About Project Watches

Hello! I'm Ricardo, and my fascination with watches goes back to childhood.

Over the years, I've developed an appreciation for all kinds of watches — vintage and modern, mechanical and quartz, expensive and inexpensive. I find something interesting in almost every watch, whether it's the design, the movement, the history or the ingenuity behind it.

But one thing I've learned is that not every watch I discover is ready to be worn.

Some have stopped working. Others have mechanical problems, missing parts or simply need attention. And while I enjoy learning about watches and doing simple maintenance, I've also discovered that some repairs can take considerably more time and effort than expected.

That's how Project Watches came about.

I believe a watch doesn't become worthless just because it stops ticking. Behind a scratched crystal, an ageing dial or a tired movement, there may still be something worth saving. Sometimes all that's needed is a small repair. Other times, a watch might become a useful source of parts for another timepiece.

And sometimes the enjoyment is simply in the challenge of bringing an old watch back to life.

At my other website, All Kinds of Watches, I focus on watches that are working and ready to wear. Project Watches is different. It's a place for watches that need attention, intended for collectors, hobbyists, watchmakers and anyone who enjoys restoration.

The watches offered here are generally sold as projects, for spares or repairs. I don't undertake detailed mechanical diagnoses, and the nature or extent of any faults may be unknown. Where possible, I'll share what I've observed, but I leave the investigation and restoration to those who enjoy that side of watch collecting.

My aim is simple: to give interesting watches another opportunity instead of leaving them forgotten in a drawer or box.

After all, a watch that has reached the end of its working life for one person might be the beginning of an enjoyable project for someone else.

And the search for interesting watches never really ends.

Ricardo Marques
Project Watches
Find. Fix. Revive.