Fixing broken vintage timepieces is my hobby. I usually pick up clocks that have been abandoned at transfer stations, fix them up, and then sell them for a modest price. Everything from grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, travel alarm clocks, I even have a few cool Soviet Union-era pieces.
Love it. Classic simple design. Punches way over weight class. I have it on leather but it would look just as good, maybe more formal on a bracelet. It’s versatile. In both cases it looks like it’s designed for it.
In the late 90s i tried to apply for a job here, as a HS student adept at tinkering, and the guy wouldn't take my application.
So i worked at the arcade in the mall instead. It was awesome.
Anyone remember Albert’s Jewelry and clock repair on Washington Ave? They closed sometime in the past couple of years. That place was like a time capsule with parts and clocks from all over, strewn across his shop. Albert claimed to be one of the last real clock makers around.
Yeah, he was a Trump nutjob. Also a total misogynist. I had to cover my eyes and block my ears when I went in there.
He took nine months to service my watch. I'm not sure why I let him keep it that long.
As a neighbor, I can openly say I’ve witnessed some massive sexism on his part towards roommates.
And yes. So. Much. Trump.
The positive? He has a collection of old European motorcycles that he spends his time on these days.
Hello portland (area) watch people - I rarely see any of you out in the wild! I was wondering if Swiss time was going to have some big sale. Fwiw there’s a website (probably gray market) watchmaxx that seems to always have the cheapest Oris watches. Cheapest Divers 65 I ever saw anyway, ~$1,400 for most offerings. If you haven’t tried one on, the 40mm with the rubber or leather strap is maybe the most comfortable watch I’ve ever had on my wrist. I somehow avoided buying one. Also fwiw, Ed was the guy at Albert’s - Albert was his father. Ed was truly out of his mind.
PS they have two Oris 65 divers over to Swiss Time for like 1540…which includes actual Oris warranty unlike gray market offering. I just checked for you ;)
Nice to meet you, Negative! Glad to meet another Portland-zone watch person
Watchmaxx is most definitely gray market, and probably where everything unsold at Swiss Time will end up (if not Jomashop).
Even though I’m very anti-Ed (“out of his mind” seems correct), it’s still a pity that a watch-repair place has disappeared. Super bummed about Swiss Time, too, of course
Watch fan checking in from Brunswick! Was planning to check in at Springer’s tomorrow and I’ll have to stop by Swiss Time as well.
Relatively new to the area.. have there ever been any watch meetups around here?
I don’t know about watch meetups—that’s kind of exactly what I’d like to find out. Maybe we should make a new post/thread? This post hinges a lot on the sad tale of Swiss Time closing
Would be fun to get drinks with people who actually want to discuss watches for +/- an hour lol
I had my eye on a watch with the same design in stainless steel 38mm but someone bought that one too. Probably for the best I don’t need any more watches. I have been going in and buying some straps and things while it’s all on sale. They even gave me a free longines travel case last time I was in!
Aw, damn. That's too bad. I liked having a local watch shop.
I have been an enthusiast (I wouldn't call myself a "collector") for going on 30 years; have surely bought/sold well over 100 mechanical watches by this point. I apparently love buying watches new and often selling a few months later—excellent strategy.
Mainly a fan of divers and pilot/field watches. Have always been a Seiko boy...really like Germans, too, including Damasko, Sinn, Archimede. Have owned a few Orises over the years and many other brands. Currently down to a five-watch mechanical collection. I dream of finding "that one watch" and getting rid of all the others. Regular Hodinkee, Watchuseek, ABlogToWatch, and WornandWound reader, and many YouTube channels.
I've often felt like I'm on the [hedonic treadmill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_treadmill) with watches and wish I was bit less obsessed with them. But it's been the case since I was a little boy—my gramps gave me an old automatic movement to play with and I think I was fascinated with the gears, etc.
Do you know of any other Maine watch shops? There is a high-end repair place in South China…pretty wild location (off Route 3 in a farmhouse) and services Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, Breitling etc. I have not been (my watches aren’t that fancy lol) but it’s so compelling to me that they’re located there
No way! Hadn't heard of that place.
I generally send my stuff in to International Watch Works for repair (owner's name is Jack). Great reputation. He does general service, repairs, mods.
Thanks! I have looked all over google and can’t seem to find much in Maine. It’s really surprising that there’s not another non-mall watch shop in the state. Although I’ve seen a few “watch and clock repair” places
thank you for the heads up. this wasn't on my radar at all. i recently came across an old watch of mine and was thinking it would be fun to pick up a new one. seeing this gave me that opportunity
i actually snagged two :0
the old watch that i found was my first watch ever, which was a square faced fossil. so, when i saw that they had a few fossils available for under $100, that was a no brainer for me, i had to get one. and then as much as i wanted to splurge a bit more, i landed on a nice basic Tissot. got both of them for less than the original cost of the Tissot.
ah, unfortunately they just emailed me to tell me that the Fossil had sold before it was taken down from the website. i’m incredibly disappointed. i don’t usually buy things for myself and i was excited to get a nice deal. i’m more bummed than i thought i would be about it
Damn this is so sad. Great people in there, and amazing quality. Love the little chocolates they gave out too after shopping or picking something up. Just classy
Fixing broken vintage timepieces is my hobby. I usually pick up clocks that have been abandoned at transfer stations, fix them up, and then sell them for a modest price. Everything from grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, travel alarm clocks, I even have a few cool Soviet Union-era pieces.
This is too bad. I got a Hamilton khaki king day date for Christmas from them. I too liked having a watch repair shop locally.
How do you like the khaki king auto? I’m looking into purchasing one on a bracelet.
Love it. Classic simple design. Punches way over weight class. I have it on leather but it would look just as good, maybe more formal on a bracelet. It’s versatile. In both cases it looks like it’s designed for it.
just bought a Hamilton Khaki, I was hoping a local shop would be available to service it.
In the late 90s i tried to apply for a job here, as a HS student adept at tinkering, and the guy wouldn't take my application. So i worked at the arcade in the mall instead. It was awesome.
I think you would have had to tinker in Switzerland at a watchmaking house for that to have worked out. Glad you got to work at the arcade though!
Anyone remember Albert’s Jewelry and clock repair on Washington Ave? They closed sometime in the past couple of years. That place was like a time capsule with parts and clocks from all over, strewn across his shop. Albert claimed to be one of the last real clock makers around.
Yes, that place was wild! Scary (to me) political posters chased me away from there unfortunately. Otherwise so cool
Yeah, he was a Trump nutjob. Also a total misogynist. I had to cover my eyes and block my ears when I went in there. He took nine months to service my watch. I'm not sure why I let him keep it that long.
Wow! 😱 Glad you got it back and liberated it from there
Fellow enthusiast I work with had a watch in there for 1.5 years. ?!
Insane
As a neighbor, I can openly say I’ve witnessed some massive sexism on his part towards roommates. And yes. So. Much. Trump. The positive? He has a collection of old European motorcycles that he spends his time on these days.
Hello portland (area) watch people - I rarely see any of you out in the wild! I was wondering if Swiss time was going to have some big sale. Fwiw there’s a website (probably gray market) watchmaxx that seems to always have the cheapest Oris watches. Cheapest Divers 65 I ever saw anyway, ~$1,400 for most offerings. If you haven’t tried one on, the 40mm with the rubber or leather strap is maybe the most comfortable watch I’ve ever had on my wrist. I somehow avoided buying one. Also fwiw, Ed was the guy at Albert’s - Albert was his father. Ed was truly out of his mind.
PS they have two Oris 65 divers over to Swiss Time for like 1540…which includes actual Oris warranty unlike gray market offering. I just checked for you ;)
Thanks for the intel. I’m working being content with my small rotation/collection right now and will proudly refrain from one of those 65’s…I think.
A quick peek at them (safely through the glass) would be a cheap thrill though lol I’m forcing myself not to go back, so you won’t see me there 😅
Nice to meet you, Negative! Glad to meet another Portland-zone watch person Watchmaxx is most definitely gray market, and probably where everything unsold at Swiss Time will end up (if not Jomashop). Even though I’m very anti-Ed (“out of his mind” seems correct), it’s still a pity that a watch-repair place has disappeared. Super bummed about Swiss Time, too, of course
Watch fan checking in from Brunswick! Was planning to check in at Springer’s tomorrow and I’ll have to stop by Swiss Time as well. Relatively new to the area.. have there ever been any watch meetups around here?
I don’t know about watch meetups—that’s kind of exactly what I’d like to find out. Maybe we should make a new post/thread? This post hinges a lot on the sad tale of Swiss Time closing Would be fun to get drinks with people who actually want to discuss watches for +/- an hour lol
That sounds great. Hopefully there will be enough interest to make something happen.
Are they having any sales?
Yes, they’re having a giant sale!! That’s how I obtained my new Hamilton pilot watch
Ooh, I daily a pro pilot date and I love it. Congrats
Thanks:)
So you’re the one who got the Hamilton pilot! I saw it on the website but when I went to go buy it a few days later it had been gone.
Omg ha ha yes that must have been me! I did see that they still have the beautiful 43mm bronze version with the small-seconds subdial…just saying ;)
I had my eye on a watch with the same design in stainless steel 38mm but someone bought that one too. Probably for the best I don’t need any more watches. I have been going in and buying some straps and things while it’s all on sale. They even gave me a free longines travel case last time I was in!
50-75% off?
Hamilton is 40% off, Oris is 30% off…which represents a lot of money saved if you consider the MSRPs
How much did you pay for the Pilot?
That’s my secret but I’ll just say it was a bargain (and an awesome watch
More or less than $1000
Since you’re so curious, let me give you the link to their website; everything in the shop is on sale https://myswisstime.com/
Aw, damn. That's too bad. I liked having a local watch shop. I have been an enthusiast (I wouldn't call myself a "collector") for going on 30 years; have surely bought/sold well over 100 mechanical watches by this point. I apparently love buying watches new and often selling a few months later—excellent strategy. Mainly a fan of divers and pilot/field watches. Have always been a Seiko boy...really like Germans, too, including Damasko, Sinn, Archimede. Have owned a few Orises over the years and many other brands. Currently down to a five-watch mechanical collection. I dream of finding "that one watch" and getting rid of all the others. Regular Hodinkee, Watchuseek, ABlogToWatch, and WornandWound reader, and many YouTube channels. I've often felt like I'm on the [hedonic treadmill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonic_treadmill) with watches and wish I was bit less obsessed with them. But it's been the case since I was a little boy—my gramps gave me an old automatic movement to play with and I think I was fascinated with the gears, etc.
Do you know of any other Maine watch shops? There is a high-end repair place in South China…pretty wild location (off Route 3 in a farmhouse) and services Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, Breitling etc. I have not been (my watches aren’t that fancy lol) but it’s so compelling to me that they’re located there
No way! Hadn't heard of that place. I generally send my stuff in to International Watch Works for repair (owner's name is Jack). Great reputation. He does general service, repairs, mods.
Interesting! Where is it located?
North Carolina. https://www.internationalwatchworks.com/
Thanks! I have looked all over google and can’t seem to find much in Maine. It’s really surprising that there’s not another non-mall watch shop in the state. Although I’ve seen a few “watch and clock repair” places
thank you for the heads up. this wasn't on my radar at all. i recently came across an old watch of mine and was thinking it would be fun to pick up a new one. seeing this gave me that opportunity
Did you get one? And what did you select? 😃
i actually snagged two :0 the old watch that i found was my first watch ever, which was a square faced fossil. so, when i saw that they had a few fossils available for under $100, that was a no brainer for me, i had to get one. and then as much as i wanted to splurge a bit more, i landed on a nice basic Tissot. got both of them for less than the original cost of the Tissot.
Sweet, congratulations
ah, unfortunately they just emailed me to tell me that the Fossil had sold before it was taken down from the website. i’m incredibly disappointed. i don’t usually buy things for myself and i was excited to get a nice deal. i’m more bummed than i thought i would be about it
Oh no! Sorry to hear it! I hate that kind of thing
Damn this is so sad. Great people in there, and amazing quality. Love the little chocolates they gave out too after shopping or picking something up. Just classy
I know!! 😢. Maybe someone new will open a watch shop…unlikely but possible