Leonidas Watch Repair

[Haves1979]

Managed to drop my old Leonidas watch yesterday and it's now stopped working. Could anyone recommend somebody good to service and repair. The watch has a Landeron 248 movement. I've been quoted £300-400, which seems a lot given I doubt the watch itself is worth much.

Cheers

[mikeveal]

Haves1979 said:

Managed to drop my old Leonidas watch yesterday and it's now stopped working. Could anyone recommend somebody good to service and repair. The watch has a Landeron 248 movement. I've been quoted £300-400, which seems a lot given I doubt the watch itself is worth much.

Cheers

I think you underestimate the value of old chronos.
You're at the other end of the country from me, so difficult to recommend anyone local. Joe at Anglesea Watch Company used to post here and gets nothing but good reviews from those who have used him.
Alternatively, if you go to the British Horological Institute's website you will find a list of members near you who take in repairs.

Servicing of chronos is much more expensive than ordinary mechanicals. Add in replacement parts and I could easily believe £200 to £300.

[Haves1979]

Thats great many thanks I'll have a look.

I paid about a hundred quid for it a few years back so don't think it's super desirable. That said I do like the watch so will I doubt get it sorted rather than relegating to the back of the drawer!

[andy_s]

I'd think you'd still have some skin in the game after a service, the Landeron is a work horse but still a nice enough calibre, Leonidas prices are steady and perhaps going up - mainly led by the Heuer association as Heuers get stratospheric but also on the shirt tails of the AMI watches [Zenith, Leonidas, Universal Geneve etc] so in good enough company.
The price seems a wee bit steep - I've used this guy before with no worries - he'd charge £250 plus or minus as work dictates - http://watchguy.co.uk/price-list/

Probably never going to be worth a big price, but nice features and I reckon enough to make a service worthwhile - especially as you like it

[Haves1979]

Thanks all, I found a relatively local place in Sunderland on the BHI site recommended above. Apparently the balance staff is broken, so with a replacement part, service etc the cost is coming out at the bottom end of the estimate I originally had so can't complain (too much).

Cheers!

[Haves1979]

Hi all, another question about this watch.

I have had the watch back from repair/service for a good few weeks now without problem. Was winding the watch this morning and it clicked, then the second hand started running backwards then it stopped. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas? The shop who did the repair obviously want to see it just worrying I'm in for another huge repair bill having just shelled out £300 already for it..

[glazbagun]

Probably best not to speculate as it could be a lot of things, some major some minor.

(so naturally I'm now going to speculate )

If it clicked as you were winding it, it could be that the mainspring has snapped or the hooking between spring and barrel has come loose.

If it clicked as you let it go, it could be that the Click (part that stops the ratchet) has stopped doing it's job properly for some reason and has allowed the mainspring to unravel.

For the second hand to go backwards, the whole train has to go backwards including the barrel.

It can be a fairly trouble fix or it can damage to the teeth if it's too violent, there's no way to say without seeing the watch.

Edited by glazbagun on Saturday 30th December 11:33

[miniman]

Send it to Joe (Variomatic).

[Haves1979]

Thanks- it only ran backwards for about 5 seconds so hoping it hasn't caused any damage. I did think about the spring snapping, should this not have been done with the service?

Hoping it's going to be something covered by warranty so going back to the same place in Sunderland.

[andy_s]

Haves1979 said:

Thanks- it only ran backwards for about 5 seconds so hoping it hasn't caused any damage. I did think about the spring snapping, should this not have been done with the service?

Hoping it's going to be something covered by warranty so going back to the same place in Sunderland.

I think that's a good first move at least, if not then as mentioned, Variomatic may be able to help.

[Haves1979]

Thanks will see how I get on. Can give variomatic a shout if I don't have any luck.