Wrist Watch experts help pls!

  • Thread starter Thread starter SkodaMart
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SkodaMart

SkodaMart

When my Grandad died around 26 years ago, I was left a men's Zenith 18k Gold watch that the had only owned for 6 months.

It was a retirement gift from the factory he had worked at for 25 years and I remember him being very proud when he showed it to me, little did I know I would be wearing it 6 months later.

The original receipt was for £1000, and a £1000 was a considerable amount of cash in 1988.

Anyhow, I recently decided to get it valued, I was shocked to be offered £100 scrap, as it is deeply engraved with a message from his company on the back.

Is this the case? Are engraved watches 'worthless' ?

I do remember at the time he showed me, being shocked that someone would take an engraving tool to an 18k case.

thoughts pls.
 
SkodaMart said:
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I will post a few pictures once I have got it back from the Jewellers.
 
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Engraved watches are not worthless, a watch engraved as a gift from JFK to Marylyn Monroe would be priceless, if such watch exists.

It all depends on the history.
 
SkodaMart said:
When my Grandad died around 26 years ago, I was left a men's Zenith 18k Gold watch that the had only owned for 6 months.

It was a retirement gift from the factory he had worked at for 25 years and I remember him being very proud when he showed it to me, little did I know I would be wearing it 6 months later.

The original receipt was for £1000, and a £1000 was a considerable amount of cash in 1988.

Anyhow, I recently decided to get it valued, I was shocked to be offered £100 scrap, as it is deeply engraved with a message from his company on the back.

Is this the case? Are engraved watches 'worthless' ?

I do remember at the time he showed me, being shocked that someone would take an engraving tool to an 18k case.

thoughts pls.
Click to expand...

Its not an 18k case if they offered you £100 scrap, or you were about to get mugged.
 
SkodaMart said:
It's defo 18k, I have the warranty card, papers and the case is marked 18k.
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Well that narrows it down a bit. Take it to another place to get valued or look or ask this question on a dedicated watch forum, Zeniths engraved or not are worth more than £100 I would have thought, I'll give you £101 for it if you like ;)
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Well that narrows it down a bit. Take it to another place to get valued or look or ask this question on a dedicated watch forum, Zeniths engraved or not are worth more than £100 I would have thought, I'll give you £101 for it if you like ;)
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I will post a picture when it comes back, it's not my style really, very 1980's slim, almost feminine.

I will try the watch forum idea, thanks.
I know that some of you on here are keen collectors.
 
SkodaMart said:
I will post a picture when it comes back, it's not my style really, very 1980's slim, almost feminine.

I will try the watch forum idea, thanks.
I know that some of you on here are keen collectors.
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What model Zenith is it? If you have the papers it should say.

A quick google of 18k Zenith watches reveals some astounding prices. I suspect you have quite a valuable watch on your hands - certainly worth far more than £100.

As for the engraving in the back. Depends where it is and how deep, any reputable jeweller should be able to remove it.

The advice above to check out some of the watch forums is your best bet.
 
surely they could make a new back for it though? ive no idea about watches, and of course, a new back woundnt keep the value of the watch, but its the back, no one can see it, the mechanism and the front wound be original...?
 
davido_labido said:
surely they could make a new back for it though? ive no idea about watches, and of course, a new back woundnt keep the value of the watch, but its the back, no one can see it, the mechanism and the front wound be original...?
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No, the back is part of the case.

To get inside is a specialist job, you need to remove the crown and spindle and then the glass.
 
86JR said:
A lot more than you would think... I would be suprised if you recieve the original back, depending on the quality of the jewellers you took it to.
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So basically I have a watch that requires specialist equipment to change the battery and needs to be sent away.

Every time it is sent away I risk it being 'cloned'
 
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