Reverend Rob
Posted January 2, 2018 - 10:55am
I should add that there is no shock system on these old balances, and the sheer mass of many pocket watches means that when you drop them, chances are, there will be significant damage to the mechanism, especially the balance. If you pick up a pocket watch and look at the balance and it is dead and not moving, but seems loose in the setting, chances are the staff is broken, a very common problem.
For the purposes of collecting, you may want to walk away from such a watch, unless it is very special or you are looking for parts. Staff replacement isn't cheap, and it is better to start with a running watch.