Watch Movement Repair
Your watch no longer runs, runs fast or slow, or something is broken. What it needs only becomes clear once it is open. A repair starts with an assessment, and then a quote.
What could be wrong
Most watches that come in do one of these things: they have stopped, they consistently run fast or slow, they can no longer be wound, the date does not jump over, or the seconds hand does not go round. Then there is the work on the outside: a cracked crystal, a crown that no longer seals, a strap or clasp that gives way.
There is often no fault at all behind a watch that has stopped. Hardened oil and dirt on the bearings slow a movement down just as effectively as a broken part; the repair is then in fact a service.
See below how the crystal of an Omega Cosmic 2000 is replaced.
First an assessment, then a quote
The watch is opened, the movement goes under the microscope and it is established what is going on. That is followed by a quote by email setting out what needs to be done and what it costs. Nothing is done that you have not agreed to.
All the work happens in the workshop in Weesp; nothing goes to a service centre elsewhere. You are notified as soon as the watch is in, and you can follow the progress online. A repair carries one year's warranty, a service two years.
Smaller jobs
Not everything is a big job. A battery replacement, a new crystal, a water-resistance test or an ultrasonic clean of the case and bracelet: this kind of work can usually be done quickly.
The price indications are on the Rates page. If you are not sure what your watch needs, register it with a description of what you have noticed and you will hear back as soon as possible.
Frequently asked questions
My watch runs slow. Is that a repair or a service?
Usually the latter. A movement that runs slow normally has nothing broken in it, just hardened oil and dirt on the bearings. The assessment shows exactly what is going on, and the quote says which of the two it is.
Can a watch that has not run for years still be repaired?
Usually, yes. Sitting still is not damage in itself, and hardened oil is not either. If moisture or rust has got in, or parts are missing, it becomes a restoration rather than a repair.
Is my watch worth repairing?
That is your call in the end, and you can only make it once you know what it costs. That is what the assessment is for: you get a quote by email and decide after that. If you do not agree, the watch goes back to you and the return postage is yours. See the terms and conditions.
How long does it take?
It depends on what is needed and on the parts. A service usually takes a few weeks; a restoration that needs parts made takes longer. You get an indication as soon as the assessment is done, and you can follow the status of your repair online.
Can I come in, or do I have to post it?
Either works. Visits are by appointment, so there is time to look at the watch together; posting it is done with an insured watch box that we send to your door.