Most expensive repair on your watch?

[uhurit]

Originally Posted by scurvyfreedman

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.

Agree...art+a dose of vanity+wrist jewelry

 

[westinghouse]

Originally Posted by uhurit

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

Quartz watches in general are known to look like cheap Japanese crap...prefer Swiss automatic versions for better waiter service at Chinese restaurant

 

[entrero]

Originally Posted by Shikar

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

Regards.

Jeez, I thought they could take a beating.

 

[blahman]

Originally Posted by Captain Winky

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.

He is in Hong Kong so I assume that it would be cheaper than most other places.

 

[apropos]

Cost me $600 to get a battery replacement for an IWC meca-quartz... beat that!!

 

[bleachboy]

Originally Posted by 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.

This!

I have used Roland G. Murphy several times. Not only is it a good idea to send your watch to a dude who can actually make a watch from scratch, but the man has a tremendous appreciation for watches. The last watch I sent there was a JLC Master Grande Taille that was losing badly, and the repair was very reasonable indeed, maybe $400-$500 if I remember correctly.

 

[soupcxan]

My new omega seamaster started freezing up overnight when it was only 6 months old. Sent it in and was repaired under warranty so I don't know the cost, but I later sold it and have no further interest in expensive automatic watches...my quartz Seiko works just fine (I do wish I could get a sapphire crystal to prevent scratches, however).

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by TRINI

DOH!

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

Ugh.

What was wrong with it? My first PAM has been with me for almost 9 years now and it's ticking the same as the first week - ETAs are pretty reliable movements. My PAM 98 is a different story though - that Fred Piquet movement is a little diva

 

[TRINI]

Originally Posted by gdl203

What was wrong with it? My first PAM has been with me for almost 9 years now and it's ticking the same as the first week - ETAs are pretty reliable movements. My PAM 98 is a different story though - that Fred Piquet movement is a little diva

It was losing a minute over a couple of days....

I might be paranoid about it though.

Do you get yours serviced every couple of years or just say *******?

 

[Mongo]

My old Rolex Datejust cost around $1K at the Toronto service centre for a full service - but that also included a new dial and hands.

I'd had bad luck with non-Rolex shops until now; it's run perfectly since that servicing (~2 years).

 

[kcc]

There are many vintage "franken-watches" on the market. Part replacement resulting from general use can be high. Identifying a reputable watch repair specialist is another topic

.

 

[Captain Winky]

Originally Posted by blahman

He is in Hong Kong so I assume that it would be cheaper than most other places.

Probably depends if he took it to Rolex or an independent shop. And, while I feel silly asking this, I will anyways: Can I assume you/he did the conversion and the quote was $1k USD not HKD?

 

[medtech_expat]

Originally Posted by apropos

Cost me $600 to get a battery replacement for an IWC meca-quartz... beat that!!

That's all kinds of wrong: surely they must have serviced the movement and replaced some parts as well?!

 

[apropos]

Originally Posted by medtech_expat

That's all kinds of wrong: surely they must have serviced the movement and replaced some parts as well?!
I have the receipt somewhere which says "Battery change - - - - - $600".

When I raised holy hell they did say that they did a "full service" on the meca- side of the meca-quartz, and timed and calibrated the -quartz side of the meca-quartz, but really, who knows?

 

[ljrcustom]

I'm pretty sure $400-$500 is pretty standard for the general cleaning and maintenance that rolex will do if you send your watch in to them. I haven't had mine cleaned in about 7 years and I'm pretty sure it's about due.

-LR