I have done some research on watch repair services and how much they cost. Also describe the process that is involved in watch restoration.
A vintage wristwatch can be a complex and intricate device. Therefore watch repairs involve a high level of expertise and a comprehensive understanding of the various parts and mechanisms of a watch. You should therefore be sure to find someone who is properly qualified. Those charging excessively low amounts are probably amateurs who risk causing more damage to your watch.
What Watches can be Repaired?
Watch repair can be performed on quartz watches but repair of mechanical movement watches both modern and vintage is more common. It is often not worthwhile repairing cheap or modern day quartz watch. Also not all watches can be repaired such as those that have extensive rusting and it can be difficult to find certain replacement parts for some old watches due to their rarity.
You should not wait until your vintage watch stops working but service your watch every few years and if your watch shows signs of moisture forming inside you should get the watch cleaned as soon as possible.
What does a Watch Repair Service involve and Cost?
A good watch repair service should do more then just fix your broken watch. They will give your watch a complete service which may involve the following:
The watch will be disassembled and then inspected for damage and worn or corroded parts. The mechanical parts will be cleaned in an ultrasonic machine. Each part is carefully examined for damage or wear and where necessary replaced or repaired. The watch is then oiled and timed and regulated to be as accurate as possible using state of the art test equipment. The movement is then refitted to its case and tested and timed over a number of hours. It can then be shipped back to the customer via post.
A complete service like the one described above on most modern watches start at about $200 to $400. Vintage wrist watch repair start at about $300 to $500 and high-grade watches and chronographs start at about $400 to $550. Prices just for cleaning range from about $50 to $150
This whole process can take a few weeks as the materials and mechanical pieces sometimes have to be ordered due to them being so rare.
What Parts Cannot be Repaired or Cleaned
Discoloured dials can rarely be cleaned as most dials are made of silver-plated brass. In most cases when a dial appears to be dirty, it is really an indication of lacquer which has discoloured and or fallen off. This then allows the underlying silver surface to tarnish. The only remedy is to refinish the dial
Also watches that originally came with plastic crystals can not be fitted with modern sapphire crystals due to the construction of the watch case.
Watch repair costs will vary depending on the brand and the amount of work and replacement parts. A professional watch repair shop should be able to repair a broad range of vintage and modern watch brands such as the following:
| Pocket watch repair | Accutron watch repair | Bulova watch repair |
| Cartier watch repair | Skagen watch repair | Timex watch repair |
| Swiss army watch repair | Casio watch repair | Citizen watch repair |
Watch Repair Kits
There are watch repair kits available now available. These watch repair kits are cheap and can be purchased from ebay.
I would not recommend taking a watch apart and trying to fix it yourself if you are an amateur and the watch is of high value or cherished possession. Watches contain many small parts which can easily get lost and springs that are difficult to re-attach. Also it is easy to forget where all the parts go.
However these watch repair tools are fine for replacing the batteries or watch band repair on many watches. Watch repair tools usually consist of the following:
A watchband holder, link pin remover, spring bar remover, small hammer, knife, slotted screwdrivers, case wrench, long nose pliers, stainless steel tweezers and work pad.
You should also insure you purchase some cleaning solvents, oil for lubrication, a bright lamp, emery cloth and adhesive.