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| watch servicing | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wed Aug 19th, 2009 08:43 pm |
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1st Post |
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Devin 3T WIS 
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i am looking for advice on when to have a valjoux 7750 movement serviced. the watch is running fine after 4 years is there any need to have it serviced? RGM services Sinn watches but it cost $450 and if parts need replacing it is more. thanks
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| Posted: Wed Aug 19th, 2009 09:42 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Edgel 3T WIS 
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As long as it is keeping time and has good power reserve, my watch maker says to leave it alone. With as many watches as we have it is not getting stressed.watch2.gif
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| Posted: Wed Aug 19th, 2009 09:44 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Nabco 3T WIS 
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This is just my opinion...and I would guess you might get as many different opinions as replies  Anyway, from what I've been told by the guy that works on my watches with today's lubricants mechanical watches don't require the service intervals that watches have in the past. His suggestion is when you notice the watch not running as normal it is time to get it serviced... Also, there are a lot of very qualified independent watch makers out there that do not charge $450 for a COA, even on a chrono...the trick is finding them in your area....the guy I use works out of his house and works over the internet. So let the discussion begin!!!!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 19th, 2009 10:18 pm |
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4th Post |
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KenC Admin 
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I rarely ever feel the need to service a watch based on the theory that if it stops running, it cost you about the same to get it serviced and repaired at a simple service. That said, when I do get a watch serviced, I use East Coast Jewelry in Boca Raton, FL. They are brick and mortar, 3 locations, been using them since 1992, at last count they maintained 9 Swiss trained watchmakers on staff...and, I have never been charged more than $200 for a service including a water damaged Rolex GMT Master II (showered with the crown open). edited to correct dollar figure
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| Posted: Wed Aug 19th, 2009 10:50 pm |
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5th Post |
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scottran 3T WIS 
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KenC wrote: I have never been charged more than 4200 for a service including a water damaged Rolex GMT Master II (showered with the crown open). Ken, Did you mean $420?
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 03:31 am |
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6th Post |
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cfoster 3T WIS
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I'd leave it alone.... Let me tell you a story about what happens when you don't. In 1971, I bought my first Omega a Speedmaster MkII. The Omega dealer told me to bring it in just prior to the warranty expiring and he would send it to Omega for a full servicing under warranty. Not knowing any better, I did as I was told and about a month later got a call that the watch was back. Before taking it in, it ran perfectly, keeping time within +/- 2 sec. per month. After getting it back, it would gain about 6 seconds per day and never got any better. The watch was again serviced by Omega about 6 years later due to it needing a new Chrystal and a pusher. Again, the watch kept poor time. About 10 years ago, I needed it serviced again and took in to my local watchmaker who is fantastic. He serviced it for far less than Omega charged 20 years earlier and from that date and to this day, once again, keeps perfect time. Have it serviced only when necessary and by someone you trust. Factory service might not be the best option either. Find a really good Swiss trained watchmaker. Clyde
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 07:42 am |
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7th Post |
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Nabco 3T WIS
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cfoster wrote: I'd leave it alone.... I sometimes think that the independent guys do a better job than the factory because they CARE about their work, they see it as a true art. The factory guys just want toget it done and move on to the next one
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 08:46 am |
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8th Post |
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Devin 3T WIS
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Thanks for all the info and advice. I am glad to hear that everyone here feels the same way that i do, "if it is not broken do not fix it" In all the 20 some years of collecting i have had one watch serviced, an Omega Seamaster that just stopped keeping time. i sent it in had it cleaned and it still runs like new today. Thanks agin guys, i appreciate all your insights!
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 09:11 am |
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9th Post |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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hey Trent just send that watch to me and I'll wear it a couple months just to make sure it's running fine! :D:D
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 10:09 am |
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10th Post |
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KenC Admin
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scottran wrote: KenC wrote:I have never been charged more than 4200 for a service including a water damaged Rolex GMT Master II (showered with the crown open). OOPS...no, I mean $200... As a side note, I have an original Glycine Airman (circa 1964/65) Which I bought new from the Munich PX that has been through combat and several other years of hell...It has never been serviced and runs great!
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 10:37 am |
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11th Post |
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Nabco 3T WIS
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My guy charges $195 for 7750 COA's and that includes the replacement of the 4 parts that ETA suggests to replace at each servicing.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 11:43 am |
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12th Post |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS 
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Many manufacturers' manuals recommend servicing every 2 to 3 years to check on the seals and lubricants. Rolex recommends every 5 years. Panerai says every 3 years or so. All of them recommend more frequent servicing if the watch frequently undergoes temp and climate changes, frequent dives etc. Generally, I am concerned about the seals around the pushers of my chronographs and for that I think chronographs need slightly more servicing frequencies over their lifetimes. I strictly follow those recos and although it is no joke to have several watches serviced each year because they can cause so much wallet ache, I still think the cost is worth it. On the flipside though, my dad bought a Rolex GMT pepsi in 1955 just before he married my mom. In 1992, I noticed the bezel was faded and I took it to the Rolex Center in Singapore, while was there for a business trip, for some servicing and a bezel change. The technician was shocked to know that it was the first time the watch was opened in 37 years!!! and yet it had kept perfect time in all those years. So I guess I am on the side that urges strong consideration to what the manufacturers recommend. Last edited on Thu Aug 20th, 2009 11:46 am by bigrustypig |
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 05:40 pm |
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13th Post |
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Nabco 3T WIS
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bigrustypig wrote: Many manufacturers' manuals recommend servicing every 2 to 3 years to check on the seals and lubricants. Rolex recommends every 5 years. Panerai says every 3 years or so. Just my opinion...but isn't it in the best interest of the manufacturer to have all their watches come in every 2 or 3 years for a $400 - $600 hit regardless if they need it or not...the business man in me says "GREAT IDEA", the WIS in me says "RIPOFF"....again IMO, I tend to trust the independent watch maker that says it is not required than the manufacturer that is trying to suck more $$$out of me.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21st, 2009 07:44 am |
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14th Post |
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Devin 3T WIS
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oagaspar wrote:hey Trent just send that watch to me and I'll wear it a couple months just to make sure it's running fine! :D:D Oscar thanks for the offer but i truly do not know how you would work it in to your awesome rotation! :P:P
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21st, 2009 08:12 am |
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15th Post |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS
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Nabco wrote: bigrustypig wrote:Many manufacturers' manuals recommend servicing every 2 to 3 years to check on the seals and lubricants. Rolex recommends every 5 years. Panerai says every 3 years or so. You have a very good point. But I guess it's the same for cars or motorcycles....it's to the interest of the car maker to get the car in for servicing at their dealerships for regular intervals. With cars, however, there are lots of other alternatives for servicing. For the delicate, small, precision, slim-toelrance engineering inside our watches, I'd be more cautious. For my cheaper brands, I'd take them to a trusted watchsmith if I encounter problems on accuracy etc. But for my more expensive brands, I'd send them back to the makers for their routines. ;)
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21st, 2009 11:56 am |
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16th Post |
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Simon_Leung 3T WIS 
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Everyone here knows that I buy vintage watches. No big surprise. However, I try to get them serviced ASAP to ensure that the watch does work the way it should. Spending between $95 - $325 is quite reasonable considering none of my watches at the moment are beyond the $1,000 price range. I generally get each watch serviced every 5 years. Cheers, Simon
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21st, 2009 04:16 pm |
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17th Post |
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Nabco 3T WIS
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bigrustypig wrote: Nabco wrote:bigrustypig wrote:Many manufacturers' manuals recommend servicing every 2 to 3 years to check on the seals and lubricants. Rolex recommends every 5 years. Panerai says every 3 years or so. Not to beat a dead horse, but what makes you think the techs at the manufacturer are more qualified, or for that matter as qualified as the independent guy that has been doing it for 20 years.... Using your car analogy, I know for a fact that when you bring a Mercedes in for scheduled service it is the apprentice techs that do the work....the B Service was just due on my S Series Benz, the dealer charges almost $1,000 for that service, I take it to an independent guy that used to work for Mercedes and he does the same thing for less than $300, it does not even effect the warranty on the car...again, for the company its great, for the consumer it SUCKS
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21st, 2009 09:51 pm |
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18th Post |
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scottran 3T WIS
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Have to agree with Nick. I am self employed. I am an auto technician by trade. I realized 15 years ago that I could do better for myself by going out on my own than working at the Ford dealership. I know many top techs that went out on their own and started thier own business. I imagine this scenario plays out in many forms of business. Just do your homework as a consumer and find a reputable repairman and I am sure you will get better service than going to the manufacturer. The independant shop will more than likely treat you far better than the big company. The indy will treat you like a person, not a number, as they want you to come back again. Does this make sense?? One other thing, I figure that if the guy who works on my watches is certified to repair high end watches in house then he is surely capable to work on anything I own. Remember... Think local 
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