How Much Does Vintage Watch Restoration Cost?

There are no quick fixes here

Restorations at Sutcliffe Hansen start at $1,750. Every watch that comes through our door receives a complete movement service (disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, inspection under magnification, fresh lubrication, and regulation on a timing machine) in addition to a general restoration.

If you're looking for the fastest or cheapest option, we're generally not the right shop. If you want your watch restored caringly and with the an extreme level of experienced detail, while remaining faithful and sympathetic to the history and story of the watch, that's where we add value.

We require a 50% deposit before work begins, and we send you a detailed quote for your approval before anything is touched. Most projects come in between $1,750 and $3,500. We consult with the client on what work is going to be performed before we begin. While it is sometimes true that the watch contains some surprises, we do our best to identify everything up front. That's why our estimate process is so detailed. Here is an example estimate.

Is this the right shop for your watch?

We specialize in vintage watches — pieces that are no longer supported by their manufacturers, that require sourcing obsolete parts, and that deserve to be treated as the irreplaceable objects they are. If your watch is modern and still serviceable through the brand or an authorized dealer, that's probably your better path. Factory service on a modern watch comes with guarantees around water resistance and parts that we can't match.

We are the people you come to when your watch can't get proper care anywhere else — or when the watch matters too much to hand to someone who doesn't understand what it is.

What you're actually paying for

Every restoration includes a full condition report with photographs taken on arrival, a complete movement overhaul, and a real-time timeline you can follow throughout the process. You see every step. You approve the scope before we begin. Nothing happens to your watch without your knowledge.

That timeline isn't just a status update. It's a detailed record of the work — photographs from the watchmaker, notes on what was found, documentation of what was done and why. The intent is something like the experience of watching a Wristwatch Revival video, but in a format you can return to: a permanent record of what happened to your watch. Here is a real example — an Omega Speedmaster that came to us in March 2025 and went through a full restoration including chronograph work, case refinishing, and a secondary service when a mainspring catch failed after delivery.

Where the work calls for it, we also go beyond the standard service. Rejeweling worn pivot points, fabricating components that can no longer be sourced, adding jewels to friction points that can benefit from them — this is traditional watchmaking, and it's part of what justifies taking months rather than days. You're not paying for speed. You're paying for the watch to be done right.

Getting a quote

Fill out our intake form — it takes about five minutes. Tell us about your watch: the make, model, approximate age, and anything you know about its condition and history. Once we receive it, we'll inspect it, photograph it, and send you a detailed quote before any work begins. You're not committed to anything until you approve the quote and pay the deposit.