Looking for an experienced watch maker for key-wind to stem-wind conversion

[nalgene]

I have an old pocket watch that I want to convert to stem-wind... Any recommendation for a watch maker?

thanks!!

[Eeeb]

Unless you are a 'high net worth individual' forget it. It would be very very expensive.

[AbslomRob]

Huh? While I won't say it's impossible, that's a LOT of very custom work. Unless what you mean is that you want to mount a key-wind movement in a stem-wind case?

[Ben_hutcherson]

125 years ago, one could buy an "Abbotts Stemwind Conversion" and have it installed on their watch.

Installing these required a significant amount of work, including milling out the pillar plate. I've seen/owned some watches with this conversion(1860 model Walthams) that had one of the pillars relocated to make room for the stemwinding attachment.

Even back then, the work was VERY expensive.

Today, you might as well forget it as the parts are not currently made and even if they were, watchmakers with the skills and knowledge to install them correctly would be few and far between. Not to mention that it would destroy any collectible value to the movement.

Just learn to live with keywinding.

And if you're one of the butchers who carves up pocket watch movements to fit them into junky wristwatch cases, just stop!

[pithy]

. . . . . . . And if you're one of the butchers who carves up pocket watch movements to fit them into junky wristwatch cases, just stop!

ROFL

p

[Shangas]

While possible, what you're asking to do, as the others have said, is an extremely expensive procedure. And not many watchmakers do that kind of stuff anymore. If any. You would need a REALLY expert watchmaker to do this for you. It's a one-shot go. I don't think many watchmakers would want to risk it. It's not a procedure that's been done in at least 50 or 60 years...