Most of the watches that arrive at The Good Old Times come by mail from across Canada. A pocket watch is tougher than it looks, but a loose movement in a thin envelope is how crystals crack and balance staffs snap. Pack it as if it has to survive a drop from a sorting bin — because it does.
- Do not wind it tight for shipping. A fully wound mainspring stores energy. If the watch takes a shock in transit, that energy has to go somewhere. Leave it partly down, or let it run down before you pack it.
- Protect the crystal and bow. Wrap the watch in a soft cloth or bubble wrap so the crystal cannot touch a hard surface. For a hunter-case watch, close the lid. For an open-face watch, add an extra pad over the glass.
- Use a small inner box. The watch should not rattle. Nest that inner box inside a larger carton with at least 5 cm of crumpled paper or foam on every side. One layer of envelope bubble wrap is not enough.
- Keep the crown from catching. If the crown sticks out, pad around it. A bent stem is a common shipping injury and an avoidable repair.
- Ship tracked and insured. Canada Post, UPS, and similar services all work. Photograph the watch (dial, case back, movement if the cuvette opens) before you send it, and keep the tracking number. Write a short note with your name, phone, and what you want done.
Local drop-off in Mississauga is by appointment if you would rather not ship. Estimates are free either way, and there is no charge if you decide not to proceed after the estimate.
Write the note as if the box will be opened by someone who has never met you: name, phone, email, return address, and whether you want a full service, an estimate only, or an evaluation for sale. Do not hide a spare crystal loose in the same wrap as the watch. Do not ship a watch wound tight inside a padded envelope with no inner box.
Insurance should reflect replacement reality, not sentiment. Photograph the packed box as well as the watch. If you are local to Mississauga, an appointment avoids the truck entirely. Either path starts with the same offer: a free look, and no charge if you decide the job is not worth doing.
Have a pocket watch that needs attention? The Good Old Times offers
free, no-fee service estimates (no charge if you decide not to proceed), local drop-off in
Mississauga by appointment, and Canada-wide service by mail — every repair backed by a
3-month warranty. Get a free estimate →
Also browse: fully serviced watches for sale ·
pocket watch guides (Collector’s Corner).