The Breitling Watch Source Forums

These look nice, no reviews though. (frenchmade): http://www.ottofrei.com/store/product.p ... t=0&page=2

If you think it's good quality, it'd be the perfect buy for me at this point.

I would buy the worst that Otto Frei has over the best that Amazon has any day of the week. Just be aware that Otto Frei shipping can be pricey.

I was doing more research and stuff on pocket watches and repair. To further my interest in these watches, it can get expensive if I have no income, and I really would not want to ask my parents to buy everything either. I was wondering if people can turn profits that are worth the work off of buying broken pocket watches (at a good deal) and repairing and restoring to almost new condition.

I cleaned out my guest room, which had a desk in it, and pretty much put all my watch related items (catalogs, posters, and the like) in there. I have a vision of what it could look like with a new bookshelf for the catalogs and books, better equipment for fixing watches, and maybe a showcase to store a collection. And I really am going to need quite a bit of capital to get all that. I really do have the extra time on my hands as school is veryyyy manageable for me (pretty much straight A's ), and I just would like to do something with that time rather than watching TV or playing video games. This is definitely a hobby that I could do for the rest of my life and I think if I can do it efficiently enough (I know it will take time to learn), maybe I can even earn some money before I get my first real job.

There is this watch repair shop that is fairly close to my home (it's not an AD but a legitimate watch and clock repair shop). I think I could probably volunteer there and possibly apprentice or something on the weekends, and that would definitely progress my learning a lot.

So under these circumstances, and I know it's going to take a lot of time, is it possible to make a little money from buying and selling watches off ebay?

It's possible, but only if you discount your time - which you are prepared to do. The hourly rate is lousy, but you can buy job lots of pocket watches for about $10 each and sell the ones that you can get working for $50 - $100 even if they aren't special. Even if you can only get half to working order that's profit and the rest can donate parts. Unfortunately the time required makes the return less than minimum wage, but that's the 'hobby' element.

Just a question if you don't mind. Have you considered maybe getting a part time job after school or on the weekends to help fund your hobby? It seems since your grades are good, and as you say school is very manageable, that this might be an option. I don't know your situation, but at least for me, I was selling newspapers door to door at age 14 and was a busboy and dishwasher at a restaurant at age 16. Those jobs sure helped out with a little extra disposable income and allowed me to buy my first car and gas.

Yeah even if it turned out to be like $5 an hour, I'd much rather spend an hour on watches than bagging groceries...



The thing with a job is that my parents think my grades will drop if I do get a job.... The reason theyre letting me do this watch hobby is that they probably don;t know how much time I am ready to invest in it. And like I said abot Roffs reply, I'd rather work on watches than in a grocery store

Ah, well not much you can do then if your parents won't let you work.
They will let you apprentice however? For no money?

I am not 100% sure because I ahvent emailed him yet.... I would take an apprenticeship that is not paid, without a doubt, but if he offers minimum wage or w.e I'll take it!

I'm sorry, your parents I mean. They will let you apprentice for no money but will not let you work?

I thought in some of your previous posts your parents were willing to put up some money towards the purchase of a watch if you yourself contributed some also. I guess I don't understand. How were you supposed to get money if not by working?

Haha well i actually havent asked my parents about the apprenticeship.... But since it's so close and they are starting to understand that watches are my passion and hobby, they may be willing.

I just recieved the 4 pocket watch movements I ordered in the mail today! Quite broken I must say, but taking them apart, cleaning, and hopefully reassembling, they could be in good shape.

One of the watch movements is a Longines one! The hairspring looks in tact and not broken, though the balance staff could be replaced or cleaned somehow. Since this is a piece that I really look to restore, at least get in working order, I had a few questions.

How exactly do you measure the main spring? I would need to get a replacement. And also, the part that the crown comes with, the long end (maybe it's separate from the crown? I'm not sure) (the part that the crown is attached to to turn the gears for winding or adjusting time), where can I find a suitable replacement? The watch movements only came with the movements without the cases or crowns.

Thanks

See now here's where the problems start with a $50 budget.

Want to order the right mainspring - you need a mainspring gauge. Best place in the US for parts is Jules Borel, it sounds like the crown stem that you are referring to. If you have the calibre numbers I'll try and find the part numbers for you in Bestfit.

If you know what model the

Apologize for going off topic but i have two pocket watches, one from my grandfather and one from my great grandfather, neither work....does anyone know a good pocketwatch repairman in the USA/Canada?

_________________
"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

I am actually going to be selling my "rares" from a trading card game, and that should be able to get me about $100. So with that extra $100, what do you suggest I get? Aside from specifics to a certain movement like we're discussing right now, the $100 would probably go towards tools.

The Longines movement is: 17.79 ABC
The serial number (but i don't think you need it) is: 3849270
17 jewels and 5 adj (whats adj?)

adj is adjustments - adjusted to five positions. I'll try and find the movement in Bestfit on the weekend.

What tools do you already have - going to need that before recommending others. BTW, when you say that the mainspring will need replacing, while I agree that a service should always include a new mainspring, for your purposes unless the mainspring is broken then I wouldn't replace it, especially as you don't have a winder so you are going to have to manually wind the mainspring into the barrel (and that'll be fun!!!).