Expert: Melvin Mills - 1/14/2008

Question
Hi, I have an old pocket watches but would like to know how old and if you think it would be worth repairing. It does not have roman numerals. The top of the face has 'The Yare Lever Alfred & Son Gt Yarmouth'. The bottom has a circular...probably second hand section...whioch is round and numbered in jumps of tens. It also has 'Swiss Made'. All front hands have come off and are lying in the watch. The back has a double casing but wnithing written on them. The workings have the markinhs 'Swiss Made..2 or 7?jewels...3 adjustments ...AR FS'.When the top is wound, the inner parts begin to work but make a noise. Can you please tell me roughly how old this pocket watch would be and if it could be fixed by any watchmaker. Thank you.

Answer
Ms. Rita,

It is hard to determine how old a watch is without inspecting it because it is very expensive to retool a factory so companies generally don't.  They continue making a tried and true watch for many years. By inspecting it, one can look at the movement and get a ballpark.

Can it be fixed.  Just about any watch can be fixed.. if money is not the object.  Your best bet would be to take this watch to a local watchmaker so he can inspect it.  Then he will be able to give you an estimate.

Kind regards,

Melvin