Frequently Asked Questions

More frequently asked questions.

Everything from the watches we service to how to date your timepiece. For a walkthrough of our restoration process, see How It Works.

What We Work On

What kind of watches do you work on?

We restore antique and vintage timepieces of every make — pocketwatches, wristwatches, and stopwatches, both mechanical and Accutron. If it keeps time the old-fashioned way, we want to see it.

Mechanical & Accutron movements

We specialize in mechanical watches — both hand-wound and automatic — and we also service Accutron tuning-fork watches, the electronic vintage movements that hum rather than tick. Our focus is vintage timepieces; we generally do not service modern quartz watches, though we make exceptions at our discretion.

Pocketwatches

Open-face, hunter-case, and railroad-grade movements.

Wristwatches

Vintage manual and automatic wristwatches across brands and calibers.

Stopwatches

Mechanical timers and chronograph stopwatches.

Common Questions

The questions we hear most.

How much does a restoration cost?
A restoration starts at $1,750. The final cost depends on the condition of your watch and the work required. After you fill out our intake form, we will send you a detailed quote for your approval before starting any work. A 50% deposit is required to begin.
How long does a restoration take?
A typical restoration takes at least six months. The exact timeline depends on the complexity of the work and our current schedule. We will keep you updated throughout the process with email alerts and a detailed restoration timeline. You can see a real example of a completed restoration timeline here.
How do I send in my watch?
Fill out our intake form and we will send you a secure shipping kit with a pre-paid, fully insured, express shipping label. Pack your watch in the box, attach the label, and drop it off at a FedEx location or schedule an in-home pickup. We accept watches by mail from anywhere in the United States. We are based in Seattle, and local clients are welcome to arrange in-person drop-off.
Will my watch be on the Wristwatch Revival YouTube channel?
Marshall's hands are full with the Wristwatch Revival YouTube channel, so watches received by Sutcliffe Hansen are not filmed for the channel. Our expert watchmakers do, however, work under Marshall's supervision with the same careful, considerate mindset you see on Wristwatch Revival.
What kind of watches do you work on?
Pocketwatches, wristwatches, stopwatches — all of it. We specialize in mechanical watches (hand-wound and automatic) and Accutron tuning-fork watches. We focus on vintage timepieces and do not generally accept modern quartz watches, though exceptions are made at our discretion.

Dating Your Watch

How can I find out when my watch was made?

A watch's serial or case number can usually be traced to a production year. These free resources are good starting points:

Pocket Watch Database

Pocket watch serial-number lookup tool — identify the maker, grade, and production year of American pocketwatches.

Bob's Watches

How to read Rolex case and serial numbers — a reference for dating Rolex watches by their serial.

Emmywatch

Production-year references and serial databases across a wide range of watch brands.

Ranfft

Detailed movement database — identify a caliber and its specifications by maker and reference.

These are third-party resources we find useful; Sutcliffe Hansen is not affiliated with them. When in doubt, send us your watch's details and we can help.

Still have a question?

Start an intake and tell us about your watch, or reach out directly — we are happy to help figure out whether your piece is a good fit.

Start a Restoration How It Works