Can someone explain Watchstones to me?

I have all 16 default Watchstones from just doing the Atlas. However, I also got 1 "Marceus' Platinum Haewark Hamlet Watchtone" as a drop some time back.

I looked on the trade site, and it doesn't sell for much. I also watches a few youtube videos and, for example Empyriangaming, is doing a Project from Alch and Go, to Mid-investment now. He has been using Watchstones with better modifiers and stacking them.

The first one he did, the watchstones cost a couple Ex as a "down payment".

Are these other Watchstones also limited to 3 uses?

If so, do they just poof? Or do you just need to reroll them? Can I reroll the one I have? Is it Alts to roll them or Sexants?

I am so confused about this process. I haven't even gotten into scarabs yet.. but I feel like without monopolizing Watchstones I wont make any profit.

Send help.

https://pathofexile.fandom.com/wiki/Watchstone

That read was extremely helpful, thank you.

Now I just need to find a list of the prefix and suffix for the zone specific watchstones so I don't roll expecting something that doesn't exist.


Edit:

Found it on the Database website.


Secondary question.
What value is there in using Sextants on the Quest Watchstones if you don't need to constantly reroll the Maven drop ones? Are they just overall better?

Generally speaking, you are correct that using a sextant on any magic watchstone that provides something, is better than on the quest watchstones that offer nothing.

However, one thing that people do, which isn't related to quest or magic watchstones, is to take advantage of sextant blocking. Basically, if a watchstone is socketed in a region, you can't roll the same sextant mods (or mod groups) twice. So if you are aiming for rarer sextant mods..

1. Socket 3 junk/quest watchstones with high-weight trash sextant mods.

2. Insert a fourth (good) watchstone and roll it.

3. Hit something good? Replace fourth (good) watchstone with another good one and roll it.

4. Repeat until you have good sextants on 4 good watchstones.

5. Unsocket all junk watchstones. Insert good watchstones. Run maps.

You generally only do this if you have a particular, mid-higher end farming strategy. Otherwise just put sextants on your maps for a bit of extra juice.