for a wristwatch loosing 5 minutes for every 60 minutes running, hence, an hour for every 24 hours running? Easy fix? Expensive fix?

Oh no Stephanie! Are we talking about one of your 3/0s Elgins?

Oh no John. Sorry. My 3/0s are doing just fine! One is stubborn though and needs a serious push to get it going. I'll bet you know which I'm referring to.

Actually, the wristwatch in question is one I am contemplating purchasing.

My guess....magnatism,oil sticking the h/s together,or the h/s cought on an inner coil.

Steph,

Do you have a pic of the movement? It would be interesting to see where the regulator is currently set and the overall conditon of the watch. If it hasn't been molested, it may need just a cleaning or one of the things that Sam mentioned.

As long as nothing has been bent, broken, twisted, filed, shimmed, shaved, removed, etc., there's nothing to worry about.

My best advice would be to have a watchmaker take a look at it first.

Steph,
Could be a lot of differant things but I would guess a loose cannon pinion. Not an expencive fix however it could be a sign of other timekeeping problems.

Thanks guys!

I was away and not available when the wristwatch came up for bid. Just as well. There will be others, lots and lots of others!