Expert: Melvin Mills - 10/19/2008

Question
My husband has a Caravelle pocket watch his dad acquired in the '70s.  The stem/winder thingy fell  off.  I can use tweezers to reach in and wind it, and a paper clip to slide down next to the inner stem, push down, and open it.  Can it be repaired?  And if so, where?  We live near San Francisco, CA

Answer
Ms. Debbie,

The short answer is that almost any watch can be repaired, for a price.

What it will take to repair it and get it in running order can only be determined by a physical inspection.

If it is running, that is good news because it probably only needs a new stem.  Since the stems have not been made in a while, it might need to be made. That will cost a lot.  The watchmaker might have a stem from another watch in his shop though.  That is why watchmaker's shops look like they never through out anything.  They don't.  You never know when you might need that part.

I would bet that you can find a watchmaker who can give you an estimate in San Francisco.  

Kind regards,

Melvin