Antique Watch
From LoveToKnow Watches
An antique watch can be the perfect way to round out a collection of modern and designer timepieces. There are many steps you can take to make sure that you get just what you want from wrist watches or antique pocket watches. Most of all, you will want to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt that your antique is authentic.
Antique Watch Makers
The following is a list of some of the finest makers of watches from past eras. The watch makers on this list made some of the first electric and chronographic models used in the 20th Century. If you are looking for any of these makers online, have the seller send as much as possible to prove authenticity – fake watches and fake antique replica watches are a big problem on the Internet today.
- The International Watch Company
- Hamilton
- Universal Geneve
- Henry Birks & Sons
- Jules Jurgenson
- Lanco
- Lyceum
- Ermano
- Cyma
- Wittnauer
- Rotary
- Tavannes
- Favre
- Bulova
- Benrus
- Girard Perregaux
- Vulcain
- Accutron
- Imperial
Dealers of Antique Timepieces
There are many places to search for an antique watches but that does not mean that what you get is what you paid for. With true antique pieces, certification of authenticity and a money back guarantee are essential. If you find yourself working with someone who is not willing to provide these essential documents to you, move along; chances are the watches he or she is dealing are not real antiques. If you find yourself in a situation where the paperwork “cannot be found” but you still want to choose the seller, purchase the watch with a 100% money back guarantee. Once you receive the watch, take it to a local specialist to verify the watch's authenticity. If the watch turns out to be a replica, you have safeguarded yourself and can return it for all of your money back with no hassles. The following are some of the most trusted purveyors of antique watches:
- Darlor Watch
- The Watch Shop of Lakewood, NY
- Stephen Bogoff – trusted antiquarian and horologist since 1970
- York Time – for a huge inventory of vintage Rolex and Omega watches
- The Antique Watch Company in Glennwood Springs, CO. Specializing in antique watch repair also.
Antique Replica Makers
There are many companies that do an outstanding job of replicating some of the antique styles of the 19th and 20th Centuries that are almost impossible to find in usable condition. Hammacher Schlemmer is a good example. Over the past several years, Hammacher has made some of the most highly sought-after watch replicas to date, including their “Classic Doctor’s Watch” which offers an extra large second hand (for taking pulses,) Arabic numerals, a palladium protected coating, water resistance and a lifetime warranty from the maker. While most vintage and antique replica watchmakers are hard to find by name, a quick keyword search on the Internet will unveil exactly where you can find the exact replica you are looking for. As with any other watch you would purchase online, be careful and make sure you are dealing with trusted watch replica dealers.
Tips For Your Antique Timepiece
It seems obvious, but many people frequently forget that what they are wearing on their wrist or in their pockets is a fine watch; it is also old. An antique watch requires a lot more care and tender handling than other watches. Even if your vintage watch is a retired military watch, it is still from a war era of more than 50 or even 100 years ago. Take the time to carefully clean your watch and have it seen by a professional watch repair person who is familiar with antique timepieces and what they require. If you do not have a professional watch repair shop that deals with antiques near you, send your watch off to a pro outside of your area. A good example of a trusted watch repair that you can send your watch to is the The Antique Watch Company in Colorado. Many others can be found on the Internet as well.
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