Repairs and Servicing

 

In the wake of yesterday’s newsletter piece about Vacheron’s newest most complicated watch, we received several emails with enquiries in regards to servicing. To answer all of those questions and any more you may have, it would probably be a good idea to make clear our repair/restoration services. Before we get into the details of who, what, and when, let’s have a quick look at vocabulary. A restoration is required for a watch in a state anywhere between vintage no longer working and near destroyed regardless of age. Generally it is the most amount of work required to generate a good result. Removal of rust and other water ingress type damage, manufacture of replacement components, hand finishing partially/aesthetically damaged components, extensive searching for replacement parts online and through industry connections (this can sometimes take weeks or months depending on the watch). Then any exterior work can begin based upon the customer’s preferences. Here is one recorded example of a restoration undertaken here in our workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8g7tyzRjDc&t=201s&ab_channel=MasterWatchmaker An overhaul is the term generally used for the work required to ‘service’ a watch. Service and overhaul are quite interchangeable terms in this industry. It involves a complete disassembly of the watch down to the very last screw, cleaning, making any adjustments/replacements to worn components, reassembly and re-lubrication, and then any adjustment/testing required to be confident in the watch’s performance for the next several years. On top of that it may involve re-finishing the exterior of the watch if that is what you prefer. It is a pretty serious undertaking even though it is the minimum work we will perform on a watch. Comparable to taking your car in for a service and the mechanic takes it apart down to the piston rings. But what work on your prized possession shouldn’t be this in depth? This video will give you more of an insight into the work that takes place during an overhaul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCmBT3OSKcQ&t=458s&ab_channel=MasterWatchmaker  What we do best… We provide a service tailored to our customers. The restoration or general servicing of a watch with very specific priorities at the forefront of every question asked and decision made. We aim for good working order, whilst retaining as much of the original watch as possible; both in regards to number of parts and aesthetic condition. We cooperate with our customers as much as possible in this way, making suggestions for what work should or could be done. What do we work on? Our main body of work lies in vintage to fairly modern Rolex and Omega. Think from 1940s pieces right up to about the 2010s. The golden age of the humble Rolex and Omega’s power-house manufacture era. Too far past this is where the spare parts restriction becomes an issue. If your watch is too modern i.e. generally 2015 or later, we simply cannot find any spare parts that may be required for the work to be completed to our standards. Hopefully in ten years’ time it will be a different story. We also do some other Swiss models where parts are available. Generally speaking if you have a quartz watch, you are fine to drop it in for a battery. If you are unsure whether your watch is something we can help you with, the best thing to do is send the watch’s details and maybe a photo or two to Gemma at: mail@clockmaker.com.au What don’t we work on? Anything from Richemont group, or micro brand ‘watchmakers’. Parts cannot be purchased directly and finding them online is incredibly rare. Fake watches are an obvious no. Watches half finished by yourself or someone else? Sorry, no. Can you swap the bezel on my… No. How long, how much? We generally quote four weeks once the work actually begins. One to complete the overhaul, two for testing, and the last week as a buffer for awaiting parts if any are ordered. As for price. This is decided upon seeing the watch at our premises, after a quick inspection and rating of the watch’s performance. We can however provide you a rough guide here. For overhaul: Vintage/modern, time or time and date Omega: $750 plus any parts required as a baseline. Vintage/modern, time or time and date Rolex (non-sport models): $900 plus any parts required as a baseline. Omega automatic chronographs: $800 plus any parts required as a baseline. Omega Moonwatch variants: $1,200 plus any parts required as a baseline. Rolex gents’ sports varieties: $1,200 - $1,500 plus any parts required as a baseline. When should you bring your watch in? If you notice a sudden drop in performance regardless of when it was last serviced - timekeeping, or power reserve. If there is fog or water in your watch - ASAP. If you have dropped or bumped your watch. If it has been somewhere between five and seven years after its last service, regardless of issues being present - not too much longer please. We do give all repairs a one year warranty on performance to ensure that the watch continues to run smoothly for years to come. Andrew