Can a vintage watch that is tightly wound be repaired?

Question

I'm interested in purchasing this watch. It's sold as is to be repaired. The time sets smoothly. Is it possible that it can run again?

Answer 1

Since electronic watch movements have gained market share, the mechanical watch repairers have become harder to find. Electronic watches have been popular for 35 years - and many mechanical watch repairers have retired. Parts are harder to find. Skilled craftsmen who used to fabricate rare parts are also hard to find.

The real question is not "can it be repaired" because it can IF you can find some skilled in that art. Finding one is harder. Before I bought it I would determine repairers skilled in the art and what they charge. You may find the repair cost very substantial (and perhaps use this to reduce purchase price if you want to proceed).

My father went into watch repair after fighting in World War II. He retired from this in 1980 and at that time he had already seen a marked reduction in mechanical watch repair facilities and parts. In 1990 he indicated there were fewer than 10% of the repairers that had practiced in his locale in 1980. I can only assume this trend has continued.

Answer 2

Yes. The first option is to contact the manufacture as many still have their own repair centers or can put you in contact with some one they recommend. The second is to do it your self, though maybe not recommended. Generally, if that is the only problem, some one who knows what they are doing can open it, lift the ratchet catch pawl and let the main spring unwind a bit till the toggler (?) can again toggle back and forth and give it the ol' "tic-toc" again.