The watch is not unlike 90+% of surviving 1680’s - some parts have been replaced. One can niggle something or another about nearly any example.
You have a rare opportunity to get it and also document that seaman’s story to add provenance. I’d say do it if you have a plan to restore it.
If he’d sit down for an oral history, you could make that watch more memorable while documenting its provenance. The Navy is interested…
https://www.history.navy.mil/researc...histories.html
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