What is the point?

I got into watches, as I like fixing things. (I actually wanted to replicate a mechanical doll. And discovered she was made by watchmakers.)

There is a trade off when choosing which watch to service. Opening the watch involves risk. As does disassembling the watch. It is easy to kink the hairspring.

I also tend to go hot an cold on things. I set aside watchmaking for 20 years or so. Mostly as I had taken on a task to difficult. There was also the issue of parts availability. I needed a spring for a ladies watch. I figured the world of mechanical watches was as dead as My friends in the NAWCC. That the internet was only for scammers. Because no one cared about watches other than Rolex. I do not consider Rolex watches.

Granted I still had respect for Omega, and liked seeing the brand on a billboard nearby. Same for Tag/Heuer. This respect was more that I already had nice examples. New watches were well outside my income level. (edit; And only valued for their gold and visible jewel content.)

I joined these forums as I wanted to find someone local who could service my Speedmaster professional. I did not trust the Hardware store watchmaker. I sort of had an ideal I would like to get it factory serviced.

I then decided I was wrong about the repeater that I need to make parts for. Full time work in it's own right. That I had other projects which I set aside till that was completed. This was actually creating a block. Keeping me from doing what I wanted to do.

So when I opened the tin containing the Landeron 48 after posting a photograph. I decided the repeater was not really something I wanted to do. This on the other hand opened the floodgates. I spent all the money I saved for having the Speedmaster serviced on additional project watches. Notably more ladies omega watches.

Now once again I am in over my head in watches. Other projects have suffered. Last spring it was cameras. Before that restoring a Kodak Photo CD player. And of course the pipe organ stuff that had replaced my watch passion. (The clockwork doll plays a small pipe organ.)

Even if I never bought another watch. I would still need parts and consumables to keep the watches I have working. While 30 years ago I could make the parts, I now find that so many were made, that they are surprisingly available. More so than they were 20 years ago.

If anything the watchmakers and material houses did it to themselves when they flooded the markets with parts 60 to 70 years ago. Then the whole quartz thing happened and the parts were not needed.

There were so many parts from the prior 200 years that in the late 1990s young people started to use them for art projects and costume wear. (steampunk.) This in turn lead to an interest in what this bling was.

Still we have the question of maintainability. Also quantity over quality. I chose the former. Many here would rather have one good (and practical watch) compared to 100 or more serviceable examples.

Now when I look at a watch I see a 400 to 1200 service fee. I think others are seeing this as well.

At the same time, there just is not anyone I can trust , including myself, with the watch I do value. (The speedmaster.) I am also noting the chronostop I use, is probably in need of a service. There simply is no one in my area who can afford to work on such things without sending it out. I want magical service for such things. Someone who can restore the space rating so not only does the watch keep good time (which it still does.) but that all the gaskets and seals are top notch. I also respect the dial hands and bezel, and would not want them changed.

The rest of my collection I can work on myself.