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Watch servicing - who to go with?

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2

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    #32
    iLikeWaffles
    Registered Users Posts: 4,325 ✭✭✭iLikeWaffles


    Winterlong wrote: »
    The 'local' guy is a fella in nutgrove shopping centre. He sells watches from a small shop there but takes watches in for servicing too. He does not service them himself but sends them out to some other person to do the servicing.
    Takes a week. Seemed to do a good job on what is a relatively inexpensive watch.
    I last used him in 2014 and have used Swift since then due to lower cost and reputation.
    https://www.michaelswift.co.uk/

    None of my vintage watches are worth much more than 500 though.

    Thanks for the link.


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    #33
    Bateman
    Registered Users Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭Bateman


    I am dreading getting my Seamaster done when it comes up for the first time, will definitely be foraging for this thread when the time comes


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    #34
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Maybe by then I'll be ready to start operating on other people's watches :P


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    #35
    Winterlong
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,759 ✭✭✭Winterlong


    Thirdfox wrote: »
    Maybe by then I'll be ready to start operating on other people's watches :P

    This book was absolutely invaluable to me when I started out.
    https://www.amazon.com/Repairing-Clocks-Watches-Anthony-Whiten/dp/0719801907

    But I still get all in a fuddle when it comes to handling hairsprings.


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    #36
    iLikeWaffles
    Registered Users Posts: 4,325 ✭✭✭iLikeWaffles


    Winterlong wrote: »

    But I still get all in a fuddle when it comes to handling hairsprings.



    Suppose I'd want a qualified Horologist do the work. Don't suppose they'll have a certificate hanging on the wall.

    Might bring it into William Lawless on Manor St. See if they would know anyone or could recommend, specialises in clocks reckon the opinion would be neutral if he can't do the work on it.


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    #37
    Thirdfox
    Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


    Winterlong wrote: »
    This book was absolutely invaluable to me when I started out.
    https://www.amazon.com/Repairing-Clocks-Watches-Anthony-Whiten/dp/0719801907

    But I still get all in a fuddle when it comes to handling hairsprings.

    Yup - I've requested it from the local library already. Just waiting for the movement holder and hands remover to arrive - as well as a few old movements sold as a lot on ebay - 5 movements for 10 euro should keep me occupied for a while.


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    #38
    fmul9798
    Registered Users Posts: 758 ✭✭✭fmul9798


    mailforkev wrote: »
    I need to get an automatic Seamaster (2531) serviced, it's running a bit fast.

    Fast fix in Dundrum say €350, will try a few other places next week.

    Before I do, any recommendations?

    Did you manage to get it done?
    Have a 2531.80 Cal 1120 that I want to have serviced, but won't post it anywhere and not going the AD route. Case and strap are immaculate so I just want the movement serviced as it's running slow.


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    #39
    mailforkev
    Registered Users Posts: 1,783 ✭✭✭mailforkev


    fmul9798 wrote: »
    Did you manage to get it done?
    Have a 2531.80 Cal 1120 that I want to have serviced, but won't post it anywhere and not going the AD route. Case and strap are immaculate so I just want the movement serviced as it's running slow.

    Have been busy so haven't gotten around to it yet. I work in Dublin city centre so am going to pop into Weirs etc in the near future and just see what they say. To get a baseline figure at least.

    TBH, if I don't find a better solution I'll prob just end up throwing money at the problem to make it go away and go AD.


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    #40
    California Dreamer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    I didnt want to go and start a new thread and some of the answers above are still current. I think my Brietling needs a service. Does anyone have any recomendations or is a trip to weirs on the cards?


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    #41
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,740 ✭✭✭893bet


    What’s the ref number and what’s the issue?


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    #42
    California Dreamer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    893bet wrote: »
    What’s the ref number and what’s the issue?

    A17331 and its losing time.


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    #43
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,740 ✭✭✭893bet


    California Dreamer wrote: »
    A17331 and its losing time.

    How much time?

    Suggest buying a cheap demagnetiser unit as a first port.

    Servicing, when the cost of servicing is likely to be 20% of the watch value is a fools game (one I have played.).


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    #44
    California Dreamer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    893bet wrote: »
    How much time?

    Suggest buying a cheap demagnetiser unit as a first port.

    Servicing, when the cost of servicing is likely to be 20% of the watch value is a fools game (one I have played.).

    5-6 seconds a day.


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    #45
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,740 ✭✭✭893bet


    Seconds a day or minutes? If it’s seconds forget the demag.

    It’s spec is -4/+6 seconds a day so It is running very close to specification....leave it alone....


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    #46
    banie01
    Registered Users Posts: 16,474 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    893bet is right if it's 5/6 seconds a day it's within spec.

    If you want it serviced Breitling will be pricey but will come with the added reassurance of an AD service with whatever warranty the offer.

    I think the calibre 17 is a decorated 2824 ETA and as such any competent watchmaker should be well able to service it.
    That said, I don't know if I'd want to hand off my Breitling to a non AD for a service.

    That said, I did get my Sinn serviced and pressure tested in J.A Daly's in Limerick last year. Will see if I can dig out the price


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    #47
    California Dreamer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


    banie01 wrote: »
    893bet is right if it's 5/6 seconds a day it's within spec.

    If you want it serviced Breitling will be pricey but will come with the added reassurance of an AD service with whatever warranty the offer.

    I think the calibre 17 is a decorated 2824 ETA and as such any competent watchmaker should be well able to service it.
    That said, I don't know if I'd want to hand off my Breitling to a non AD for a service.

    That said, I did get my Sinn serviced and pressure tested in J.A Daly's in Limerick last year. Will see if I can dig out the price

    5/6 seconds a day turns into a 1-2 minutes after a month. Is that within spec???


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    #48
    893bet
    Registered Users Posts: 8,740 ✭✭✭893bet


      California Dreamer wrote: »
      5/6 seconds a day turns into a 1-2 minutes after a month. Is that within spec???

      Yes. The spec is per day.

      That could turn into 36 minutes per year and it is still in spec and still very accurate.

      As a test for two weeks I would full wind watch and leave the watch in different positions and time it.

      Ie full wind and then leave it face down for 24 hours and time. Full wind and leave it face up and time, full wind then crown down and time etc.


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      #49
      Thirdfox
      Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


      California Dreamer wrote: »
      5/6 seconds a day turns into a 1-2 minutes after a month. Is that within spec???

      5-6 seconds out of the 86,400 seconds in a day is 99.992% accuracy.

      Put it another way - if you were running a marathon 99.992% accuracy means you ran an extra/were short by 2.9 metres after running 42195 metres.

      Some new mechanical movements can get 0.5 seconds accuracy per day (grand seiko tourbillon, zenith defy lab) but if absolute accuracy is desired high accuracy quartz (or radio controlled quartz) would be my recommendation. Some HAQ (high accuracy quartz) can be accurate to 5 seconds a year or better and radio controlled is accurate because it constantly updates the time every night.


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      #50
      Wibbs
      Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,073 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


      California Dreamer wrote: »
      5/6 seconds a day turns into a 1-2 minutes after a month. Is that within spec???
      Very much so. Especially if it's losing 5/6 seconds a day consistently(a watch that is day on day out by exactly 30 seconds slow/fast is actually more accurate than one that loses 5 seconds one day and gains 8 another). That's not too far off COSC standards for a mechanical chronometer rating.

      Back in the old days when the first electronic movements came out and got better accuracy than the mechanical, the company Bulova who had the Accutron tuning fork movement advertised "accurate to a minute per month" which was considered unreal accuracy. Mechanical watches of the time no matter which brand or how expensive would rarely get close to that outside of lab conditions.

      So yeah in my humble there's nothing wrong with your Breitling and like Thirdfox said if you want more accuracy then watches like grand seiko tourbillon, or high accuracy quartz, or radio controlled stuff would be the way to go.

      Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



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      #51
      Thirdfox
      Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


      By the way I've just sent a Longines off to Alan Tully in Galway - will let people know how I get on.

      It was nice to An Post registered post offering insurance now - €1800 insured for €5.50 is pretty good in my eyes. Anything below €1500 costs 4.50


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      #52
      njburke
      Registered Users Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭njburke


      Thirdfox wrote: »
      By the way I've just sent a Longines off to Alan Tully in Galway - will let people know how I get on

      Please do, I have a Breitling that needs servicing, I don't want to go into weird with it, it's a Valjoux 7750, so a good watchmaker should manage.


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      #53
      Thirdfox
      Registered Users Posts: 7,110 ✭✭✭Thirdfox


      njburke wrote: »
      Please do, I have a Breitling that needs servicing, I don't want to go into weird with it, it's a Valjoux 7750, so a good watchmaker should manage.

      Ouch - I'm sure Weirs would be hurt to be referred to as such :P


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      #54
      California Dreamer
      Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


      https://watchfix.ie/

      This guy has some excellent reviews.


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      #55
      Cienciano
      Registered Users Posts: 14,226 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


      The best thing to not worry about accuracy is to have more than 1 and rotate regularly. When you only wear one for a week then wear something else for a few days and then something else, accuracy doesn't matter if it's losing up to a minute a day. If you're leaving it in a drawer for a week it's stopped anyway and has to be reset. I check accuracy out of interest, but having 2 watches you wear regularly makes accuracy redundant.


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      #56
      California Dreamer
      Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


      Cienciano wrote: »
      The best thing to not worry about accuracy is to have more than 1 and rotate regularly. When you only wear one for a week then wear something else for a few days and then something else, accuracy doesn't matter if it's losing up to a minute a day. If you're leaving it in a drawer for a week it's stopped anyway and has to be reset. I check accuracy out of interest, but having 2 watches you wear regularly makes accuracy redundant.

      I have the Sea Wolf Avenger II and a Superocean 44 but I need to get a link on the superocean taken off as its quite loose.


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      #57
      OmegaGene
      Registered Users Posts: 8,632 ✭✭✭OmegaGene


      California Dreamer wrote: »
      I have the Sea Wolf Avenger II and a Superocean 44 but I need to get a link on the superocean taken off as its quite loose.

      link removal is not as tricky as you think, ebay for tools and youtube tutorial
      i have just taken a link out of my seawolf in a couple of minutes, its too heavy to wear loose

      The internet isn’t for everyone



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      #58
      California Dreamer
      Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


      OmegaGene wrote: »
      link removal is not as tricky as you think, ebay for tools and youtube tutorial
      i have just taken a link out of my seawolf in a couple of minutes, its too heavy to wear loose

      I have the seawolf on the rubber strap. Superocean is on the bracelet.

      On the Breitling website

      Recommended every 4 to 6 years and includes: disassembly, cleaning, exchange of standard movement parts (including certain hands), assembly, lubrication, adjustment and setting of movement function parameters; changing all seals, checking water resistance; refurbishment of the case and metal bracelet (except for watches with black DLC coating); changing the battery for quartz watches.

      €510!!!!!!


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      #59
      OmegaGene
      Registered Users Posts: 8,632 ✭✭✭OmegaGene


      California Dreamer wrote: »
      I have the seawolf on the rubber strap. Superocean is on the bracelet.

      On the Breitling website

      Recommended every 4 to 6 years and includes: disassembly, cleaning, exchange of standard movement parts (including certain hands), assembly, lubrication, adjustment and setting of movement function parameters; changing all seals, checking water resistance; refurbishment of the case and metal bracelet (except for watches with black DLC coating); changing the battery for quartz watches.

      €510!!!!!!

      similar links to change

      breitling service is very good and quick at the moment, i had my emergency back within 2 weeks only a month ago

      The internet isn’t for everyone



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      #60
      893bet
      Registered Users Posts: 8,740 ✭✭✭893bet


      California Dreamer wrote: »
      I have the seawolf on the rubber strap. Superocean is on the bracelet.

      On the Breitling website

      Recommended every 4 to 6 years and includes: disassembly, cleaning, exchange of standard movement parts (including certain hands), assembly, lubrication, adjustment and setting of movement function parameters; changing all seals, checking water resistance; refurbishment of the case and metal bracelet (except for watches with black DLC coating); changing the battery for quartz watches.

      €510!!!!!!

      So you are thinking the 6 seconds a day is ok....


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      #61
      California Dreamer
      Registered Users Posts: 2,499 ✭✭✭California Dreamer


      893bet wrote: »
      So you are thinking the 6 seconds a day is ok....

      Actually no because it’s 16 seconds today!

      I didn’t spend that kind of money to have an out of time watch.


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