Fix it or toss it in a random drawer and forget about it?
My Poljot 3133 chrono needs a full service, as it is no longer keeping accurate time. It also needs to be replated, as the chrome plating is starting to flake off the case near the pushers. I’m thinking it’s probably going to cost $1,200-$1,500 to get it running like new again, on a watch that’s going to probably be only worth $350 on a good day.
It has sentimental value, as my dad gave it to me and it was my first mechanical watch. But for half the cost of getting it fixed I could buy a better one with hacking and a stainless steel case that was actually used by Soviet Air Foce pilots.
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Matthew
Watch collector since 2022
Texas
Member since
Last active: 2 days ago
15.24 cm
C. Put it in a watch box. Look at it, think fondly of the memories and buy something similar more suitable for daily wear.
Keep it in a safe space as a keepsake item, don’t need to get it up and running again for that price. A shame though 😢
Toss it somewhere, and buy another watch.
Keep it in a safe space as a keepsake item, don’t need to get it up and running again for that price. A shame though 😢
This is precisely why I will probably never own another mechanical chronograph. They are just too expensive to maintain.
I don't wear 99% of my vintage watches and pocket watches. If they're from my dad (most are) I just keep them with my others running or not.
This is precisely why I will probably never own another mechanical chronograph. They are just too expensive to maintain.
Safe with a Seagull ST1901's. £150 supplied and fitted.
Until you get a repair estimate (or two), there really isn't enough information to make a good decision.
C. Put it in a watch box. Look at it, think fondly of the memories and buy something similar more suitable for daily wear.
Perfect.
Me personally, I'd probably fix it. It's a piece of history.
Safe with a Seagull ST1901's. £150 supplied and fitted.
Until you have to service them
Until you have to service them
Who would service a ST19? Under £100 to replace 🤷
I haven’t seen anyone mention repair costs going that high. My general opinion is that the “a watch is only worth fixing if it’s nose-bleedingly expensive” is a bad attitude; and that all mechanical watches (except the cheapest and lowest AliExpress crap) are worth it.
However since this is more of an inherited piece, i won’t give ya grief. Get a quote first. And ofc i caveat all this by saying that everyone’s financial situation is different.
Who would service a ST19? Under £100 to replace 🤷
I’m not a fan of that philosophy because the result is chucking out a movement that may have just one broken part, which is antithetical to the modern mechanical watch. Might as well just get a quartz chronograph 🤷 at that point.
I’m not a fan of that philosophy because the result is chucking out a movement that may have just one broken part, which is antithetical to the modern mechanical watch. Might as well just get a quartz chronograph 🤷 at that point.
Then spent a few £100 to get them serviced. Whichever way you look at it it's cheaper than just about any other chronograph. It's the most popular chronograph ever made with spares plentiful and every watchmaker should have experience of. It's a historic movement that has proven to be reliable it's only failing seems to be it's too cheap?