Three very different things called a gold watch
- Solid gold — usually an older dress watch, and often the most valuable thing on the counter that day.
- Gold filled — a thick bonded layer over a base. Common on mid-century American watches and very workable.
- Gold plated or gold tone — a thin coating, which changes how we size a bracelet and how we finish it.
- Two-tone — steel and gold together, where each area has to be handled separately.
What comes in most
- Bracelet sizing — links out or in, with the finish protected.
- Batteries, with the gasket checked and the back closed properly.
- A stretched bracelet, which shows badly on gold because the links gap.
- Clasps and safety catches.
- Crystals and scratched faces.
- Polishing, done carefully, because on plated and filled cases there is only so much to work with.
- Crowns and stems on older wind-up movements.
Why we go gently on plated cases
Polishing a plated case removes plating. A heavy polish makes it look bright today and bare at the edges in a year. We would rather do less and tell you why, and we can look at replating instead where that makes sense.
Older solid gold dress watches
A lot of what we see is inherited — a thin gold case, a leather strap, a movement that has not run in years. Bring it in. We will tell you what we find and what it would take, and you decide from there.
Bring it in and we will look at it
Every piece is different and gold watches especially so. Put it on the counter, tell us what has happened, and we will tell you what we see and what we would do about it. You decide from there, before anything is agreed.
Questions we get asked
Can you size a gold watch bracelet?
Yes, and you keep every link that comes out. Usually while you wait.
How do I know if mine is solid gold or plated?
Bring it in. We will look at the case markings and tell you.
Should a plated case be polished?
Gently, and sometimes not at all — polishing removes plating. We will tell you what we would do and why.
Can you get my grandfather's gold watch running?
Bring it in. We will look at it and tell you what we find before anything is agreed.
Will you tell me what you find before doing any work?
Always. We look at it with you at the counter, tell you what we see, and you decide.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.