I was recently asked for an opinion on a 24-jewel, Illinois Bunn Special pocket watch in a 14-karat gold hunter case, in exquisite condition. Reasonably scarce. He wanted the movement removed because the case was going for scrap. I offered him more for the watch than he was going to get for scrapping the case. He had shaken hands on the deal with the scrapper, and wouldn’t take my offer. He later phoned me and offered the movement to me for $500. I told him to put it where the sun don’t shine!
I am often asked to quote prices on the repair of karat gold watches, many of them in rough shape. Rusty, worn out, broken parts, obsolete. Mostly, my estimate is turned down. I then buy them for scrap, and fix them up for myself. I have acquired a number of nice watches that way.
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