Watch Servicing reccomendation

peterako

Hi all,

My first post to this forum so please don't ban me....

I have owned a Fortis Flieger Chrono since the birth of my first child and have almost always had it serviced by Fortis in Switzerland up to recently.

The main reason for this is because I could not find anyone here I'd trust with the watch.
Sorry, on site and reasonably priced watchmakers seem to be very few and far between here in Ireland

(One reputable watch makers in Dublin, on me asking whether they'd service the watch, opened up the case and stuck a small screwdriver in to 'have a poke around' :eek: said 'Yep' and handed me the watch back....needless to say the watch started to behave strangley shortly after )

While the Fortis Factory Servicing was always adequate I only recently realised that it could have been better...and faster.

I have just had my watch serviced in Germany by: http://www.uhrenservice-albrecht.de/

I counter intuitively took a leap of faith and sent my watch to Albrecht at the end of August. And I can tell you that I was worried for a little while, but needlessly so.
I received the watch back 3 weeks later (it would have been but some parts had to be ordered).

The watch arrived back with the case and strap cleaned and 'polished' like new.

Functions that had previously worked erratically (like the Chronograph) are now working perfectly.

And I've just reported back to Albrecht on timekeeping today. Excellent.

I'm not 'advertising' the service, but am giving it my highest recommendation.

I have a number of other mechanical watches that I am now considering sending to him....so many 'money pits'....so little money

Peter

Wibbs

peterako wrote: »

The main reason for this is because I could not find anyone here I'd trust with the watch.
Sorry, on site and reasonably priced watchmakers seem to be very few and far between here in Ireland

(One reputable watch makers in Dublin, on me asking whether they'd service the watch, opened up the case and stuck a small screwdriver in to 'have a poke around' :eek: said 'Yep' and handed me the watch back....needless to say the watch started to behave strangley shortly after )

I'm with you on this I have to say. Personal bugbear of mine. Yes there are some good watchmakers produced in this country, but very few and far between, they're very high end(actual watchmakers) and cost the earth. The stories I could tell of the absolute muppets(no other word for them) that claimed to know what they were doing. A mate had one of his watches ruined by one crowd who shall remain nameless. I'd love to give the biz to someone in this country and keep it local, but there's not one place in Dublin anyway that I would recommend beyond very simple work or that were anything approaching good value for the work done.

I've no probs with you recommending a good overseas service and I've gone down that route myself in the past(A guy in the US, another in France and a chap in Spain). Like you I was worried posting the watch(esp to the states), but I had no issues over the years. That lot you linked to look good on the pricing anyway. No good for me though as my stuff is older and none have ETA movements. Pity I can't read German too!:D

peterako

Many thanks for that Wibbs,

I agree with you too

I would LOVE to give the business here too.

But with what has turned out to be a very valuable watch and will be an heirloom....
(I bought the watch with the intention of handing it down to my kids....grandkids etc.....after I use it of course!)

You mentioned that your watches are older than the ETA stuff my link references.

Who do you use?

I have a couple of Doxas, Evliux, Movado etc.....from the 1940's to 60's.

Most are working fine....but most could do with a good cleaning.

I was building up the courage to do it myself at some stage :eek:

Thanks in advance,
Peter

Wibbs

I used to use a guy in the states but he's retired. The French guy the same, or at least hasn't replied to emails in over a year. So I'm looking for someone too I'm afraid.

I dunno about attacking the job yourself. I know I wouldn't be confident enough to try it. :eek::)

Hopefully someone here can point us both in the right direction and even better if local. There's a biz opportunity in Ireland I reckon, even as a sideline. There are enough here with older watches, they're just not very obvious.