Watch Repairer
Discussion
Can anyone recommend a good watch repairer in the Hants/Berkshire area? Son has dropped his (vintage) Omega - has cracked the glass and watch has stopped working. I think that a replacement glass is obtainable from Cousins or Frei in the USA but will need professional attention to carry out repair.
Thanks
Thanks
How vintage is vintage? Do you happen to know the movement calibre or (better) the model number from the inside of the back?
The risk with dropping is that, apart from things like hands catching each other, or a piece of the glass loose and jamming them, the most likely damage is a broken balance staff unless you're lucky and the shock protection has worked well.
Complete Omega balances (wheel staff + roller + hairspring, assembled & rady to fit) are expensive and replacement staffs aren't much better unless one of the aftermarket companies like Ronda has included them in their range.
The risk with dropping is that, apart from things like hands catching each other, or a piece of the glass loose and jamming them, the most likely damage is a broken balance staff unless you're lucky and the shock protection has worked well.
Complete Omega balances (wheel staff + roller + hairspring, assembled & rady to fit) are expensive and replacement staffs aren't much better unless one of the aftermarket companies like Ronda has included them in their range.
The glass is no problem - figure around £45 fitted for genuine Omega or £20 - £25 for aftermarket made-to-measure copy (now complete with omega logo apparently!).
The balance is available - with a parts price of around £425! - and the staff is only available as genuine at around £100 - £125 by the time it's fitted, trued and poised (basically in the condition a new balance would be but using the old wheel, hairspring etc).
Ronda did make staffs for it but they're obsolete and the chance of finding one is slim because it's a popular movement series (based on the 550) so parts demand has been high over the years.
So hopefully no balance damage!
Without seeing the watch I'm afraid I can't be more specific, but from an indie you should be preparing for a quote of between about £50 (copy glass and something lucky inside) and £600 (original glass, service and complete balance) depending on exactly what's happened and what options are taken.
The balance is available - with a parts price of around £425! - and the staff is only available as genuine at around £100 - £125 by the time it's fitted, trued and poised (basically in the condition a new balance would be but using the old wheel, hairspring etc).
Ronda did make staffs for it but they're obsolete and the chance of finding one is slim because it's a popular movement series (based on the 550) so parts demand has been high over the years.
So hopefully no balance damage!
Without seeing the watch I'm afraid I can't be more specific, but from an indie you should be preparing for a quote of between about £50 (copy glass and something lucky inside) and £600 (original glass, service and complete balance) depending on exactly what's happened and what options are taken.
Its quite common for people to want to find a local watch repairer, but the reality is that you are going to need to post it. It will be perfectly safe and adequately insured when sent through the secure (Registered / Special Delivery) postal system and this is how millions of pounds worth of watches are moved around every day.
Joe is based in Anglesey.
Joe is based in Anglesey.
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