Nothing wrong with a nice basic Timex! I have a half dozen of them ...

 

I forgot how much I like the sound of watch-ticking. I keep holding it up to my ear to hear it. lol

 

I remember the neighborhood drug store in the late 60's. Close to the cash register would be a revolving display case filled with 12-18 Timex watches, all priced from $14.95 on up to $29.95.

 

Alas my $2 was not well spent. It worked less than 24 hours on one wind. Ah well. I've spent more on a pack of gum, so I think I'll survive.

 

What do you mean by "one wind". That is a misleading choice of words. Does one wind mean a single rotation of the scown? Or does it mean one series of approximately18-20 turns of the crown. If you meant one single turn, then it would be a miracle if the watch ran for more than an hour or two.

I remember the neighborhood drug store in the late 60's. Close to the cash register would be a revolving display case filled with 12-18.It work less than 24 hours. What - the display case?
Sorry, but MY boyhood was filled with Timexes. Of the maybe 8 I've owned in my lifetime, they ALL lived up to their advertising slogan "Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking." My father was the only man I knew who couldn't wear a timex foer more than a week. He was cursed with an irregular pulse that seemed to knock inexpensive watches ouy-of-whack.( He was quite happy his GRUEN WALTHAM, and HILTON lasted as long as he did.

 

It sounds like your movement needs a disasseblye and a sonic bath, The winding train is probably gunked up with decades of dried lublicant. After you get it back, you should notice a vast improvement in both winding and improved running time.

 

Just had one jeweler tell me it would be around $250 - $300 for a cleaning of my old watches and higher for repairs. As I have 4 in currently working order that should presumably not need repairs, that would be at least $1K just for cleaning! Obviously the Timex is not considered "worth it" but I really do love the way it looks and am considering doing it anyway. The others I have are traditional wind-ups and more accepted brands but as these little tiny vintage ladies' watches have very little value at this point anyway, it would really be for my own benefit anyway. I have to weigh if the cost to clean these is worth taking that chunk out of my new-watch budget. More to consider.

 

Although there is probably a line of people a mile long ready to tell you what they'd do in your situation, they won't be paying for the repairs...only you will. This is a decision you have to make. It's a position many of the rest of us are all too familiar with, Whichever way you decide to turn, good luck!

 

Judging from how many of these little watches are cluttering up thrift stores and not selling even at a few dollars each, I'm guessing most would advise not to spend the cash. For now, I'll keep them out and see if I wear them. If I find I wear something frequently, then I will have it serviced. If not, back in the junk-jewelry drawer to be a different day's problem.