Best place to have a TAG carrera serviced?
Discussion
If there is already a thread on this somewhere then apologies.
My carrera calibre is due a service, it's 4 years old and needs a new croc strap as well, goldsmiths sent me a letter saying it needs the service. Which is best, send it to goldsmiths, TAG or go independent?
If independent is there anywhere in the north west that can do all of the above as I've contacted a place in wilmslow and they quoted £220 + VAT but can't supply a genuine strap!
Cheers.
My carrera calibre is due a service, it's 4 years old and needs a new croc strap as well, goldsmiths sent me a letter saying it needs the service. Which is best, send it to goldsmiths, TAG or go independent?
If independent is there anywhere in the north west that can do all of the above as I've contacted a place in wilmslow and they quoted £220 + VAT but can't supply a genuine strap!
Cheers.
Regarding the strap, I wouldn't waste my money on a replacement from TAG. For similar money, you can buy a bespoke strap from ABP, Camille Fournet or Jean Rousseau London. Though I'd keep the deployant buckle from the original strap, so this can be fitted to the replacement. Any of the aforementioned can fit the deployant on the strap for you.
A cheaper (but not cheap) option would be to get a Hirsch croc or alligator strap. They are good quality. Again, I'd keep the original TAG deployant buckle to fit on the Hirsch strap. There will be a Hirsch stockist in the North West, if you prefer to get everything done in-store while you wait.
A cheaper (but not cheap) option would be to get a Hirsch croc or alligator strap. They are good quality. Again, I'd keep the original TAG deployant buckle to fit on the Hirsch strap. There will be a Hirsch stockist in the North West, if you prefer to get everything done in-store while you wait.
Edited by SVS on Wednesday 6th August 07:11
First things first, how on earth does Goldsmiths know that your watch "needs a service"?
Letters like this are part of their marketing strategy and very profitable indeed for them because what they'll be offering is a full, and very expensive, service regardless of actual need. Bear in mind, I'm speaking as a watchmaker here.
What it could do with around that age is to be checked over for performance and water resistance but that's an entirely different thing - more an MOT than a service.
If it's still well lubricated (modern oils are unlikely to be suffering afer 4 years), still keeping regular time without positional errors (easily checked on a timing machine) and still keeping water out then the only tangible benefit of servicing is to transfer cash from your bank account to theres. Really.
It's the watch world's equivalent of Kwik Fit telling you that your car needs new tyres, shocks and exhaust and relies (in exactly the same way as KF) on the owner's fear of damaging it by neglect.
Find a good local indie who you can walk into and ask them to test it. You should easily have change out of 50 quid assuming all's well with it - which it almost certainly will be.
Letters like this are part of their marketing strategy and very profitable indeed for them because what they'll be offering is a full, and very expensive, service regardless of actual need. Bear in mind, I'm speaking as a watchmaker here.
What it could do with around that age is to be checked over for performance and water resistance but that's an entirely different thing - more an MOT than a service.
If it's still well lubricated (modern oils are unlikely to be suffering afer 4 years), still keeping regular time without positional errors (easily checked on a timing machine) and still keeping water out then the only tangible benefit of servicing is to transfer cash from your bank account to theres. Really.
It's the watch world's equivalent of Kwik Fit telling you that your car needs new tyres, shocks and exhaust and relies (in exactly the same way as KF) on the owner's fear of damaging it by neglect.
Find a good local indie who you can walk into and ask them to test it. You should easily have change out of 50 quid assuming all's well with it - which it almost certainly will be.
Variomatic said:
First things first, how on earth does Goldsmiths know that your watch "needs a service"?
Letters like this are part of their marketing strategy and very profitable indeed for them because what they'll be offering is a full, and very expensive, service regardless of actual need. Bear in mind, I'm speaking as a watchmaker here.
What it could do with around that age is to be checked over for performance and water resistance but that's an entirely different thing - more an MOT than a service.
If it's still well lubricated (modern oils are unlikely to be suffering afer 4 years), still keeping regular time without positional errors (easily checked on a timing machine) and still keeping water out then the only tangible benefit of servicing is to transfer cash from your bank account to theres. Really.
It's the watch world's equivalent of Kwik Fit telling you that your car needs new tyres, shocks and exhaust and relies (in exactly the same way as KF) on the owner's fear of damaging it by neglect.
Find a good local indie who you can walk into and ask them to test it. You should easily have change out of 50 quid assuming all's well with it - which it almost certainly will be.
Cheers, I did wonder that and thought that it'd only really need fettling if it didn't keep time which it does, perfectly, I was thinking more along the lines of 2 birds with one stone with regards to the strap but as other have pointed there are other options.Letters like this are part of their marketing strategy and very profitable indeed for them because what they'll be offering is a full, and very expensive, service regardless of actual need. Bear in mind, I'm speaking as a watchmaker here.
What it could do with around that age is to be checked over for performance and water resistance but that's an entirely different thing - more an MOT than a service.
If it's still well lubricated (modern oils are unlikely to be suffering afer 4 years), still keeping regular time without positional errors (easily checked on a timing machine) and still keeping water out then the only tangible benefit of servicing is to transfer cash from your bank account to theres. Really.
It's the watch world's equivalent of Kwik Fit telling you that your car needs new tyres, shocks and exhaust and relies (in exactly the same way as KF) on the owner's fear of damaging it by neglect.
Find a good local indie who you can walk into and ask them to test it. You should easily have change out of 50 quid assuming all's well with it - which it almost certainly will be.
Once again, give this guy a buzz re: bracelet.
He may be able to source one...
http://www.ianwalsh-watchmaking.com/
He may be able to source one...
http://www.ianwalsh-watchmaking.com/
reggie747 said:
Once again, give this guy a buzz re: bracelet.
He may be able to source one...
http://www.ianwalsh-watchmaking.com/
He may be able to source one...
http://www.ianwalsh-watchmaking.com/
Also bear in mind Tag don't make straps - they just get their name stamped on them and quadruple the price. You can get better straps cheaper, so an OE strap is, in my opinion, a complete waste of money. Several good suggestions earlier on the thread for suppliers.
The only exception to this seems to be rubber straps where I have never found an aftermarket supplier that was worth having. My G-P and my GO both have (had in the case of the G-P) fabulous rubber straps. If anyone knows of a decent supplier I'd love to hear about them.
The only exception to this seems to be rubber straps where I have never found an aftermarket supplier that was worth having. My G-P and my GO both have (had in the case of the G-P) fabulous rubber straps. If anyone knows of a decent supplier I'd love to hear about them.
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