Watch servicing - anyone had a good experience??!!

[Ruxpin]

So... in recent years I have sent 2 watches back to their different manufacturers for a full service. How come both have come back with faults they didn't go out with.... grrrr

Both were only serviced as they were loosing a bit of time.

My chrono came back not registering hrs on the chronograph stopwatch.
My UTC came back and occasionally loses a full hr. It was sent back to the manufacturer a month ago only to be returned still showing the same fault.....3rd time lucky??

Sure the pretty boxes they return them in are nice but a £400-£500 each service you'd think (hope) they could do the important bit right??

Is this typical of the Swiss watch industry?

My wife's omega is currently loosing a bit of time and it would be nice to have it refinished....do I risk it?

[bry1975]

Are you sure BOTH were serviced by the manufacturer as the AD might've well had the inhouse watchie or an independent service them?

[bry1975]

Botn Omega at Bienne and STS UK are both recommended for watch refinishing and servicing.

[blindswelledrat]

Trying to get my Ulysee Nardin serviced is frankly a joke.
They suggest but can't guarantee a 15 week turnaround and charge ludicrous prices for it.
SO last time I tried out watch doctors who everyone on here seems to recommend.
I thought they were excellent. Quick turnaround, fixed my watch and charged me a very reasonable fee.
Unless anything bad happened I wouldn't consider the main dealer again.

[Riff Raff]

blindswelledrat said:

Trying to get my Ulysee Nardin serviced is frankly a joke.
They suggest but can't guarantee a 15 week turnaround and charge ludicrous prices for it.
SO last time I tried out watch doctors who everyone on here seems to recommend.
I thought they were excellent. Quick turnaround, fixed my watch and charged me a very reasonable fee.
Unless anything bad happened I wouldn't consider the main dealer again.

It depends on who the manufacturer is. Breitling for example won't sell parts to independent watchmakers, so you are pretty much stuck with them when you need one serviced. OK, there are watch repairers out there who are Breitling approved, but they seem to pretty much charge what Breitling do, so I don't actually see the point in using them.

[TimboL]

IWC Big Eng chrono returned to the dealer, and thence to the factory in Switzerland, for a warranty repair on 26 July after the thread on the screw-down crown stopped working. In retrospect, I realise it was faulty from new.

The UK agent (or subsidiary?) have been nice enough to deal with, but apparently unable to do anything about remedying an utterly dire customer service experience. It seems to be impossible to get in contact with anyone who has any substantive management responsibility for customer satisfaction (so, in that respect, IWC seems to be just like mobile phone companies, retail banks, gas, electricity, water suppliers, and other similar low-grade irritants).

Contacted IWC via their web site on 13 November. Got email reply on 15 November:

> Dear ---,
>
> We are very sorry to hear of your disappointment with one of
> our services and would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity
> to restore your faith in IWC Schaffhausen.
>
> Your comments have been forwarded to the department concerned, who will
> promptly look into this matter. Upon the completion of our internal
> investigations, we will get back to you in order to resolve this issue.
>
> We remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.
>
> Please feel free to contact us for any further information you may require.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Laura D'Ambrosio
>
> Customer Care Agent

Since when, not a sausage more from them. Faith is therefore not restored: just the opposite, in fact.

The UK company tell me the watch was despatched from the factory last Friday; and I may get it back soon, subject to the time the consignment of watches takes to clear customs.

So I may get the watch back soon, although IWC will have had it for almost as long as I have.

It's a lesson learned, and I will never, *ever*, *ever*, buy another IWC watch; and I shall most certainly take any opportunity to recommend against IWC to friends, relations, casual acquaintances, strangers I encounter in the street, etc, etc.



I have found Rolex to be reasonably consistently good over the past 45 years.

[andy tims]

I've had generally positive experience.

[Ruxpin]

TimboL said:

.....Contacted IWC via their web site on 13 November. Got email reply on 15 November:
......Since when, not a sausage more

Humm... guess I won't bother writing to IWC then.

My 2, (IWC and Breitling) have been with different UK dealers. I understand both were sent away, unsure whether uk or factory, either way given the length of time they have the watch and cost is it wrong to expect excellent service.

It surely doesn't take 6weeks to do the service? Is it a one day service, check the time for the rest of the week and then leave it lying around for 5 weeks?

I have defended the costs historically and recommeded friends get theirs serviced. They look great when they come back all shiny and a fancy box.... Maybe they should spend more on quality control.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

There's a PH'er on here called Eddie (ecain63) with a little jewellers in Bournemouth.

He has an Omega trained tech who does all the top-end watch servicing.

He turned my Seamaster around in five days, including a full service, new parts, polish and all replacement strap pins for around 400 sovs (cash deal).

One month later, she still looks like new and has never kept better time.

Give him a shout.

[Maxf]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

There's a PH'er on here called Eddie (ecain63) with a little jewellers in Bournemouth.

He has an Omega trained tech who does all the top-end watch servicing.

He turned my Seamaster around in five days, including a full service, new parts, polish and all replacement strap pins for around 400 sovs (cash deal).

One month later, she still looks like new and has never kept better time.

Give him a shout.

£400? I had my vintage speedy pro repaired (non-running), polished and serviced for a little under that by STS (Omega), so I'd say yours was the going rate rather than a super deal - aside from time, as mine took 3 weeks.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Maxf said:

£400? I had my vintage speedy pro repaired (non-running), polished and serviced for a little under that by STS (Omega), so I'd say yours was the going rate rather than a super deal - aside from time, as mine took 3 weeks.

Well £100 of that was for fitting new pins which isn't part of a service obviously. And I wanted a QTA so I was happy

[Miguel Alvarez]

I've only sent one away my Tag Heuer Carerra. Sticking date that would only turn via manual intervention. It was under warranty. Sent it away October ish last year and got it back within a month working fine. No issues. Must remember to try it as sods law it'll crap the bed when the warranty is up.

[Spice_Weasel]

I know there have been a couple of negative comments on TZ, but I have had a good experience with Rytetime. Last one was a service for an Oris Miles Day Date that would not hold a wind.