Service recommendations please

[Digga]

Don't often lurk on this bit of PH (mainly because I'm not sufficiently wealthy to be a regular purchaser) but I need some advice with one of my watches.

It's a 1992 Zenith 'Defy' (automatic) which I haven't worn for ages, purely because it is in dire need of service; it's gaining time (about 1min every 8 hrs) and the winder has come loose.

First service was with Zenith, but IIRC they stopped doing that, so most recent one was with a major high street name (no name & shame) after which I personally feel the thing was worse...

Could anyone direct me?

[tertius]

I would start by trying Steve Burrage at Ryte Time Watch Repairs - he repaired my El Primero after the mainspring broke, so he is certainly familiar with Zenith.

If there is an issue with parts availability you may need to go to Zenith - I sent my 70s Defy to LVMH in Manchester (or somewhere), it was horribly expensive though. But are you saying they don't do servicing any more?

As an alternative Brendan Hoey is getting good reviews: http://www.webwatchmaker.com/index.htm

[Digga]

tertius said:

If there is an issue with parts availability you may need to go to Zenith... But are you saying they don't do servicing any more?

All I know is there was a reason why it didn;t get sent back there last time - something had changed.

Thanks kindly for advice - I will peruse.

[jimmyslr]

My Zenith Rainbow Flyback (rought a 2000 birth year) went to LVMH Manchester this year. Was a few hundred quid for service, so not cheap, but they happily took it and my cash!

[Digga]

jimmyslr said:

My Zenith Rainbow Flyback (rought a 2000 birth year) went to LVMH Manchester this year. Was a few hundred quid for service, so not cheap, but they happily took it and my cash!

When mine was last servied by Zenith UK it was when they were based in Middlesex - I guess, perhaps, there was some transition period (before Manchester centre was set up) where they no longer offered service (?) which is why I didn;t use them again.

[Digga]

tertius said:

I would start by trying Steve Burrage at Ryte Time Watch Repairs

Thread resurrection, just to endorse Steve.

He's done a fantastic job on my Zenith - not only serviced so it's keeping perfect time, but also replaced some loose pins on the bracelet and fixed the wonky bezel that a certain high-street watch "expert" had buggered when they serviced it, and all for a good deal less than the LVMH rate. Very pleased.

www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk

And no, I didn't negotiate a discount for this mention. This is not an advertorial.