I have an old Elgin DeLuxe pocket watch that was given to me by my grandfather when I was born. He even engraved a short note on the back - "To [my name]. Love, Granddaddy" . It has always been a keepsake that has meant a lot to me.

It was stored in my mother's jewelry box since he gave it to me, but it looks as if over the last 45 years, anytime my mother got mad at me, she beat the piss out of this watch.

Pic of watch (not mom) attached below.

I recently got the watch and sent it off for a quote to restore it. The quote is $950.

I have tried to see what the watch is worth and most estimates I find are only around $150 dollars.

Can anyone tell me if 1) those estimates are on the watch accurate? And 2) am I getting ripped off by the watch repair. And, if so, who could I get a 2nd opinion from? (Here is who sent me the $950 quote - Watch Repairs USA

I would like to have it working again, but spending $950 for a $150 watch that I will only keep in storage doesn't seem all that smart.

Thoughts, opinions, and jokes about "my mother's jewelry box" are appreciated. Thanks!

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Posted by BlackCoffeeKid

Member since Mar 2016

11718 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 12:42 pm to tiger114

Not sure how intune you are with reddit, but the +800,000 people on r/watches may be able to help you out too.
r/Watches

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Posted by Winston Cup

Dallas Cowboys Fan

Member since May 2016

65497 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 12:45 pm to tiger114

Find a watch shop near you owned by an old jew

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Posted by upgrayedd

Lifting at Tobin's house

Member since Mar 2013

134865 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 12:47 pm to Winston Cup

quote:
Find a watch shop near you owned by an old jew

He already stated he feels like he's getting ripped off

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Posted by Gaston

Dirty Coast

Member since Aug 2008

39018 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 12:53 pm to tiger114

Looks like you need EVERYTHING. And we can’t even see the movement. Restore as in ‘like new condition’ seems like every bit of $850, and honestly that’s probably without dial work. If you want to restore the watch that’s what it’s going to cost. What were you expecting?

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Posted by tiger114

Fairhope, AL

Member since Sep 2009

5224 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 12:57 pm to Gaston

quote:
What were you expecting?

I have no idea what to expect. I've never done this before, which is why I am asking for input from others.

If $950 is a fair price, and $150 is market value, then it will just come down to whether I want to spend $950 for a keepsake - which I might, but it gives me pause if the damn thing is only worth $150.

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Posted by tiger114

Fairhope, AL

Member since Sep 2009

5224 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 12:59 pm to Gaston

quote:
Looks like you need EVERYTHING.

I do... Here's the estimate:

Notes: Vintage restoration is estimated to take approximately 3-6 months to complete depending on availability of parts and service. New hands. Complete mechanical restoration required. Oils dry, weak amplitude. Rebuild winding mechanism. Replace movement parts as necessary. Crystal must be replaced to protect movement going forward. Dial refinishing.

Service Description Price
Overhaul
1 Year Warranty
Complete mechanical restoration - Disassemble watch, clean all moving parts with specialized cleaning solvents, lubricate internal components with high grade oil, time test for 48 - 72 hours.
Movement disassembly required in order to access affected components.

The following repair(s) will be completed during the overhaul process:

Replace movement parts as necessary
Repair and rebuild winding mechanism
$449.99
Restoration
Refinish dial to best possible condition(takes approx. 8 - 12 weeks).
$299.99
Crystal Replacement
Replace crystal + installation. (Substitute)
$79.99
Restoration
New set of hands + installation
$99.99
Tune Up
Ultrasonically clean case and band as complementary with overhaul.
$0.00
Decline EstimateAccept Estimate
Subtotal: $929.96
Shipping: $29.21

Total:
$959.17

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Posted by tiger114

Fairhope, AL

Member since Sep 2009

5224 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 1:00 pm to BlackCoffeeKid

quote:
Not sure how intune you are with reddit, but the +800,000 people on r/watches may be able to help you out too.
r/Watches

Good idea. Thanks.

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Posted by Marco Esquandolas

Member since Jul 2013

11427 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 1:28 pm to tiger114

I would imagine Obtuse1 could give you worthy advice...

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Posted by BRbornandraised

Baton Rouge, LA

Member since Jun 2013

532 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 1:30 pm to tiger114

I don't think this is an unreasonable quote. Finding and purchasing parts on a watch this old is not cheap. Rebuilding an entire watch movement is expensive even with a watch made in the past 30 years. Refinishing the dial includes repainting the entire dial by hand. To make the dial look pristine is very meticulous work. I had to replace a crystal on a vintage 1940s Girard Perregaux. It took a month just for the repair store to even find the crystal; it wound up being $50 with labor. The main thing that makes this watch expensive to repair is scarcity of parts and the time it takes to find them. Their time is worth something and the quotes reflect that. Is it overpriced? maybe by $100 or so. Is it unreasonable? no.

This post was edited on 1/31/20 at 1:32 pm

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Posted by keakar

Member since Jan 2017

30031 posts

Posted on 1/31/20 at 1:36 pm to tiger114

restored equals "made like brand new again"

repaired equals "just make it work"

its most like more valuable if its just made to work and restoring it could ruin its value completely

you didnt ask for repair, you asked him to restore it, ask him for just making it work repair costs. the words used to ask for something to be done matters

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