I thought it important to give some clear idea on how we grade watches, given that this is often a very subjective area with vintage and antique wrist and pocket-watches.
WRIST-WATCHES
Service/Guarantee The majority of wrist-watches which well sell will have been fully cleaned and overhauled, and this often requires replacement of the crystal, o-ring seals and the watch-band. Where a watch has been recently serviced, this will be clearly stated on the auction and come with our standard guarantee and return/repair policy.
However, please note that these are antique watches, so do not expect quartz accuracy. On a 90-100 year old Swiss trench watch typical accuracy will be 2-5 minutes a day. However, newer watches keep time much better, those from before 1940 generally to within 2-3 minutes a day and later watches to within a minute or better. However, these are used items and even with servicing and refurbishing, the effect of continuous use on a watch mechanism cannot be completely erradicated.
The grading of such watches in terms of condition is as follows:
Dial- Mint if restored back to same condition as new. Otherwise any defects or marks will be clearly stated.
Movement- Mint if well looked after and movement plates, screws and wheels in pristine condition. This may include replacement generic parts by the maker. if there are mauled screws, scratches to plates, or the plating has worn off the movement plates by excessive cleaning, these points will be clearly stated.
Case- Mint if very well looked after or it has been repolished and all knocks, scratches and dents removed. But of course not the original show-room condition. Any damage will be clearly noted and described. The condition of case hinges and case springs and cover/bezel closure will also be clearly described.
POCKET-WATCHES
All of the above details also hold true for antique pocket-watches, in fact evem more so, with the majority of such watches now over 100 years old. Cases and case-pendants and hinges are often fond in very poor condition, clealry well loved, but no longer practical to use.
We have two excellent silver/gold smiths who remove defects such as broken hinges, splits to cases, dents and dings; detached pendants and of course cut out previous soft solder bodged repairs and make good with solid metal.
An antique pocket watch described by us in superb condition will clearly state if it has been restored to a serviceable and fine watch or if sold as it is, awaiting repair.
For more comprehensive details, please see our web-site:
www.vintagewatchstore.com
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