Buying watches for repair might be a great opportunity to improve your watchmaker's skills, to source watch parts for a project that you are working on, or simply a fun way to get some unique watches. These watches for repair will be cheaper compared to normal prices, and sometimes might have only a minor issue, a quick fix, or you will find the watch part that you need for a fraction of its new price.
Moreover, it is impossible to find watch parts for some watch brands or vintage watches. Some brands went extinct, or some watch models are no longer produced, since watch brands develop new movements, new technology, new calibers, and your only option is to find an old model and salvage all the parts you can. We sell a large variety of vintage watches for parts & repair here.
In this article, we will discuss the top 5 places to buy watches for parts & repair, as well as all the things you need to consider before making a purchase.
What should you be looking for when buying watch parts or watches for repair?
When you buy vintage watches online or watch parts, there are a few things you need to consider. The first one is the seller! Is the seller you are buying from reputable? Do they have one watch for sale, 100, or more than one thousand? That can give you an idea about the seller and their authority in that field. For example, at VintageRadar, we have over 10,000 vintage watches in working condition up for sale, and more than 1,000 watches for parts and repair.
Secondly, be very precise about what you are looking for. Do you need a particular movement, a case, a dial, or more parts from the same watch model? We take several pictures of the watch case, dial, movement, and engravings on the movement, so that you can see exactly what you get. This way, you know if this is the exact movement caliber you need, if the case has any scratches or dents, or if the dial has any imperfections or water-damage.
1. Vintage Radar
Vintage Radar is one of the biggest independent online sellers of watches for repair & a great source to find the right watch parts for your watch restoration project. We have over 1,000 vintage & modern watches for repair available for purchase. Each watch is photographed separately, and also from several angles. This way you will be able to know the case or model number, the movement caliber, the condition of the dial & case, and also if there are any parts missing from the movement.
In order to get a better idea of the case size, some photos also include a 1 Euro coin, so that it makes it easier to differentiate between ladies' watches and men's wristwatches.
Heuer 2000 Quartz Chronograph 200 Meters Watch for Parts & Repair
Being a large online watch retailer, we do not have enough time and man-power to restore all watches. Watchmakers are in high demand, and that is why we list many of these non-working watches for watch enthusiasts, other collectors, or even watchmakers from across the globe in search of a specific part. You can find watches that date back to the 1920s and 1930s. Some of them can be gold-plated, gold-filled, or solid gold.
1920s 18k Paul Vallette Art-Deco Solid Gold Case:
Here is an example of a 1940s Tresor Festa Military WW2 watch movement. You can easily read 703 caliber on the back of the movement, and see that all major gears & wheels are present:
We even sell vintage quartz watches for parts. You can find high-end watches, such as Tag Heuer, Omega, Hamilton, etc.
Heuer 2000 Quartz Chronograph 200 Meters Watch for Parts & Repair
For those who are in love with pocket watches, you can find some rare ones as well, many of which have enamel dials and sterling-silver cases.
0.935 Sterling Silver Antique Pocket Watch for Parts & Repair - NOT WORKING
Additionally, we also sell various separate watch parts, such as watch crystals, for vintage and rare watch models. We have hundreds of NOS (new old stock) acrylic watch crystals for sale here.
You can find watch crystals for vintage watches from brands such as Bulova, Hamilton, Benrus, Elgin, Omega, Longines, Seiko, Girard Perregaux & more.
Rare Girard Perregaux CMS785 Watch Crystal
2. Local Flea Markets & Estate Watch Sales
Sometimes it is more fun and interesting to see the watches you buy in person before committing to any purchase. That is why local flea markets and estate sales are a great place to find watches for repair, vintage watches, and even watchmaking tools. You can take a back case opener with you in order to uncover the movements and a loupe in order to carefully inspect the dial & movement.
You can find the dates and locations online, on Facebook, on forums, or even by word of mouth.
The advantage is that you can find great deals for watches and watch parts, as many sellers just want to get rid of their "junk", giving you the chance to strike gold. However, the downside is that these flea markets and estate sales only happen once per week or month, and sometimes take long breaks over the winter season. So you might need some patience to find the right watch parts you need.
3. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace can be an easy and fast way to buy basically anything. It can also eliminate all online platform fees for both the seller and the buyer, which adds to the value you get. A useful feature offered by the platform is that you can select your city or local area and find the best deals that are within 5-10 minutes away from your home.
You can filter by your specific search terms, and can browse through hundreds of watches for repair that people found around their home and want to get rid of, whilst also making a buck or two for them. If you live in big cities, this is a wonderful way to find watch parts and watches for repair. You can contact the seller directly, ask for more photos, negotiate the price, make bundle deals, etc.
The disadvantage is that many posts nowadays are fake, with people using pictures from other listings in order to try sell something and not send the product. Also, some of you might get tired of negotiating, of meeting with people and not striking a deal, or even driving for a couple of hours only to find out that the watch is missing some parts or isn't as described.
4. eBay
By far, one of the biggest online marketplaces for basically anything you can think of is eBay. On the platform, you will find thousands of listings for watches for repair, some in better shape than others. People from all around the world sell their stuff on eBay, and it is like having access to the biggest online flea market in the world, one click away.
You can find anything from entry-level watches for parts & repair, up to Rolex & Cartier watches that are not working. For the trained eye, this can be a gold mine as you might be searching for a specific watch part that normally sells for thousands, or you know some watch references that have become rare and ultra-collectible.
On the other hand, some sellers include few pictures, mark their listings as "for parts & repair" without giving you movement references, case numbers, or even opening the case back, since they do not know how to do it. This can be both a blessing and a curse, as you do not know what you are going to get. It might be a gamble, but sometimes you might find what you are looking for.
5. Etsy
Similar to eBay, but with a modern twist, Etsy started as a marketplace for vintage & handmade items. However, in the last few years, due to high demand, the marketplace has become one for almost anything, losing its initial quality. While you can find many watches for repair, just like on eBay, you won't always get a guaratee that the product is original. Moreover, some watches for repair are listed at very high prices compared to other market places.
When it comes to vintage watches, watches for repair, or watch parts, Etsy is no longer considered a first choice. But it's always best to tick all the boxes when you're searching for a very particular watch model or a missing watch part.
How about you? Are you working on a particular watch model? Is there a particular watch part or watch reference you're currently looking for? Let us know in the comments below!
Buying a watch with Vintage Radar
At Vintage Radar, we hope to encourage you to give a second chance to vintage & pre-owned watches. Make sure to use our 10% OFF Coupon Code: WELCOME10 on your first order, or subscribe to our newsletter and get a unique 15% OFF code!