Another Expensive Hobby - The Price Tag Made Me Take A Step Back!

[thor447]

So this past year I've began to try my hand at some very basic watch repair. I've taken an in depth online course, consisting of 3 levels and over 60 individual lessons thus far, and have thoroughly enjoyed the process of learning something completely different than anything I'd done in the past. I'm now to the point where to continue my journey it will require the purchase of some specialty tools. I got in to the hobby just by buying the most basic of necessities. Tonight I priced out some specialty equipment that I would need to service certain types of watch movements, to be able to repair certain watch parts rather than simply replacing them, as well as a few upgrades from cheap/chinesium tools to more quality Swiss tools. Well, the total cost (not including shipping or taxes) for these upgrades is $1,923.73 (and that is saving nearly $1,000 on only a few items buy not getting the top tier models)! I guess I'll just put the next round of my watchmaking journey on hold for now!! That's quite a chuck of change, and right now I still love my H&K SP5 way too much to sell it for another hobby. I might consider selling the Staccato, but not the H&K!!

By the way, this cost is only tooling and does not cover any of the lighting upgrades I'd like to do to the workbench. That'll come in time though.

 

[hunter966]

Well that would be an investment, but heck, if you like it, why not?

Sounds pretty interesting too.

 

[cowadle]

i used to carry an Illinois Bun Special pocket watch and later a hamilton railway. there used to be an old fella that kept the railroad watches all working that i would take my watches to once a year to get them cleaned and adjusted. what a marvelous way to make a living it was fascinating. he tought me the correct way to wind a watch and how to keep them on time. just fascinating but probably a lost art

 

[thor447]

i used to carry an Illinois Bun Special pocket watch and later a hamilton railway. there used to be an old fella that kept the railroad watches all working that i would take my watches to once a year to get them cleaned and adjusted. what a marvelous way to make a living it was fascinating. he tought me the correct way to wind a watch and how to keep them on time. just fascinating but probably a lost art

That’s what got me interested as well. Decades ago when I was in high school I used to work at an auto parts store. There was a gentleman who worked there named Jim who was a retired jeweler and watchmaker who serviced all of the railroad watches for a company based out in Louisiana. A mechanical watch movement has always fascinated me, and I decided to take the plunge earlier this year. It’s been fun, and it definitely teaches one patience.

 

[Snattlerake]

I have always been fascinated by mechanical anything. I love the interrelationship of parts moving or stationary. I watch videos about engines watches, locks, and machines that make these devices. I guess it all stems from grandpa's old farm shop and the way it was all set up to work with one electric motor just by removing a belt on the air compressor and putting a belt on the grinder or drill press.

Making watches just amazes me, especially with my horrendous math skills. Just how people can make something so small do something so accurate is just plain magic.

I applaud you sir.

 

[zipty6]

I'm strongly considering directing urge to collect things away from firearms and into something else. Pocket watches are the current front runner in my mind. I have three already, only one of which runs. I'm afraid that if I started collecting them I would find myself in your predicament.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

I just had my 20 year old Omega Seamaster Chronometer (non-diver mechanical analog) serviced by the Swatch Group (parent of Omega) service center in CA.
This was the first time serviced. Basically it needed cleaning and lubrication. They replaced several parts and the stainless watch band as part of the service and returned the old replaced parts. Total cost was $575.
I was shocked at the quote to service it but the 20 year price escallation for new Omega's was shocking also. I paid $1200 for the new watch in 2002 and today an equalvalent replacement is over $5K.
Appearance is brand-new and the watch runs perfectly now. It was returned in a tic-tac shaped sunglass style case so I'm guessing the aliens were the techs.

 

[BillM]

So this past year I've began to try my hand at some very basic watch repair. I've taken an in depth online course, consisting of 3 levels and over 60 individual lessons thus far, and have thoroughly enjoyed the process of learning something completely different than anything I'd done in the past. I'm now to the point where to continue my journey it will require the purchase of some specialty tools. I got in to the hobby just by buying the most basic of necessities. Tonight I priced out some specialty equipment that I would need to service certain types of watch movements, to be able to repair certain watch parts rather than simply replacing them, as well as a few upgrades from cheap/chinesium tools to more quality Swiss tools. Well, the total cost (not including shipping or taxes) for these upgrades is $1,923.73 (and that is saving nearly $1,000 on only a few items buy not getting the top tier models)! I guess I'll just put the next round of my watchmaking journey on hold for now!! That's quite a chuck of change, and right now I still love my H&K SP5 way too much to sell it for another hobby. I might consider selling the Staccato, but not the H&K!!

By the way, this cost is only tooling and does not cover any of the lighting upgrades I'd like to do to the workbench. That'll come in time though.

You can get a 5000 lumen Honeywell LED shop light from Sam's Club Let us know you're not a robot - Sam's Club

I've got ten of them in the house, most in my shop rooms. I've developed cataracts, and they help until I can get the surgery. Was supposed to be last week for the left eye, had to reschedule for later this month.

I'm building my own machine shop. I can sympathize.

Bill

 

[TeamTomlyn]

What an awesome new hobby! I've always been interested but haven't found the time yet to jump into it. Make sure you post some of your projects from time to time, would love to see it

 

[Perplexed]

I can understand the interest in old mechanical items. My interest is in vintage (as in, pre-WW2) electric desktop fans, and fixing them up with new wiring and sometimes finishes. Those fans can be expensive!