I noticed a nice gold seamster at an auction recently. The case back had a standard "thank you for years of service... Jon Doe" engraved on the back. Now obviously if the watch had belonged to Elvis, or FDR, this wouldn't be a question. But I am wondering how much of a discount engraving is worth (assuming no special providence). Or if this is something most of you just ignore if the rest of the watch is desirable.

Thoughts?

 

My observations here are that it is highly personal as to how you view an engraved watch. A military or celebrity engraving, I don’t think anyone would pass it up or not expect to pay a premium. “Happy birthday Chad” from 1987, maybe not so much. I lean towards liking inscribed watches if it adds a sense of nostalgia. My 1921 Elgin pocket watch...

 

Linking an enjoyable old thread on this topic:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/poll-do-you-guys-really-despise-inscriptions-that-much.21016/

 

I have a 105.012-66 Speedmaster with a nicely engraved case back, for me it doesnt detract from the value of the watch

 

I’ve always thought that a watch with an inscription has been given to the recipient with love, or respect, or both. Well, that’s obvious and probably incontrovertible.

Where I go, and I know that others will disagree, is to believe that the watch with the inscription is somehow imbued with the qualities of the recipient and the regard of the givers, and that makes the watch a luckier watch and I hope some of that luck rubs off on me.

Okay, sentimental tosh, but that’s my view.

 

Years ago, I bought a railroad pocket watch in a gold filled case. Railroad pocket watches were service items, and the gold filled cases stood up well to clinkers in the bib overalls, but over years of use, showed wear down to the brass. Generally, these gold filled cases were not engraved by the railroader, because cutting through the gold filled layer usually speeded up the deterioration of the gold filled layer. The railroad watch I refer to, was not owned by a railroader, but a car dealer. He had his name an initials HAND ENGRAVED on the case back. Hand engraving is much deeper than machine engraving. Other than the garish engraving, the case and the movement were of excellent state, and the movement, a high grade, 23-jewel railroad approved model. So I bought it. If I encounter a watch that I want, and it happens to be engraved, discretely, I buy it anyway.

I’ll add a couple pictures of my watches that might have been engraved at the factory, with decorous themes. With cases such as these, I think the engraving enhances the watch. How does engraving such as shown on these three examples make a difference to collectors?

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I really like engraved cases. For me, it enhances the experience of buying vintage. Some sort of knowledge about the previous owner makes it more interesting.

 

I don't really mind engravings. While no-one tends to see them, they also give a bit of a view into the provenance and the history of the watch, which is always nice.

 

If they are well done they don't bother me. And the older the piece the less intrusive it is.

Here is nice engraving on a solid gold Gruen Curvex from the depths of WWII. Must have been special to give a 14k gold watch at this point in history.

 

Picked this up for a great deal..but since my wife's name is not Terri I had some 'splainin to do.

 

Ditto.
I’ve no idea who Shirley is or was but she clearly spent time and money choosing a nice watch for her beau, and taking the trouble to have it engraved.

 

Does anyone actively seek for engraved watches? I would believe it’s quite rare.

I generally don’t like engravings. However, with that said, some of them has a certain beauty, but I have yet to see one that actually (for me) add value. Most often no taste was put in to it and just looks bad.

It seems that the most popular thing is for people to put their own name on a watch. Not sure why. I have a friend that put his name on all his watches. He was surprised I don’t.

I guess it can be good in the morning:
“Ah, it seems that this is my watch. Let me put it on.”
For example Marlon Brando’s Rolex
The engraving itself is just dam ugly so for me it detracts value. The value is added by being a celebrity watch not the inscription (again just my view).




Claps with an engraving. This detracts value for me and I would think for most others also.

 

Got this one a few months back. I liked it because of the Rockwell logo, and it's engraved as a retirement watch. Seems like mostly plain back Seamaster Deville models were used for this purpose.

 

Surely, you must be joking



My 20-something daughter groaned at that one...

 

I like ‘em when they’re done well.

 

Engraving is quite a personal preference; as @Spruce said above, it was given with love or respect or both. At one time, it was the fashion to gift a gold watch for retirement; at other times, as friends went off for war.
I personally like having an engraving on the watch, and am very curious about what history it has...I think of it a voice that gives us a hint of the importance of the watch.
A few of mine (I apologize for the quality of some of the pics...)

And this one is particularly special, as it was given to my wife's grandfather upon retirement from his position at a factory in Zurich...a Swiss watch for retirement of a Swiss resident!
:

 

Im no expert here, but i find engravings kind of neat, tells you a bit of a story. I have two of my great grandfathers watches, both engraved. as well as my my great aunts pocket watch from 1901. also engraved.

Depending on the engraving itself, maybe a slight price reduction however.

 

An engraved watch will always be theirs.

 

engraving adds value if it is tasteful, well done and it provides history, just my opinion though