San Francisco Antique Watch Repair

June 12, 2007 3:59 PM

I'd like to find a San Francisco based antique watch repair shop that does impeccable work. Price is not an issue, as the watch is the only thing I have from my great-grandmother and is of the utmost sentimental value. The wristwatch is silver, with no visible manufacturer's mark, and is approximately 85 years old. The face needs cleaning and the mechanism likely is in decent shape, but needs cleaning as well.
posted by judith to shopping (6 comments total)

If the Peninsula isn't too far out of your reach, I have a guy in Redwood City who has done quite a bit of work for us, including repairing and cleaning the watch my husband inherited from his grandfather. My email is in my profile.
posted by padraigin at 4:07 PM on June 12, 2007

If you're looking for someone in SF proper, you might try Baume Swiss Jeweler in the lobby of 325 Mason St. We've been bringing our watches across the bay to him for 12 years now. "The little Swiss man" (as we call him around my house) is absolutely meticulous. My wife just took a watch to him that belongs to her father, and is roughly the same vintage as yours. He cleaned and repaired it for a reasonable charge, then kept it for a couple of weeks to make sure it was running properly before letting her take it home.

(no affiliation, not Swiss, just a happy customer.)
posted by harkin banks at 4:45 PM on June 12, 2007

This shop looks interesting. No real recommendation here, but I pass by most every day.
posted by vaportrail at 7:15 PM on June 12, 2007

My dad swears by Urs at Swiss Timepieces in Marin. He's super-nice. Tell him Dr. Goldfine's daughter sent you.
posted by radioamy at 9:50 AM on June 13, 2007

Well, I can't officially mark it as "best answer" till I get the watch back, but I met the little Swiss man today and gave him the watch. We'll see how it goes! Thanks so much for the recommendations, all.
posted by judith at 8:54 PM on June 14, 2007

The little Swiss man did a wonderful job - thanks so much for the recommendation!
posted by judith at 1:24 PM on July 12, 2007