44.75 grams of scrap

[bruce wegmann]

Here is a Ladies Pulsar Oval that was rescued from the melting pot. Purchased as scrap gold by a local pawn shop, this watch had been completely stripped of anything that was not gold. The crystal, module, and every linking pin in the bracelet had been removed to get an accurate gold weight. This came out to 44.75 grams, or 0.84ozT. At the then-current price of gold ($1200/ozT), it worked out to about $1000. There was significant damage to the case and bracelet (some done during the dis-assembly), that required a lot of laser welding. Final steps in the full restoration are under way...will post when completed. I find the persistent resistance to the idea that anyone would melt a Pulsar watch unfathomable; it happened en masse a third of a century ago, and it is happening again. It's almost frightening to think how crazy things could get, if gold should go to $2000/ozT or higher (and silver will go up right along with it). Nothing made of precious metal will be safe, unless it's in the hands of a dedicated collector.

[Timecollector]

Interesting project Bruce. If you buy any more gold, San Diego will start sinking from all the weight!!! I have talked with a friend of mine several times about your collection and passion for saving parts of this hobby and am not going to get into motives or arguments on any of it but we always have wondered.... What is the end game? In your eyes, what will become of your collection in the future? You can collect and save them now but what about the future? Just curious.

[charger105]

Interesting to see that laser welding Bruce. Will you get a perfect colour match ?
Will you be re-finishing it, or will that be done by someone else ?

I'd like to see the final results when it's finished.
Rgds.

[bruce wegmann]

The donor gold was pins taken out of a 14K folded-tab, hollow-link P3 bracelet, so they're the same alloy, and give a perfect color match. I do all my own restoration work; it gives me the advantage of being able to take as long as necessary to get it exactly right (without meaning to toot my own horn too loudly, I just don't think there's anybody else who could do the work to my standards...you'll see what I mean when I post the "after" pics). If anybody's interested, I can put up the "before" and "after" pics of a P1, and my 3140, which was the most involved and challenging restoration project to date. To me, it makes no sense to leave these golden gems in their "original" condition, if "original" means "beaten and battered".