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How to Replace the 1933 Mickey Mouse Watch Dial

In 1933, the Ingersoll-Waterbury Clock Compnay designed a wristwatch with the image of Mickey Mouse in the center. Mickey had been introduced in 1928 in the 8-minute-long cartoon "Steamboat Willie." Walt Disney, Mickey's creator, quickly licensed the character's image and began farming out the manufacture of Mickey Mouse products. Ingersoll-Waterbury, nearly bankrupt in 1932, sold more than 11,000 Mickey Mouse wristwatches at Macy's in New York City on the first day of the watch's release. Each Mickey Mouse watch originally sold for around $3.

Things You'll Need

Internet access

Instructions

- 1
  Search locally for reputable vintage watch repair shops and appraisers. Look for shops with membership in the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and Better Business Bureau. The NAWCC also offers an online search directory with wristwatch repair businesses listed by zip code.
- 2
  Contact a vintage watch repair shop if the dial is missing. If the repair shop cannot order the correct dial for your 1933 Mickey Mouse wristwatch, look for a replacement piece online at an auction website. Vintage Mickey Mouse watches are often parted out for low prices when a watch is beyond repair. Have the dial installed by a professional.
- 3
  Appraise the watch if the condition is excellent to good despite a worn dial. Have two or more appraisers, with experience in vintage memorabilia, provide independent appraisals. Replacing the dial will devalue the watch piece so never switch out a dial because the part is worn. Purchase insurance for the wristwatch after the appraisal and before sending the piece out for restoration.
- 4
  Restore and refinish a worn dial or replaced dial. A reputable vintage watch repair and restoration shop will meticulously clean and touch-up the faded numbers and colors of a Mickey Mouse wristwatch dial. Any repairs are best handled by a professional when the timepiece may value in the hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Collecting Memorabilia