TrendsOct 03, 2025
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco Tie the Knot Wearing Diamonds, White MetalsGomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.
WatchesMar 23, 2017
Ask the Watch Guy: Maximizing Your Backroom Bonanza
When it comes to watch and jewelry tools and supplies, the most important thing is to understand what you have, Jess Gendron says.
Jess Gendron is a seventh generation watchmaker, having learned by his father Dan Gendron’s side since childhood. He can be reached at talktothewatchguy@gmail.com.
We all know the importance of “turning” your inventory to increase profits.
It makes no difference if you think old, not-yet-sold inventory someday will become popular again; in the meantime, your money is sleeping.
If you have, for example, what was $5,000 in inventory at retail, and, let’s be kind and say it is 5 years old with keystone mark-up, you may look at this as only a loss of $2,500. But in real terms, your loss is much greater and becomes greater over time.
In addition to readily visible old retail inventory, almost every jewelry store I have visited has “sleeping” inventory most aren’t even aware of.
I was in a mom-and-pop store in the Midwest and asked them if they had any unclaimed repairs, watch or jewelry repair tools, or watch part assortments they would like to sell. The owner’s wife said she didn’t think so, but asked her husband if he still had his uncle’s watch repair “junk,” whereupon he said he wasn’t sure where it is. She then remembered: “All that stuff is under the gift wrap bench.” They asked me if I wanted to see it and, of course, I said yes.
After digging through gift wrap and ribbon remains, I found a 19th century watchmaker’s bench full of watch and jewelry repair tools. In the chair well of the bench were staking sets, a complete Boley lathe, a Tempo watch cleaning machine and lots of old American pocket watches.
I offered them $1,500 for all this equipment, and they accepted. They both said they had no idea that the stuff was worth anything.
In another buy, I found a Spiro Agnew watch from the 1960s that was owned by a jeweler who did not know who Spiro Agnew was. (He was Richard Nixon’s first vice president). These look like real junk, but they are worth a quite bit of money.
Here are some things that may be lurking in your back room and hidden under counters:
--Old inventory;
--Watch repair tools, such as cleaning machines, watch bands, staking sets, timing machines, lathes, watch part assortments and crystal assortments;
--Unclaimed repairs;
--Ring stretchers;
--Ring engravers;
--Tabletop engravers;
--Miscellaneous hand tools;
--Ultrasonics; and
--Old watches of all types.
Old inventory--jewelry items that did not move--sell very well on eBay in assortments. Let’s say that you have old stock earrings and bracelets. Make assortments of good, bad and ugly out of what you have.
When it
comes to watch and jewelry tools and supplies, the most important thing is to understand what you have.
If you’re not sure what something really is, ask someone. Knowing what things are is especially important so that you know their value. Sure, you can post watch repair items for sale on eBay but if you don’t know what you are selling, you’ll leave money on the table.
For example, a Marshall lathe is worth $200 on average, but a Boley is worth $500. So if you are not sure what something really is, again, ask someone. We field calls like this from time to time, and we don’t mind. Feel free to contact us at talktothewatchguy@gmail.com.
There are many reputable buyers, but beware of “cherry pickers” who only want the cream of the crop and leave you with a hard-to-sell mess.
Think of what you could do with extra money from “sleeping items,” and try to avoid buying your future dead items with your proceeds.
Note: For those of you who have been asking for the free battery changing video, our low-tech staff has finally gotten the link to work.
Jess Gendron is a seventh generation watchmaker, having learned by his father Dan Gendron’s side since childhood. He is now the owner of Colorado Timeworks, a watch repair service center in Colorado Springs. Gendron can be reached at talktothewatchguy@gmail.com.
If you’re not sure what something really is, ask someone. Knowing what things are is especially important so that you know their value. Sure, you can post watch repair items for sale on eBay but if you don’t know what you are selling, you’ll leave money on the table.
For example, a Marshall lathe is worth $200 on average, but a Boley is worth $500. So if you are not sure what something really is, again, ask someone. We field calls like this from time to time, and we don’t mind. Feel free to contact us at talktothewatchguy@gmail.com.
There are many reputable buyers, but beware of “cherry pickers” who only want the cream of the crop and leave you with a hard-to-sell mess.
Think of what you could do with extra money from “sleeping items,” and try to avoid buying your future dead items with your proceeds.
Note: For those of you who have been asking for the free battery changing video, our low-tech staff has finally gotten the link to work.
Jess Gendron is a seventh generation watchmaker, having learned by his father Dan Gendron’s side since childhood. He is now the owner of Colorado Timeworks, a watch repair service center in Colorado Springs. Gendron can be reached at talktothewatchguy@gmail.com.
More on Watches
The Latest
GradingOct 03, 2025
Grading Lab HRD Antwerp Names New CEODiamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.
TrendsOct 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kallati’s Pink Sapphire RingTaylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed SandIts “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.
Weekly QuizOct 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
TrendsOct 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Colorful ShowThe month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.
ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-ReflectionSmith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From VicenzaoroAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.
SurveysOct 01, 2025
Consumer Confidence Hits 5-Month Low in September Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.
SourcingOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store ScamTwo men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John HardyThe “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.
IndependentsSep 30, 2025
Spinelli Kilcollin Announces Residency in DallasThe brand, celebrating its 15th anniversary, has popped up at Market, a luxury fashion destination in Highland Park Village.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Nina Pugliese, Longtime Henne Jewelers Employee, Dies at 65She was remembered as a creative and generous woman of faith, who also had a sweet tooth.
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear FocusMove over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in CanadaThe New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal CatalogThe “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.
SurveysSep 26, 2025
Online Shopping, Influencers to Drive Holiday Spending, Mastercard SaysHoliday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky RingThe red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.
Policies & IssuesSep 25, 2025
JA CEO Provides Tariff Update Following Annual Fly-InA trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond ProductionThe manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.
