration will only rare specialized shops).

For example, most of the state of most of your time gathering today can be defined as working poor or very poor. And if even in the first case you can make repairs or even substantially increases the price of hours of restoration, the second clock is estimated no more than spare parts (and their gold or silver housing - as scrap): rehabilitation of hours more expensive purchase exactly the same in good condition

Incidentally, contrary to widespread opinion, the state governmental or pocket watch (the accuracy of progress, lack of defects and malfunctions, the preservation of accompanying documents, the original case, zhiletnoy chain and, if not hours factories using crown, a winding key, etc. ) When assessing more significance than the name of metals from which they are made, as well as the size of their precious shells. According to experts, the difference in the value of the same hours (the same brand and series) in the collection and very poor condition up to 95%.
The most serious damage to the old pocket hours is considered broken enamel dial.

If the master or owner of the clock there is not exactly the same (emergency), then this defect rarely subject to corrective: the restoration of enamel clock face is very long, very difficult and very costly procedure (cost many times can exceed the market value of the hours listed in order), and is conducted only in exceptional cases.

Therefore, buy watches with broken Dial makes sense only if they have an interesting mechanism - with complex functions or good marks (for example, Breguet and Patek Philippe).

Just sharply reduce the value of ancient hours dents and other traces of the shell deformations, and this is also linked to high costs for restoration. It should be borne in mind that the removal of deep scratches from the surface of the shell lids, with the figure (giloshe), posredstvomobychnoy polishing will not be able to increase the value of hours, as well as lead to the loss and drawing.

A careful reading of the state of the mechanism will be assessed the degree of deterioration of parts, the preservation of stones, the state of the propellers, as well as the absence of dirt, rust and traces of oxidation. At the same time restoring the lost parts of mechanisms (even rare), as well as winding heads, arrows and ancient glass restorers hours conducted often enough, and in most cases, manufacture and installation of new, nothing different from the original, parts, is a highly desirable solution. Thus, the final evaluation of every individual or old pocket watch shall submit a set of many, not only above, but also other important aspects (eg, on the fakes), so in selecting the best hours of help experienced collector or an expert professional advice.