Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to clean and repair my grandfather's watch. It means a great deal to us seeing someone who cares about its history and significance bring it back to life.
Yes, and for some reason no matter how many times he's explain something I'm always happy to hear it again. It's fun to know what part is comings next. I miss him saying how much he loves the sound of putting the main spring in the last few time
as someone who's only just discovered this channel today (this is my second video after the almost-scammed 13yo kid's pocket watch one) and can confirm it's awesome :D
This is my first time watching him, or any watch technician. I didn't even realize that mechanical watches were still being used, or that people that work on them were still around.
Due to the amount of times I've watched/binged his videos, I have started to memorise the different parts and mechanisms of a watch since he's quite repetitive with some of the things he says, which I appreciate a lot! I like to test myself by trying to guess somethings before he says it lmao.
That's not the entire story. They didn't reject his watch outright; instead, they quoted him a repair cost likely five times the value of the watch itself, prompting the owner to walk away. He eventually found a UA-camr who agreed to undertake the repair, as the video would compensate for his time.
@@CarlosFogel Exactly. TV broke a few years ago. Stopped working after a weird power outage. $500 to replace, $1200 for MFG repair, $800 to DIY it. Got a new one with a surge/UPS to prevent that happening again and salvaged what I could from the old one. Sometimes the (frankly stupid) economics don't pan out.
I’ve been a tattoo shop owner & artist since the 80s and a professional touring musician. I love hand crafts. I owned a pawn shop in the 90s, I had to buy out the business when I bought my building & it took a year & a half to close out the loans to be able to shut it down so I could move in my tattoo shop. I always wanted to do watch repair and now I found you. I can watch your channel all day long. Love it. A true art. Thank you.
Maybe a side-by-side 'before' and 'after' picture a the end would make it even clearer how much the restauration improves the watches. Fantastic job again Marshall!
I've never had any interest in watch repair but something about this channel just relaxes me and totally takes my mind off any problems that I'm dealing with.
Is nice to learn all at the same time too. Even if you never learn much about watches that will help you throughout life, there's a lot to learn about mechanics and other things too. If it helps you to watch, you might like to try it yourself one day. It's sometimes much more calming and rewarding to work on things yourself.
I can't believe his local watch makers didn't want to work on this. I mean, if the guy is willing to pay to have it serviced who are they to say whether or not its worth it. In any event, great job Marshall! The watch looks great.
Was he willing to pay though? I always am wary of these stories as they tend to make a good excuse to just send it over to a certain UA-camr who might do it for free. Because why not shoot your shot in the off chance he says yes. If not, you can always go to the shop, which honestly I doubt would have much trouble working on a cheap swiss watch like this. You may not like the bill, but they can do it no problem. Too cynical?
As someone who runs a repair and restoration business (not watches, but the principals transfer), the biggest reasons why we turn down this type of work comes down to money and time. We are running a business, and we need to get paid for the time we spend doing the work -- even if we are not ultimately successful at the job. I do not agree with the 'No fix, no fee' model some other shops operate under as this just ends up raising the cost for those who's items we can fix (I would have to charge them more due to the fact that I'm spending time on projects that I'm not getting anything for). Most customers are not willing to pay for my full time and not get a working object in the end -- so I rarely offer this. Customer expectations also play a role. They have a tendency to get upset if I take on the work, am not successful, and then hand them a bill for my time and materials (even if they agreed to this beforehand). Someone doing this as a hobby, and isn't expecting to make a living off of it, can take all the time they need to take to complete a project (and even fail). I don't have that luxury. It sucks for the customer when we turn down restoring an item of high sentimental value because it's just not economically feasible to do the work and continue to stay in business. It sucks for the business owner too. I feel horrible turning down projects like this. I would love to be able to do nothing but restore objects of high sentimental value -- it's much more meaningful work than the normal jobs I do. But at the end of the day, I need to feed my family and have to turn the job down.
@@squidikka Exactly what I was thinking and I just commented on that. Glad I wasn't the only one. It's not worth it and it's not worth my time are 2 very different explainations. As a profesional I m saying "it's not worth it" almost every day, I never said "it's not worth my time" once in my life.
@@davidcameron648 I restored (sent it to a watch maker) my father's wedding watch, a 1972 Omega Geneve. The watch maker straight up told me that it would cost more to fix it up than the watch is worth, and I told him we're all good. I did pay him as the progress was made, though, and not all at once. I think he was afraid that I simply wouldn't pick up the watch if it wasn't fully fixed. It was fully fixed and came out beautifully. My dad wore the watch for my sister's wedding then gave it to me for safe keeping.
@@squidikkaI know of a watchmaker who refuses to work on certain types of “low value” Rolex because he wants to save the parts for “more important” ones. Not quite the same but watchmakers saying no is def a thing.
May not be worth major money but the memory's it holds....priceless. the extra details you showed was a joy. also watching an earlier resto, how much YOU have come along in making a video, the macro photography is stunning and crystal clear. Marshall thank you just thank you
Marshall does it again! Showing what us humans should be doing, caring for each other before absolute profit. Thank you Marshall for setting a great example.
Marshall, partially thanks to you I'm now a career watchmaker and something that I would never say to a customer whether at my day job at a jewelry store or in business for myself is that their item is not worth my time. I will carefully explain to them if the cost of a service will exceed the monetary value of their item, but if it's worth it to them it's worth it to us. Even if it was something where we thought we would lose money, (and a watch like this does not fall into that category), we would say that we can't rather than say it wasn't worth our time. To refuse business in the most insulting way possible makes no sense to me. Also I think we need to see your state of the collection video. If I am not mistaken I saw a very nice Breguet on your wrist during the ultrasonic cleaner scene and I need to see more.
"Not worth their time." Is such an odd thing for a jeweler to say. Even if the monetary value of a watch is low you lay that out to the customer and ask them if they still want to pay the high price of their work. If they feel it's worth it then do it. Plus "not worth their time" is a rather on-the-nose insult for a watch lol
Very true. Years ago I wanted my dads old gold watch restored. It was an off brand but it was something to remember my dad. The jeweler fortunately had no problem doing the work
Lots of repair people refuse work on old, low value items and not just watchmakers. Repair trades people turn down work on old, low value things because they've been burned in the past. Someone comes in with a an old watch that's worth $150 if it were running and wants it repaired because it has 'sentimental value'. Well, a complete overhaul will cost $500 because that's the amount of time the watchmaker will have in it. Makes no diff if the watch is worth $150 or $5,000. Most customers don't understand this and be accuse the watchmaker of being a scammer. Worse, people will agree to the repair then get buyer's remorse and not pick up the watch. The watchmaker is now out of money. This commonly happens in the car repair biz which is why most shops will not perform $6,000 worth of work on a car that's worth $3,000. A professional watchmaker is just that, a professional. They make their living from watchmaking, it's not a hobby.
@@lovemesomeslippers Like I said, most repair people don't want the trouble that it causes. In many instances it's impossible to give an accurate estimate before the watch is disassembled. Parts may be broken or worn out. New parts may not be available, so parts will need to be fabricated. Unless the watch is a valuable collector piece, it's not worth the headaches it will cause the watchmaker.
@@MrSloikaIt just sounds like excuses for feeling like repairing a 'mediocre' watch is beneath them. Refusing down payments doesn't make it look better. It gives Apple vibes of 'just buy a newer, better one' instead of actually making an effort to repair someone's valued property.
Similar to the TV show The Repair Shop, the story is often more valuable than the item. If I had the eyes of a younger man I would consider giving your hobby a try. Your enthusiasm is contageous. I will just have to live vicariously through your videos.
I can't believe Marshall is doing this movement. I have been following wristwatch revival for the past 2 years and have began carrying out repairs to some watches. Done a bravingtons ww2 pocket watch then my mother FE68 limit international which was so small and I have recently stripped my grandfather's Andre bouchard watch which is the exact same movement ! I'm so happy I have a reference that Marshall has done to follow! Can't wait to rebuild the watch even more now
Whenever I have a rough day I come to this channel. The soothing voice, the interesting story and the pure craftsmanship relax me everytime. Thanks Marshall.
I had my Dad's WW ll Rolex Sky-Rocket rebuilt last Fall. (He served in the Canadian Army during the war.) A fellow forum member made a Bund strap for it, and it's my favourite watch by far. It gets more wrist time than all of my other watches combined. The sentimental value is incalculable.
Wonderful video and love your channel. I dove into the watch repair hobby myself just a few short months ago for the very reason this video was made. My great-grandfather's 1960's Caravelle pocket watch has sat, non-working, in a display case for 4 decades. When I tried to find a jeweler or watch shop to revive it, the title of this video is what I was met with. I am happy to say that I have personally restored it and it means even more because it was my first watch restoration. Now, I've done four other wristwatches since the first of the year. It's very addictive to see the balance kick back to life! I have learned more from your videos than any other resource. Thank you!
Hey Marshall, stunning work as always! I have a time only Tissot in bits on my bench cleaned, pegged and ready for reassembly. My first watch with an anti-shock mounting for the balance. So far I have done 2 pocket watches and a Waltham trench watch which is like a miniature pocket watch movement and built 2 watch kits. It is partly thanks to your videos that I am starting out in the hobby. It is giving me an appreciation for what my late father used to do in his shed repairing watches to supplement his income as an avionics engineer in the 70's & 80's.
I have no idea how I found this channel, but your videos help me relax before bed and I'm incredibly grateful for your time and work! ❤ I know nothing about watches, but seeing how you remove every single cog and part, clean them up, fix troubles and end up with a perfectly working watch is amazing and awe inspiring to see! Thank you again for sharing your videos! ❤
I'm 38 and just found your channel about a month ago...I kind of fell in love with everything about this world. It's definitely something I think I'd want to give a hand at eventually. The fact that you offer kits for learning makes it all the more enticing....It's certainly nice being excited for something you need to save your money for to get started. Just wanted to give you a big thumbs up and say thanks for making such incredible content!
This is the first movement I ever worked on (literally finished it last week). The one I have is on a Caravelle and the cal. Is a ST1686. Couldn’t find any information as far as disassembly/assembly. Lost the click spring and yoke spring a couple times. lol what’s worst is that my little work area is carpet, so that makes it a lot harder than if I were on hard flooring. Anyways, got my movement back together, and the balance won’t kick up/breathe. I think when I put it through the watch cleaner machine (I have an L&R), the balance came off the plate. I must’ve secured it with the wrong screw. But now that think I have a little kink in my spring. 😢 now I’m trying to find a balance for it. It is still fun and I enjoyed the whole process. Then Marshall comes out with this video! So now I have a reference! Thank you, sir!
I wish I had the memory to be able to do things like this. I would lose track of how things went together far too easily. But I am truly in awe of people like yourself that do this. It is truly incredible to behold and I thank you both for the entertainment and the information.
Bro you are absolutely a beast and I appreciate the love and kindness you show to people. The things you do stand out and outshine other's big time. I was never interested in or thought about watching anyone repair watches until I seen your videos when my life was isht. You absolutely made my life a happier place and thank you for being such a positive person in life even though you probably never thought this could be anything like that. Thank you for giving me a new way to see that the little things in life like watching a video can bring happiness to a place where my place is sadness brother. Big Thanks!!!
When I first started watching his videos, I was suspious if his claim of being a hobbyist. His knowledge and skill level was clearly above what I would expect of a hobbyist. After some research, I found a YT video of him being interviewed. That vid changed my thinking. I then found a TV story of his work. That was broadcast on KING-TV, a Seattle station. He has no formal training as a watchmaker. He is a graduate of Everett Community College and works professionally in high tech industry. He puts lots of effort into the videos. He edits and narrates all of his projects. He never asks to like and subscribe. That's really him doing the work. His voice is also his natural inflection. Marshall...well done!
I have my dad's watch he used in WW2 as a Co-pilot in the B 17, a back up to the watch built into the instrument panel. Distance from point to point was critical to navigation in those days. He wore the same watch in 1951 when he was called up in the Korean War flying B 29's. Great video.
Seeing you restoring the heirloom watch feels so warm to my heart. I've just inherited my dad's watch (60's Eterna Matic Kontiki) after he passed away after the funeral by accident, to some might not seeing much of the value (as it worn, beloved, with some patina) but still valuable for the heart. Speaking of mine, I'll send my inherited watch to the watchmaker for some service very soon.
Any jeweler telling me my stuff is 'not worth it' is going to go on a permanent black list for me, not just for fixing or maintaining things, but for potential future purchases. Nobody gets to tell me how much my stuff is worth to me. It's condescending and disrespectful to the max. If they don't want to work on it, that's fine -- it's their right -- but don't go around throwing value statements to try and justify yourself; all you're proving is that you can't be trusted to treat my stuff with care and respect. The gall!
I'd have trouble not talking back in a quite uncouth manner. By that I mean I'd pretty much blow up if someone said that about my gramps old citizen. Might be old, might be cheap and it might be somewhat busted, but it was his and now it's mine.
@@cromotocciano unless you’ve told them it has sentimental value they are doing you a favor by telling you that. I used to fix lawnmowers and chainsaws and such and often the cheap brands cost more to fix than to replace with a new one. Occasionally we’d tell someone that and it would be their dads or grandads saw and they wanted it restored so we would do that. 99% of the time they were happy we didn’t charge them $120 to fix an $80 saw
I don't understand their argument that financially it isn't worth their time...its the owners choice and money! I suspect snobbery and lack of knowledge about the brand/movement may have been a factor for some. I do agree totally with your sentiment though.
Crazy that so many watchmakers will refuse to work on a watch, even if a customer is willing to pay. I have these shoes that I value sentimentally, and even though the cobbler told me that it wouldn't be worth repairing, I told him that I was still willing to pay, and he accepted my shoes. Bravo to you, restoring this watch!
I took up the hobby in an attempt to improve my dexterity/shakiness. It has helped. Maybe try the 18s pocket watches as they are so big that even shaky hands can get the job done. I do spend quite a bit of time on the floor looking for the parts I drop but I'm finding ways to limit this.
I love watching your videos while I'm doing paper crafting. It's like sitting down while we both do our own projects at the same time. Me cutting, gluing, taping up paper from flat images into 3D shapes while you're restoring back to life works of art. It's nice.
What a transformation! You've reset the life of this watch. I've watched many of your videos and you're more humble about your work than you should be Marshall. Amazing job as always. Alan's dad would be proud.
Another great restoration, Marshall! I've watched so many of these, and I often still get a little choked up when I see a piece of history returned to life. You just can't put a price on the joy and satisfaction of wearing a family heirloom that reminds you of someone you love who's no longer with us. Very well done!
Hey Marshall! Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos. You are partly responsible for me getting into the hobby! 1 year after I started watching your videos I was able to fully disassemble and then assemble a watch movement without prior experience during the first try! Thank you!
Always love to see you restore family heirlooms. I started out in this hobby by watching your videos. Great community of people! This one turned out awesome!
Everytime I watch a video of Watch Repair Tutorials I learn something from Mark. I'm really happy to see you give him a plug because he's such a good resource.
For me too these are the most beautiful restorations. It is not the real value that matters, but the emotional one. They are "slivers of memory" that deserve to remain forever. Well done!
Enjoyed watching your skill and commentary. Very nice of you to have undertaken this project. I know if it were my fathers watch I would not forget you.
I do not know the first thing about fixing watches or anything relating to that, but I thoroughly enjoy watching you doing your craft and the enthusiasm that you bring to the video. I hope you make a million subscribers soon. You deserve it.
I have watched your videos a few times, and in my humble opinion I really think you now your trade, my God you have patience and unbelievable skills, but I really don’t think those are your best qualities….. you really care about the watch itself and its previous journey that it has taken, never mind its new future … May the good Lord Bless you and your loved ones … you really do make a difference in peoples lives …… don’t ever change
Had to stop at min 2 just to congratulate you sir on your humanity and decency !.Proper gem! Money cant buy memories and a 20£ watch from a loved one is worth more than a Rolex
This is why I love watches the history the passion, the collectors we get, and it was my grandfather who got made to Watches. He said Watch will make you be on time. Will make you go to get up in the morning do your chores before you go to school Even so much to him and he taught me that I learned so much and I still got his 1960s Bulova !!!!
Nowadays, all those who are not genuines watchmakers they don't care about these timepieces history like you do, they care only about money. But with passionate watchmakes like you who spread this passion all over around you, we are very happy to follow your youtube channel and see all that work and timepieces passion because we are on the same wavelenght with you, we feel like you, man. You are "ON AIR", mister, and i like your "radio station". I'm verry happy watching your work here, so, keep it like this!
I love your channel! As a jeweler, I can say that sometimes the retail labor cost for a repair does outweigh it's value or can be more than we feel is fair to ask. It may sound harsh to say the cost benefit ratio is beyond what we are comfortable with, but it's is the spirit of full disclosure and the necessity to cut losses. Generally our aim is to have happy customers and sometimes avoiding disappointment is the best option.
Exactly. If the work will be $150 on an item which is worth $100, I tell them and let them decide. Sometimes if it has great sentimental value they will say go ahead, which I am happy to do.
Such great work to save an heirloom. I can only imagine the process to make these tiny gears and screws, and figure out where each one goes to make a total working watch. ❤
I just came to your channel a few days ago and it's great, that you comment every step you are doing. as I'm just starting into the DIY watchrepair thing, this helps me a lot 🙂
I truly enjoy the education you provide in this channel. Your attention to detail and professionalism is apparent start to finish. And, your clarity and personal engagement with both your clients and web audience is unmatched. Please keep up the good work.
Watching your videos gave me the courage to take on a small watch-related project! I completely disassembled my cheapy Invicta dive watch and cleaned/serviced the movement. I ended up having to order 2 separate movements just to come up with parts I either lost or broke and had multiple gigabytes of raw video I sifted through tirelessly to figure out where everything went! All in all, it was an incredible experience. I love watching your videos but will never do that again LOL
I truly enjoy your videos. It is very enjoyable to watch a true craftsman plying a skill which brings so much joy to people who would otherwise loose valuable treasures for their families. As an engineer/technician i would like to offer a suggestion. Remove all the O-ring seals before cleaning the parts. O-rings seal around every surfaces they contact and anything left behind could result in a seal failure/leak. Try using a toothpick to get into those tight places without damaging the base material thus reducing the possibility of causing damage/scratches caused by metal tools (some toothpicks are made from softwood and others are made from bamboo which is slightly harder). I know you often use peg-wood to clean jewels, etc. but toothpicks don't require sharpening and they are cheap 😊
Whenever I watch Marshall do anything, I feel confident throughout the entire video that he gets everything done correctly with precision and perfection.
These projects are probably a pain to work on, but these are by far my favorite videos you make. Taking something tarnished, dirty, and well-worn and restoring it. You are a true craftsman.
I really appreciate your camera work, it makes it so much easier to see everything. It's also wonderful that you are willing to work on watches that need a service regardless of their market value. It's frustrating that others wouldn't work on it because "it wasn't worth it (financially)." Sometimes taking time to service an item of quality regardless of the financial aspects is the right thing to do even if it isn't financially advantageous. That's one thing that has me thinking about learning to service watches...
It’s why hobbyists like you and I Marshall exist. I’ve had this in many of my videos and work off camera where you are working on watches that watchmakers refuse. Personally I think it depends on the company you choose to do the work. A good one man professional watchmaker would usually take it on for a price but any larger outfit does not want the hassle of parts are required, especially if they are brand approved. The standard response it that it’s not worth the money spent which materialistically is correct but not when memories attached. I love fixing ones like this for people as you are giving them their memories back and for a non complicated watch like this it’s less than 2 hours of work easily.
Right.. and don't forget they have to guarantee it, so fixing something the proper way is the only way a lot of watchmakers work, and that might cost too much for the customer.
@@hockeyrd99 whilst I agree they still take on the vintage high end brands. A £5 watch that was your fathers and holds all those memories is worth more than any Rolex for instance, the mechanics are the same , same skill and oils etc . A simple movement like in Marshalls video a pro can do all day long without even blinking . I think if I was a pro as long as someone was willing to pay then I’d take it on. For them it’s just work. My local professional of 50 years service watched a video I did on a 100 year old Omega and was pleased my my enthusiasm and interest to fix something so old, he said to me that he had lost all of that energy decades ago but he was happy to see people still with a passion even if we’re just hobbyists.
@@MyRetroWatches I agree Michael, and most ARE willing to pay what a pro would ask.. wasn't trying to take a side. I have the same issues as you and Marshall. I do this as a hobby, been doing it almost 25 years. When I show my latest "work of art" to my watchmaker friend, the first thing he always says is "how much time did you spend on that?" Then he does the math to see how much $$ an hour I made. He always takes the most expensive jobs first. I just work on jobs that I think I'll enjoy. I do sell what I make, but I am retired and have other income. The other thing most folks don't take into consideration is that while overhauling a watch like this may only take an hour, so much more time is needed to film and edit the video to make something enjoyable to the viewer.
I never thought I would watch something like this from beginning to end and enjoy every single detail. I wouldn't watch a motorcycle or firearm restoration video this long and I'm a big firearm and motorcycle enthusiast.
Fantastic explanation and demonstration of watch timing regulation. So glad to be able to watch you (no pun intended) get the watch running as accurately as it can. Thanks!
Such a cool timepiece and definitely worth saving not only because its a family heirloom but its also a piece of history that will now have plenty of life left due to your amazing work. Great job with this one Marshal!
Thank you for such an illuminated cleaning of a family watch. I was told a small ladies Swiss 1920's watch belonging to my mother,which was working but needed the two strap bars replaced. I still haven't been able to get it fixed. I wanted to give it to my Granddaughter. Hugh Somerset UK
Came here by accident at 5.00am, so I started to watch and became more and more amazed how these little “machines “ are made in the first place and secondly how this “ repair” man (horlogier]knows how to dismantle it and put it back together !!!🤙🤙🤙 splendid stuff !
I love this watch. The dial is beautiful. The dial is very simple yet tasteful. It is nice to have some memento to remind you of your father. I believe I would have wanted to re-surface and polish the watch-case to make it pop. However, that is up to the owner to decide. Nice video. Good effort to clean and reassemble the watch mechanism. Thanks for making a video of this watch repair.
what an absolutely amazing restoration! Im sure he was incredibly happy with the end result! So cool to see the level of care and detail that goes into repairing this watch!
Although I’ve followed Marshall for a long time, Max from Watch Crunch was the first person that I heard naming him “the Bob Ross of watch repair.” Here is exactly why… Greetings from Puerto Rico!
You sir are the Bob Ross of watch repair.
i came here to post that very comment, lol.
@@johnsteele7201 same here :)
Who sounds just like Seth Rogen lol
Awesome
But, without slamming the Devil out of it.😈
Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to clean and repair my grandfather's watch. It means a great deal to us seeing someone who cares about its history and significance bring it back to life.
Great appreciation and admiration for you as well as for Marshall for valuing the true things in life, and not just run behind material value.
I love how he treats every video as if its someone's first time watching him. very approachable.
Yes, and for some reason no matter how many times he's explain something I'm always happy to hear it again. It's fun to know what part is comings next. I miss him saying how much he loves the sound of putting the main spring in the last few time
as someone who's only just discovered this channel today (this is my second video after the almost-scammed 13yo kid's pocket watch one) and can confirm it's awesome :D
This is my first time watching him, or any watch technician. I didn't even realize that mechanical watches were still being used, or that people that work on them were still around.
It was definitely my first time, I appreciate how fascinating this is and I had no idea!
Due to the amount of times I've watched/binged his videos, I have started to memorise the different parts and mechanisms of a watch since he's quite repetitive with some of the things he says, which I appreciate a lot! I like to test myself by trying to guess somethings before he says it lmao.
“Not worth the cost” is a throwaway mentality! Repair whenever possible. Thank you.
That's not the entire story. They didn't reject his watch outright; instead, they quoted him a repair cost likely five times the value of the watch itself, prompting the owner to walk away. He eventually found a UA-camr who agreed to undertake the repair, as the video would compensate for his time.
@@CarlosFogel Exactly. TV broke a few years ago. Stopped working after a weird power outage. $500 to replace, $1200 for MFG repair, $800 to DIY it. Got a new one with a surge/UPS to prevent that happening again and salvaged what I could from the old one. Sometimes the (frankly stupid) economics don't pan out.
@@CarlosFogel wait, did the watch owner say that somewhere?
@@CarlosFogel where are you getting that information?
@@hel117 Out of his ass
"That'd be perfectly acceptable, but I can do better."
That tells us everything we need to know about Marshal! 😀
Are you serious?
I’ve been a tattoo shop owner & artist since the 80s and a professional touring musician.
I love hand crafts.
I owned a pawn shop in the 90s, I had to buy out the business when I bought my building & it took a year & a half to close out the loans to be able to shut it down so I could move in my tattoo shop. I always wanted to do watch repair and now I found you. I can watch your channel all day long. Love it. A true art. Thank you.
Maybe a side-by-side 'before' and 'after' picture a the end would make it even clearer how much the restauration improves the watches. Fantastic job again Marshall!
Most jewelry stores today do not employ watchmakers. Watchmaking is a dying art. Thank you for keeping it alive.
I've never had any interest in watch repair but something about this channel just relaxes me and totally takes my mind off any problems that I'm dealing with.
Is nice to learn all at the same time too. Even if you never learn much about watches that will help you throughout life, there's a lot to learn about mechanics and other things too. If it helps you to watch, you might like to try it yourself one day. It's sometimes much more calming and rewarding to work on things yourself.
I can't believe his local watch makers didn't want to work on this. I mean, if the guy is willing to pay to have it serviced who are they to say whether or not its worth it. In any event, great job Marshall! The watch looks great.
Was he willing to pay though? I always am wary of these stories as they tend to make a good excuse to just send it over to a certain UA-camr who might do it for free. Because why not shoot your shot in the off chance he says yes. If not, you can always go to the shop, which honestly I doubt would have much trouble working on a cheap swiss watch like this. You may not like the bill, but they can do it no problem. Too cynical?
As someone who runs a repair and restoration business (not watches, but the principals transfer), the biggest reasons why we turn down this type of work comes down to money and time. We are running a business, and we need to get paid for the time we spend doing the work -- even if we are not ultimately successful at the job. I do not agree with the 'No fix, no fee' model some other shops operate under as this just ends up raising the cost for those who's items we can fix (I would have to charge them more due to the fact that I'm spending time on projects that I'm not getting anything for). Most customers are not willing to pay for my full time and not get a working object in the end -- so I rarely offer this. Customer expectations also play a role. They have a tendency to get upset if I take on the work, am not successful, and then hand them a bill for my time and materials (even if they agreed to this beforehand). Someone doing this as a hobby, and isn't expecting to make a living off of it, can take all the time they need to take to complete a project (and even fail). I don't have that luxury. It sucks for the customer when we turn down restoring an item of high sentimental value because it's just not economically feasible to do the work and continue to stay in business. It sucks for the business owner too. I feel horrible turning down projects like this. I would love to be able to do nothing but restore objects of high sentimental value -- it's much more meaningful work than the normal jobs I do. But at the end of the day, I need to feed my family and have to turn the job down.
@@squidikka Exactly what I was thinking and I just commented on that. Glad I wasn't the only one.
It's not worth it and it's not worth my time are 2 very different explainations.
As a profesional I m saying "it's not worth it" almost every day, I never said "it's not worth my time" once in my life.
@@davidcameron648 I restored (sent it to a watch maker) my father's wedding watch, a 1972 Omega Geneve. The watch maker straight up told me that it would cost more to fix it up than the watch is worth, and I told him we're all good. I did pay him as the progress was made, though, and not all at once. I think he was afraid that I simply wouldn't pick up the watch if it wasn't fully fixed. It was fully fixed and came out beautifully. My dad wore the watch for my sister's wedding then gave it to me for safe keeping.
@@squidikkaI know of a watchmaker who refuses to work on certain types of “low value” Rolex because he wants to save the parts for “more important” ones. Not quite the same but watchmakers saying no is def a thing.
May not be worth major money
but the memory's it holds....priceless.
the extra details you showed was a joy.
also watching an earlier resto, how much YOU have come along in making a video, the macro photography is stunning and crystal clear.
Marshall thank you just thank you
Marshall does it again! Showing what us humans should be doing, caring for each other before absolute profit. Thank you Marshall for setting a great example.
Marshall, partially thanks to you I'm now a career watchmaker and something that I would never say to a customer whether at my day job at a jewelry store or in business for myself is that their item is not worth my time. I will carefully explain to them if the cost of a service will exceed the monetary value of their item, but if it's worth it to them it's worth it to us. Even if it was something where we thought we would lose money, (and a watch like this does not fall into that category), we would say that we can't rather than say it wasn't worth our time. To refuse business in the most insulting way possible makes no sense to me.
Also I think we need to see your state of the collection video. If I am not mistaken I saw a very nice Breguet on your wrist during the ultrasonic cleaner scene and I need to see more.
Have been watching for a long time now! Petitioning to have a quick wrist check at the beginning of each episode!
"Not worth their time." Is such an odd thing for a jeweler to say. Even if the monetary value of a watch is low you lay that out to the customer and ask them if they still want to pay the high price of their work. If they feel it's worth it then do it. Plus "not worth their time" is a rather on-the-nose insult for a watch lol
Very true.
Years ago I wanted my dads old gold watch restored. It was an off brand but it was something to remember my dad. The jeweler fortunately had no problem doing the work
Lots of repair people refuse work on old, low value items and not just watchmakers. Repair trades people turn down work on old, low value things because they've been burned in the past. Someone comes in with a an old watch that's worth $150 if it were running and wants it repaired because it has 'sentimental value'. Well, a complete overhaul will cost $500 because that's the amount of time the watchmaker will have in it. Makes no diff if the watch is worth $150 or $5,000. Most customers don't understand this and be accuse the watchmaker of being a scammer. Worse, people will agree to the repair then get buyer's remorse and not pick up the watch. The watchmaker is now out of money. This commonly happens in the car repair biz which is why most shops will not perform $6,000 worth of work on a car that's worth $3,000. A professional watchmaker is just that, a professional. They make their living from watchmaking, it's not a hobby.
@@MrSloikaso tell the price before you start. Or get a deposit. I’m trying to get my grandfathers watch fixed and I’ve been refused. Ridiculous.
@@lovemesomeslippers Like I said, most repair people don't want the trouble that it causes. In many instances it's impossible to give an accurate estimate before the watch is disassembled. Parts may be broken or worn out. New parts may not be available, so parts will need to be fabricated. Unless the watch is a valuable collector piece, it's not worth the headaches it will cause the watchmaker.
@@MrSloikaIt just sounds like excuses for feeling like repairing a 'mediocre' watch is beneath them. Refusing down payments doesn't make it look better. It gives Apple vibes of 'just buy a newer, better one' instead of actually making an effort to repair someone's valued property.
Thank you Marshall, for including us on your journeys through time.
Similar to the TV show The Repair Shop, the story is often more valuable than the item. If I had the eyes of a younger man I would consider giving your hobby a try. Your enthusiasm is contageous. I will just have to live vicariously through your videos.
Dissed sapphire glass. Legend. My watch cried a wee bit.
I can't believe Marshall is doing this movement. I have been following wristwatch revival for the past 2 years and have began carrying out repairs to some watches. Done a bravingtons ww2 pocket watch then my mother FE68 limit international which was so small and I have recently stripped my grandfather's Andre bouchard watch which is the exact same movement ! I'm so happy I have a reference that Marshall has done to follow! Can't wait to rebuild the watch even more now
Whenever I have a rough day I come to this channel. The soothing voice, the interesting story and the pure craftsmanship relax me everytime. Thanks Marshall.
15:41 whenever the main spring winder comes out, Marshall talks prouder than dad about their kid who just scored perfect 10s across the board.
I'm not surprised; they're very satisfying to use.
You, sir, should be regarded as a national treasure for the work you put into these videos! Amazing
I had my Dad's WW ll Rolex Sky-Rocket rebuilt last Fall. (He served in the Canadian Army during the war.) A fellow forum member made a Bund strap for it, and it's my favourite watch by far. It gets more wrist time than all of my other watches combined. The sentimental value is incalculable.
Wonderful video and love your channel. I dove into the watch repair hobby myself just a few short months ago for the very reason this video was made. My great-grandfather's 1960's Caravelle pocket watch has sat, non-working, in a display case for 4 decades. When I tried to find a jeweler or watch shop to revive it, the title of this video is what I was met with. I am happy to say that I have personally restored it and it means even more because it was my first watch restoration. Now, I've done four other wristwatches since the first of the year. It's very addictive to see the balance kick back to life! I have learned more from your videos than any other resource. Thank you!
Watching what you do is such a joy. You understand that value is in the eye of the beholder, not in dollars and cents. Thank you.
Hey Marshall, stunning work as always!
I have a time only Tissot in bits on my bench cleaned, pegged and ready for reassembly. My first watch with an anti-shock mounting for the balance.
So far I have done 2 pocket watches and a Waltham trench watch which is like a miniature pocket watch movement and built 2 watch kits.
It is partly thanks to your videos that I am starting out in the hobby. It is giving me an appreciation for what my late father used to do in his shed repairing watches to supplement his income as an avionics engineer in the 70's & 80's.
I have no idea how I found this channel, but your videos help me relax before bed and I'm incredibly grateful for your time and work! ❤
I know nothing about watches, but seeing how you remove every single cog and part, clean them up, fix troubles and end up with a perfectly working watch is amazing and awe inspiring to see!
Thank you again for sharing your videos! ❤
This was me: “I can’t think of anything more boring than a 45 minute watch repair video.”
“I need to watch every video on this channel!!”
That kind of watch and that kind of non snobbery is fantastic - i think you are just spot on in dealing with this beauty - thank you very much!
It is admirable of you repairing the watch for sentimental value and knowing that most people don't.
When your new video comes out it feels like a new episode of our favourite tv series is aired. I really like your content mate . ❤❤
Marshall I have said this before but you are the consummate professional and a very gifted instructor. Great respect from sunny Scotland.
I'm 38 and just found your channel about a month ago...I kind of fell in love with everything about this world.
It's definitely something I think I'd want to give a hand at eventually. The fact that you offer kits for learning makes it all the more enticing....It's certainly nice being excited for something you need to save your money for to get started.
Just wanted to give you a big thumbs up and say thanks for making such incredible content!
Another good job sir and possessions matter to people welldone for your time to do this😊😊 respect
This is the first movement I ever worked on (literally finished it last week). The one I have is on a Caravelle and the cal. Is a ST1686. Couldn’t find any information as far as disassembly/assembly. Lost the click spring and yoke spring a couple times. lol what’s worst is that my little work area is carpet, so that makes it a lot harder than if I were on hard flooring. Anyways, got my movement back together, and the balance won’t kick up/breathe. I think when I put it through the watch cleaner machine (I have an L&R), the balance came off the plate. I must’ve secured it with the wrong screw. But now that think I have a little kink in my spring. 😢 now I’m trying to find a balance for it. It is still fun and I enjoyed the whole process. Then Marshall comes out with this video! So now I have a reference! Thank you, sir!
I wish I had the memory to be able to do things like this. I would lose track of how things went together far too easily. But I am truly in awe of people like yourself that do this. It is truly incredible to behold and I thank you both for the entertainment and the information.
Bro you are absolutely a beast and I appreciate the love and kindness you show to people. The things you do stand out and outshine other's big time. I was never interested in or thought about watching anyone repair watches until I seen your videos when my life was isht. You absolutely made my life a happier place and thank you for being such a positive person in life even though you probably never thought this could be anything like that. Thank you for giving me a new way to see that the little things in life like watching a video can bring happiness to a place where my place is sadness brother. Big Thanks!!!
When I first started watching his videos, I was suspious if his claim of being a hobbyist. His knowledge and skill level was clearly above what I would expect of a hobbyist. After some research, I found a YT video of him being interviewed. That vid changed my thinking. I then found a TV story of his work. That was broadcast on KING-TV, a Seattle station. He has no formal training as a watchmaker. He is a graduate of Everett Community College and works professionally in high tech industry. He puts lots of effort into the videos. He edits and narrates all of his projects. He never asks to like and subscribe. That's really him doing the work. His voice is also his natural inflection. Marshall...well done!
Definitely worth saving, and Schild movements are very good.
I have my dad's watch he used in WW2 as a Co-pilot in the B 17, a back up to the watch built into the instrument panel. Distance from point to point was critical to navigation in those days. He wore the same watch in 1951 when he was called up in the Korean War flying B 29's. Great video.
The balance wheel rocking back and forth in the post cleaning b-roll was fantastic.
Seeing you restoring the heirloom watch feels so warm to my heart.
I've just inherited my dad's watch (60's Eterna Matic Kontiki) after he passed away after the funeral by accident, to some might not seeing much of the value (as it worn, beloved, with some patina) but still valuable for the heart.
Speaking of mine, I'll send my inherited watch to the watchmaker for some service very soon.
Any jeweler telling me my stuff is 'not worth it' is going to go on a permanent black list for me, not just for fixing or maintaining things, but for potential future purchases. Nobody gets to tell me how much my stuff is worth to me. It's condescending and disrespectful to the max. If they don't want to work on it, that's fine -- it's their right -- but don't go around throwing value statements to try and justify yourself; all you're proving is that you can't be trusted to treat my stuff with care and respect. The gall!
I'd have trouble not talking back in a quite uncouth manner.
By that I mean I'd pretty much blow up if someone said that about my gramps old citizen.
Might be old, might be cheap and it might be somewhat busted, but it was his and now it's mine.
@@cromotocciano unless you’ve told them it has sentimental value they are doing you a favor by telling you that. I used to fix lawnmowers and chainsaws and such and often the cheap brands cost more to fix than to replace with a new one. Occasionally we’d tell someone that and it would be their dads or grandads saw and they wanted it restored so we would do that. 99% of the time they were happy we didn’t charge them $120 to fix an $80 saw
I don't understand their argument that financially it isn't worth their time...its the owners choice and money! I suspect snobbery and lack of knowledge about the brand/movement may have been a factor for some.
I do agree totally with your sentiment though.
Crazy that so many watchmakers will refuse to work on a watch, even if a customer is willing to pay. I have these shoes that I value sentimentally, and even though the cobbler told me that it wouldn't be worth repairing, I told him that I was still willing to pay, and he accepted my shoes. Bravo to you, restoring this watch!
tbh you sound like the Bob Ross of watches
Or the lock picking lawyer!
Wearing a watch every day, stil surpriced how small the inside peace's are love your video's
I wish i found this hobby when i was younger. My hands shake and parts would be flying everywhere🤣. I'll just watch you do it
My heart goes out to you, my friend. I don't have the shaky hands, but my eyesight is my issue. Hate getting old.
I took up the hobby in an attempt to improve my dexterity/shakiness. It has helped. Maybe try the 18s pocket watches as they are so big that even shaky hands can get the job done.
I do spend quite a bit of time on the floor looking for the parts I drop but I'm finding ways to limit this.
For me, I cant see those tiny parts well enough. Not even with my reading glasses.
I love watching your videos while I'm doing paper crafting. It's like sitting down while we both do our own projects at the same time. Me cutting, gluing, taping up paper from flat images into 3D shapes while you're restoring back to life works of art. It's nice.
What a transformation! You've reset the life of this watch. I've watched many of your videos and you're more humble about your work than you should be Marshall. Amazing job as always. Alan's dad would be proud.
Another great restoration, Marshall!
I've watched so many of these, and I often still get a little choked up when I see a piece of history returned to life.
You just can't put a price on the joy and satisfaction of wearing a family heirloom that reminds you of someone you love who's no longer with us.
Very well done!
Perfect example of a super cool vintage watch. Made all the more special having belonged to his dad. Great restoration.
Hey Marshall! Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos. You are partly responsible for me getting into the hobby! 1 year after I started watching your videos I was able to fully disassemble and then assemble a watch movement without prior experience during the first try! Thank you!
Always love to see you restore family heirlooms. I started out in this hobby by watching your videos. Great community of people! This one turned out awesome!
Everytime I watch a video of Watch Repair Tutorials I learn something from Mark. I'm really happy to see you give him a plug because he's such a good resource.
For me too these are the most beautiful restorations. It is not the real value that matters, but the emotional one. They are "slivers of memory" that deserve to remain forever. Well done!
Great job restoring a beautiful vintage watch. A simple cleaning is sometimes all a watch needs! 👍
Enjoyed watching your skill and commentary. Very nice of you to have undertaken this project. I know if it were my fathers watch I would not forget you.
I like that you accept projects that are sentimental. Priceless work that you do.
I do not know the first thing about fixing watches or anything relating to that, but I thoroughly enjoy watching you doing your craft and the enthusiasm that you bring to the video. I hope you make a million subscribers soon. You deserve it.
I have watched your videos a few times, and in my humble opinion I really think you now your trade, my God you have patience
and unbelievable skills, but I really don’t think those are your best qualities….. you really care about the watch itself and its previous journey that it has taken, never mind its new future … May the good Lord Bless you and your loved ones … you really do make a difference in peoples lives …… don’t ever change
I really love the extra commentary about tools and equipment in this one. Thanks, Marshall!
Had to stop at min 2 just to congratulate you sir on your humanity and decency !.Proper gem! Money cant buy memories and a 20£ watch from a loved one is worth more than a Rolex
This is why I love watches the history the passion, the collectors we get, and it was my grandfather who got made to Watches. He said Watch will make you be on time. Will make you go to get up in the morning do your chores before you go to school Even so much to him and he taught me that I learned so much and I still got his 1960s Bulova !!!!
Nowadays, all those who are not genuines watchmakers they don't care about these timepieces history like you do, they care only about money. But with passionate watchmakes like you who spread this passion all over around you, we are very happy to follow your youtube channel and see all that work and timepieces passion because we are on the same wavelenght with you, we feel like you, man. You are "ON AIR", mister, and i like your "radio station". I'm verry happy watching your work here, so, keep it like this!
I am always entranced by the process, but my favorite part of these videos now is the vignette of the finished product. So sublime. So beautiful.
I love that you care about the history of the piece, not just its monetary value.
I love your channel! As a jeweler, I can say that sometimes the retail labor cost for a repair does outweigh it's value or can be more than we feel is fair to ask. It may sound harsh to say the cost benefit ratio is beyond what we are comfortable with, but it's is the spirit of full disclosure and the necessity to cut losses. Generally our aim is to have happy customers and sometimes avoiding disappointment is the best option.
Exactly. If the work will be $150 on an item which is worth $100, I tell them and let them decide. Sometimes if it has great sentimental value they will say go ahead, which I am happy to do.
Such great work to save an heirloom. I can only imagine the process to make these tiny gears and screws, and figure out where each one goes to make a total working watch. ❤
I just came to your channel a few days ago and it's great, that you comment every step you are doing. as I'm just starting into the DIY watchrepair thing, this helps me a lot 🙂
Awesome job, sir. Memories are important, especially family ones. There absolutely is value in restoring and passing down these items.
What a FANTASTIC looking watch!
Really enjoyed watching you bring an old watch back to life. They are great pieces of mechanical engineering
I truly enjoy the education you provide in this channel. Your attention to detail and professionalism is apparent start to finish. And, your clarity and personal engagement with both your clients and web audience is unmatched. Please keep up the good work.
Marshall, I can watch your skills forever, the best part is how you explain everything in a cool way, THANK YOU!
Started to watch your videos as a "simple" watch lover, and now i am a proud watchmaker. Great job here Marshall ! As usual
Watching your videos gave me the courage to take on a small watch-related project! I completely disassembled my cheapy Invicta dive watch and cleaned/serviced the movement. I ended up having to order 2 separate movements just to come up with parts I either lost or broke and had multiple gigabytes of raw video I sifted through tirelessly to figure out where everything went! All in all, it was an incredible experience. I love watching your videos but will never do that again LOL
I truly enjoy your videos. It is very enjoyable to watch a true craftsman plying a skill which brings so much joy to people who would otherwise loose valuable treasures for their families.
As an engineer/technician i would like to offer a suggestion. Remove all the O-ring seals before cleaning the parts. O-rings seal around every surfaces they contact and anything left behind could result in a seal failure/leak. Try using a toothpick to get into those tight places without damaging the base material thus reducing the possibility of causing damage/scratches caused by metal tools (some toothpicks are made from softwood and others are made from bamboo which is slightly harder). I know you often use peg-wood to clean jewels, etc. but toothpicks don't require sharpening and they are cheap 😊
Whenever I watch Marshall do anything, I feel confident throughout the entire video that he gets everything done correctly with precision and perfection.
Such a beautiful watch! These are my favorite videos, when you’re restoring something that has the kind of value beyond dollars.
These projects are probably a pain to work on, but these are by far my favorite videos you make. Taking something tarnished, dirty, and well-worn and restoring it. You are a true craftsman.
I really appreciate your camera work, it makes it so much easier to see everything. It's also wonderful that you are willing to work on watches that need a service regardless of their market value. It's frustrating that others wouldn't work on it because "it wasn't worth it (financially)." Sometimes taking time to service an item of quality regardless of the financial aspects is the right thing to do even if it isn't financially advantageous. That's one thing that has me thinking about learning to service watches...
Great job, as always!
🎉😊 Another great family memory save. Well done again!! 👍🏻
It’s why hobbyists like you and I Marshall exist. I’ve had this in many of my videos and work off camera where you are working on watches that watchmakers refuse.
Personally I think it depends on the company you choose to do the work. A good one man professional watchmaker would usually take it on for a price but any larger outfit does not want the hassle of parts are required, especially if they are brand approved.
The standard response it that it’s not worth the money spent which materialistically is correct but not when memories attached.
I love fixing ones like this for people as you are giving them their memories back and for a non complicated watch like this it’s less than 2 hours of work easily.
Right.. and don't forget they have to guarantee it, so fixing something the proper way is the only way a lot of watchmakers work, and that might cost too much for the customer.
@@hockeyrd99 whilst I agree they still take on the vintage high end brands. A £5 watch that was your fathers and holds all those memories is worth more than any Rolex for instance, the mechanics are the same , same skill and oils etc . A simple movement like in Marshalls video a pro can do all day long without even blinking .
I think if I was a pro as long as someone was willing to pay then I’d take it on. For them it’s just work.
My local professional of 50 years service watched a video I did on a 100 year old Omega and was pleased my my enthusiasm and interest to fix something so old, he said to me that he had lost all of that energy decades ago but he was happy to see people still with a passion even if we’re just hobbyists.
@@MyRetroWatches I agree Michael, and most ARE willing to pay what a pro would ask.. wasn't trying to take a side. I have the same issues as you and Marshall. I do this as a hobby, been doing it almost 25 years. When I show my latest "work of art" to my watchmaker friend, the first thing he always says is "how much time did you spend on that?" Then he does the math to see how much $$ an hour I made. He always takes the most expensive jobs first. I just work on jobs that I think I'll enjoy. I do sell what I make, but I am retired and have other income.
The other thing most folks don't take into consideration is that while overhauling a watch like this may only take an hour, so much more time is needed to film and edit the video to make something enjoyable to the viewer.
I never thought I would watch something like this from beginning to end and enjoy every single detail. I wouldn't watch a motorcycle or firearm restoration video this long and I'm a big firearm and motorcycle enthusiast.
Absolutely a peach of a job Marshal...well done and thank you for the story.
Looks great, Glad there are people like you willing to help people out.
Fantastic explanation and demonstration of watch timing regulation. So glad to be able to watch you (no pun intended) get the watch running as accurately as it can. Thanks!
Once again, excellent Job Marshal. Thank you for showing the extra steps. I do love this channel. 💛
It still amazes me how you know where everything goes when putting the watch back together…. Fantastic!
What a beautiful gesture. Well done.
I love what you did for that awesome watch - AND - your attitude and love toward the watch and the owner! Thank you!
Such a cool timepiece and definitely worth saving not only because its a family heirloom but its also a piece of history that will now have plenty of life left due to your amazing work. Great job with this one Marshal!
Stunning results on this one. It came out really nice!
Thank you for such an illuminated cleaning of a family watch. I was told a small ladies Swiss 1920's watch belonging to my mother,which was working but needed the two strap bars replaced. I still haven't been able to get it fixed. I wanted to give it to my Granddaughter.
Hugh Somerset UK
Marshall is the Bob Ross of our time.
Straight-up.
/Thanks Marshall. You are ok with watches. You are A+ in communication.
//love it, Sir!
Came here by accident at 5.00am, so I started to watch and became more and more amazed how these little “machines “ are made in the first place and secondly how this “ repair” man (horlogier]knows how to dismantle it and put it back together !!!🤙🤙🤙 splendid stuff !
I love this watch. The dial is beautiful. The dial is very simple yet tasteful. It is nice to have some memento to remind you of your father. I believe I would have wanted to re-surface and polish the watch-case to make it pop. However, that is up to the owner to decide. Nice video. Good effort to clean and reassemble the watch mechanism. Thanks for making a video of this watch repair.
what an absolutely amazing restoration! Im sure he was incredibly happy with the end result! So cool to see the level of care and detail that goes into repairing this watch!
This channel has such a calming aura. Thank you.
Although I’ve followed Marshall for a long time, Max from Watch Crunch was the first person that I heard naming him “the Bob Ross of watch repair.” Here is exactly why… Greetings from Puerto Rico!
Really excellent close up camera work.