Most expensive repair on your watch?

[blahman]

I just got off the phone with my uncle from overseas and in his possession an old rolex of my grandfather's that needs repairing. He took it for a quote and it was almost $1000! Said needed to change crystal, clean and oil and surely somethibg else too.

So my uncle said he might as well pay bit more and get a new one and send old one to me.

What can cost this much to repair?
And what is your most expensive watch repair bill and for what?

 

[Matt S]

You might be able to get by with keeping the crystal as it is, though I don't know how bad it really is. Cleaning and oiling is necessary and will cost at least $300.

 

[Shikar]

I dropped my one month old Panerai on in the bathroom.....wasnt cheap to fix. Dont drop the watch.

Regards.

 

[kirbya]

Mechanical watch repairs can be expensive. I'm looking to restore a Cartier watch from my mother and it's quoted at $3,000! Much cheaper than the new thing, which would probably run $6,500, but still pretty steep.

Definitely have the watch serviced. Remember that Rolex has an all-mechanical mechanis that is quite complex. Just like anything mechanical, it deteriorates over time.

 

[uhurit]

Had a total overhaul on my 15 year old Breitling Chronograph Chronomat 1881model a few years back+a new strap+a new gasket (or something) @ Breitling factory. Cost: close to $700. More expensive now, I am sure

 

[Reevolving]

Swatch repairs = $0

 

[Swordfish]

Where did you take your Rolex to? The Rolex service centres are more expensive than most watchmakers.


And if you go for a non Rolex crystal, it's going to be much cheaper too.




Ted

Originally Posted by blahman

I just got off the phone with my uncle from overseas and in his possession an old rolex of my grandfather's that needs repairing. He took it for a quote and it was almost $1000! Said needed to change crystal, clean and oil and surely somethibg else too.

So my uncle said he might as well pay bit more and get a new one and send old one to me.

What can cost this much to repair?
And what is your most expensive watch repair bill and for what?

 

[TRINI]

Originally Posted by Shikar

I dropped my one month old Panerai on in the bathroom.....wasnt cheap to fix. Dont drop the watch.

Regards.

DOH!

I took mine for its first out-of-warranty servicing last summer...$500+

Ugh.

 

[aj_del]

My experience with swiss mechanical watches (3000-10000 USD type) has been very ******. Of the 20 odd I have (between me and my wife) at least 5 had to go in for service/repair within the guarantee period.

I have to send in my JLC Reverso in for repair as it loses around 5 minutes a day and I am so afraid of the repair bill that I adjust the time every morning.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Unless the watch has complications or needs considerable replacement parts that's pretty high. If it's an older watch with a plastic crystal they are relatively cheap, unless it's an obscure watch and a new crystal has to be made to fit. Frequently the scratches can just be polished out. I had a complete overhaul of my IWC Ingenieur after 5 years, which including polishing the case and bracelet. I sent it to the US service center for IWC and it was around $450. I sent my brother's Sinn to RGM Watch in Lancaster, PA and it cost around $300. I cannot recommend them enough. Roland Murphy is a true watchmaster and has begun producing some of the finest mechanical watches in the world, right in the US with a new proprietary movement design.http://www.rgmwatches.com/repair_restoration.php Rolex's have very simple mechanical movements, especially the older non-Daytonas. Almost any repair shop can do a cleaning and lubrication. Replacement parts are quite plentiful. The crystals are easy to find and like I said, can frequently be polished. I'd expect a regular repair shop to take care of it for $250-300. Send it to Rolex USA and it'll be $400-500.

 

[bellyhungry]

I paid $500 to get my Submariner tuned up.

 

[uhurit]

Swiss automatic watches in general are not known to keep good time...prefer quartz versions for accuracy

 

[Bandit44]

My six year old Omega cost about $400 to service. Older watches cost more due to availability of parts. Complications also dramatically add to the price of a full service.

Rolex charges a bit more than its direct competitors for service, but they also keep a tight grip on the sale of aftermarket parts so as to limit your ability to get authorized parts. While it is true that many watchmakers can technically service Rolexes, only authorized watchmakers have access to Rolex parts. I'd probably bite the bullet and have Rolex do a full service on the watch. It will be returned to you like new.

 

[scurvyfreedman]

Originally Posted by uhurit

Swiss automatic watches in general are not known to keep good time...prefer quartz versions for accuracy

They are not accurate, but they can be quite precise. If well regulated they will keep the same error rate day after day for years. If you learn what resting position causes what error, you probably can get the watch to be close to neutral. My IWC Ingenieur gains a few seconds a day. It takes months to have any real impact, but every two months I have to unscrew the crown to reset the date anyway, so I might as well readjust the time, if needed then too.

If accuracy is that important use your cell phone, which resets to the network frequently throughout the day. Watches are art.

 

[Captain Winky]

Originally Posted by blahman

I just got off the phone with my uncle from overseas and in his possession an old rolex of my grandfather's that needs repairing. He took it for a quote and it was almost $1000! Said needed to change crystal, clean and oil and surely somethibg else too.

So my uncle said he might as well pay bit more and get a new one and send old one to me.

What can cost this much to repair?
And what is your most expensive watch repair bill and for what?

What country is he in and where did he get his estimate? That doesn't seem right unless perhaps it's a chronograph?

I would imagine that, while Rolex is very controling of access to replacement parts, that there would be watchmakers with good access to vintage parts from salvaged watches.