Acquired A Seamaster...

Omega will charge $550 but they will do a restoration. You may or may not want this. (The people here will go completely apeshit if you send it there.)

My local watchmaker is a Rolex-trained CW21. He would charge me somewhere between $500 and $800 depending on the watch and its condition. He adjusts and regulates because I insist that it run as well as it can. Some will accept 30 seconds a day whereas I will not. That means extra parts and extra work, for example replacing the balance staff.

Some will claim that $250 is more than plenty to pay. I don't know where you live, you might find someone willing to work for that but it is a low price.

Find out about your watchmakers as best you can. Check for certifications. Ask for references. See if he has pictures of previous work.

AWCI.com has a searchabe database of watchmakers. If you're in the US, that;s good start. I would suspect BHI has a similar thing in Great Britain.

Tom

Please reconsider the crystal. They contribute to the water resistance.

Tom

And give you such pride and warm feelings as you pass it and the story on.
The watch will be ticking dutifully....
....carrying the memories.

Actually, fromunda cheese.

We can't "wax poetic" once in a damn while?

A little late to the party but what a good story.