Personal Engraving?

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jkbarnes
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Personal Engraving?

Post by jkbarnes »

I’m curious where people stand on engraving of watches. And I don’t mean the decorative engraving of the whole case, but having something of personal note engraved on the case back of a special watch.

My wife had my C65 Trident Vintage engraved. When I ordered the C65 AM GT LE as a birthday watch, I would have had it engraved had it been available as an option.

For special watches with personal meaning, I’m a fan of engraving. If the watch becomes a family heirloom, I think the engraving will take on even more significance.

I still have the engraved Hamilton my parents gave me for HS graduation (since passed on to my wife). And I regret not getting the watch I bought my daughter engraved, although I can still do that.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by H0rati0 »

I do not engrave - the sentiment comes from vintage pocket watches where, generally speaking, the value is diminished by personal engraving.

But in a family setting I can see the attraction.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by rkovars »

In my experience, as far as value goes, on watches it doesn't matter as long as it is done well. That aside, I don't have any engraved at the moment. I have toyed with engraving my 1675 but I am not sure what I would put on it. Maybe my initials in nice script but don't know.

As an aside, I was listening to a podcast the other day (I don't remember which one) but they mentioned someone who engraved 'Not For Sale' on their Rolex. I thought that was pretty funny. :lol: John Mayer had the Grateful Dead skull engraved on one he wore when he toured with them. Then of course there is the famous 'Drive Slowly' on Paul Newman's Daytona.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

I have only one engraved watch: a gold Smiths Astral given in 1965 as a long service award to a chap who worked for an engineering firm in Portsmouth.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by strapline »

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I think an engraving can be really nice on a watch, if done well. But, it's a bit like a tattoo, you should be sure before starting out on the process. I got a custom made Elliot Brown watch for my 50th; I was in quite a bit of negotiation with the company over what I wanted. I knew I wanted something unique to me, a limited edition of 'one' no less. The caseback was engraved with a light gold font that matches the colour of the winding wheel, as well as the decorative crest on the rotor. Not only is the watch truly one of a kind but, without wishing to sound smug, it could equally refer to its wearer. So...I like an engraving, in the right circumstances, and with the right sentiment behind it.

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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by jkbarnes »

strapline wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 5:40 pm So...I like an engraving, in the right circumstances, and with the right sentiment behind it.

Des
I think that’s the essence of it right there.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by exHowfener »

I have three engraved watches:
1) A Garrard presentation watch that was given to an Uncle for 20 years service with I.C.I. They included his National Service in that, which I've always thought was rather nice.
2) A 9ct gold watch that I bought second hand as a dress watch. Presented to some bloke by Ford for long service.
3) A quartz pocket watch given to me by my wife for our silver wedding (10 years ago!).

For me, the value in 1 & 3 IS in the engraving rather than the watch. The value in 2 is probably in the gold. and I doubt the engraving impacts that.

If I ever buy a CW Sandhurst, I will have it engraved with my service number and Corps initials, I generally buy watches to keep so I don't really care about the impact on resale value.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by rkovars »

exHowfener wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 6:59 pm If I ever buy a CW Sandhurst, I will have it engraved with my service number and Corps initials, I generally buy watches to keep so I don't really care about the impact on resale value.
That would be a nice touch. I don't think it would impact value at all.
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Re: Personal Engraving?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

I wouldn't ordinarily get engraving done on a watch, but I do have an early 1950s Roidor that was a Long Service award, 25 years, to my Grandfather from The Distillers Company.

My Father later wore it as his daily watch for a number of years.

Watch value c. £50. I saw one on eBay some years ago. Value to me? Priceless.

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