In for a penny, in for a pound

Those of us who have been collecting long enough have a box (or boxes) of watches that we were very hopeful about- diamonds in the rough, too good of a deal to pass up. How many of those get to completion rarely has to do with money, it comes down to fortitude, arrogance, neurosis and mostly stupidity.

Here are a few of mine that made the cut:

Zodiac Seawolf MKII
Purchased for $350, was barely running.
Parts movement $200
Same parts in parts movement worn so NOS parts on eBay for $85
Service $250
Lume on dial stabilized and hands relumed $200


Omega Seamaster 120
Purchased for $900.
Hands were wrong, OG hands acquired from member here for $275
Movement was a hot mess- tons of parts replaced, service $500
Correct factory bracelet $275
Correct crown $85


Bulova 666 Oceanographer (first year)
Paid $350 (came with bullet bracelet and crack fees bezel- worth it)
Donor movement $200 (full working watch)
Hands and dial relumed (these dials have to be relumed from behind) $200
Factory crystal $70
Service $200


Clebar chronograph
Paid $400 (flawless chrome plated case- don’t get too excited)
Donor movement $225
Service $350


Gruen Precision
Paid $35 at antique store (was running)
Discovered all auto parts had been removed- parts movement $75
Service $200
Red Horween strap (c’mon, red hand- it was begging for it) $75


Timecraft Chronograph
Paid $450
Donor movement for the parts- $225
More parts becuase donor movement had issues- $80
Back to watchmaker 3 times for reoccurring issue- $300 (he only charged me once)
More parts to solve reoccurring issue $125


Zociac Seawolf early MKII
Paid $450 (with stretch free factory spring link bracelet -worth it)
Donor movement $225
More parts for winding pinion- $75
Hand lume stabilized and filled $100


Waltham A17
Paid $150
Crown tube, crow & stem $100
Service $200


Orator skindiver
Paid $200
Screw down crown was stripped- new crown and tube $75
Service $200


Bulova 333 Oceanographer
Paid $250 with bent lug
Found a better dial (this one) in another whole watch for $175
Had another case from a member here and parts movement- free, thank you OF
Service $200 and gave the second watch to a friend



Luxor yachting Chronograph
Paid $400
Movement was a hot mess, donor $250
Service $350
New bezel (forthcoming) $200


I have put far more effort, time and money into these than any sane person would have- let’s see yours.

You are a brave man! This is well beyond my meager collection. 😀
Edit: I like the yachting chronograph. Post when the new bezel arrives!

Great thread. I’ll dig some of mine out.

So much transparency, love it!

And you know how to service them which gives you a leg up. Those of us who are over optimists (how bad can it be? It says “running”) usually never get them out of the parts/ project box

Your watchmaker sounds like my guy who is retiring. He had no problem tearing the watch apart and giving me a comprehensive list of parts needed, then putting it aside until I could find them. He got creative sometimes when we couldn’t find a part and would either modify another part or make it from scratch. Alas he is winding down his career (has been for a few years now), so I need to be less ambitious in the projects I take on.

Yup. At first we think “oh, it won’t take too much to get this right”, but then it becomes a money pit and a matter of pride - and there is no going back after the pride kicks in….double down on that bad investment- awesome!
My wife refers to it as the “sunk-cost fallacy”, she speaks that fancy brain language.

And the idea that I have to finish it even though I am now resigned to selling it becuase nobody in their right mind would buy it in this shape! So instead of cutting bait, we dump another couple $$$$ into it to make it sellable.