A offbeat semi-fantasy book, and then a movie, by
John D. Macdonald.
Kirby Winter inherits a gold watch from his late uncle. After a short time he discovers that the watch has power to stop time, but a limited number of times. The watch also provides a clue to a hidden fortune.
The 1980 movie was made for TV, and was so successful that it spawned a 1981 sequel, The Girl, the Gold Watch and Dynamite.