Thanks Tag, what a rip off.

[Simon Bags]

So the Tag Aquaracer needed a new battery, it's only 2 years old and gets worn about every 8 weeks or so, and then only on a Saturday night. So, into a well known jeweller it goes, usual thing, £60.00 and a 4 week wait to get the battery changed.

Or so I thought. Jeweller just called, "sorry Mr Gillard, we've heard from Tag, changing the battery hasn't worked, it needs a full service, some parts changed, new crown ya da ya da ya, that'll increase the bill to £275.00 thanks very much and another 3 week wait".

What a pile of crap.

[Fun Bus]

Chronograph?

Sounds like the jeweller was up-selling you a full service as opposed to just a battery?

[Pesty]

How long should the battery last on those?

It sound feasable to me that after such a short time (relativly) that the battery may not have been the problme and something else could have been so changing the battery obviously would not have worked if that was the case.

Can't comment on prices but if you have a few quaartz watches you could get yourself a decent case back remover. I do all mine and everybody elses I know. costs peanuts for batteries.

[Bohemianesque]

This type of experience was the reason I became fed up and sold my expensive swiss watches (JLC, Omega, Brietling etc). Now only the Daniel JeanRichard remains. I now have a collection of Seiko autos, an Orient and a Citizen.

The Mrs has a Cartier that has just gone in for a battery/service. Last time I got spanked for £380.....!!

However my daily wearer most often now is a Casio F-91w, which cost me all of £8!!!!

[Simon Bags]

Fun Bus said:

Chronograph?

Sounds like the jeweller was up-selling you a full service as opposed to just a battery?

Yea, chronograph. Thing is, it's not some cheapie back street jeweller that's thinking he's on to a nice little earner with me, it's a well know one, and has sorted out many a battery for me on other pricey pieces such as my Breitling. It just annoys me when you've got absolutely no come back on this, I mean what was I going to say "fine, give me back my watch that doesn't work even with a new battery and I'll do something else with it"?

It's times like these that I think bang the whole collection together and flog them, just get one really nice one and keep that one going rahter than trying to service 10.

Sorry chaps, I'm just a bit pissed off at the moment you know?

[Laser Sag]

Simon, might be a silly question but do you pull the crown out on your quartz watches when not wearing them as if you do then your battery should last many years if only worn every 8 weeks for 1 day at a time

[RichB]

Laser Sag said:

Simon, might be a silly question but do you pull the crown out on your quartz watches when not wearing them as if you do then your battery should last many years if only worn every 8 weeks for 1 day at a time

didn't know that. So if the hacking mechanism on a quartz watch is enganged it doesn't use up the battery?

[fflyingdog]

It will use some battery,but not as much as the electric motor which moves the hands, so saving battery power.

[Simon Bags]

Laser Sag said:

Simon, might be a silly question but do you pull the crown out on your quartz watches when not wearing them as if you do then your battery should last many years if only worn every 8 weeks for 1 day at a time

I didn't know that! No, all my watches just go back in the display box running all the time. That's a really good tip, thanks Matey.

Simon.

[Bungleaio]

My dads got a tuning fork watch that he's had longer than I've been alive. I've only seen him wear it a handful of times but I've never known him need a new battery for it as he pulls the crown out.

[dumbfunk]

Cracked sapphire crystal on a TAG Heuer Carrera Sir?
That'll be £700

[Simon Bags]

dumbfunk said:

Cracked sapphire crystal on a TAG Heuer Carrera Sir?
That'll be £700

Bleedin' hell!!! I'm beginning to think all this high end watch buying thing is a complete rip off.

[grumpyscot]

The battery on my Tag that I bought in Turkey 5 years go still works. Best buy I've ever had - it looks the bees knees and only cost £30 after a bit of bartering.

[Suinimtao]

I've had my TAG 2000 exclusive for just under 11 years and only had 2 batteries including the one it came with (wore it everyday for the first 8 years). Truth be told I'm a little afraid of sending it for a service (it hasn't had one yet) as it keeps good time and I'm worried that other costly 'problems' will be unearthed. Probably best to find a friendly local watchmaker to look after it....

[LukeBird]

dumbfunk said:

Cracked sapphire crystal on a TAG Heuer Carrera Sir?
That'll be £700

Moral of the story, never send it to Tag to service!
Get your watches down to a local (or well respected independent) watchmaker.
Just had a hand-wound Rolex & Submariner serviced for £80 a pop.

[dumbfunk]

You're correct. It was an insurance claim so no option but to go this route.
I won't mention the four attempts and 12 months it took them to fail to fix the sticking date as it only makes me upset

[falkster]

dumbfunk said:

Cracked sapphire crystal on a TAG Heuer Carrera Sir?
That'll be £700

You're joking? Ive got a small scratch on my Superocean!!

[Janosh]

I've had my tag for 6 years now, have had to change the battery twice, £10 each time at a local watchmaker, including pressure test.. Watchmaker said I'd need a new seal next time, but fine for now..

Sending to Tag to change the battery = rip off for sure

[anonymous-user]

Had my TAG 18 years now - currently on battery 3 (or possibly 4) and it's worn every day.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Are chronos massively more battery hungry?!

I've got a Seamaster Pro that I've had 10 years and it's on the second battery! First one lasted about 5 years, and obviously I don't know how long it sat before sale. Living in fear a wee bit about it going again soonish.