Servicing: the must-know facts!

[caracarnj]

What happens when you send a watch in for a regular overhaul, how long does it take, and how much can you expect to pay?

ARE you the kind of person who sends a watch in for servicing only when it starts to give trouble, or stops altogether

We've got news for you - that's really not a good thing, say our watchmaker friends. In a hot and humid climate like Singapore's, considerations like corrosion and water resistance are far more important than in a country with a cooler, drier climate.

On top of that, a master watchmaker once explained to us that if you keep the same lubricants going round and round inside your watch movement, what happens over time (with the friction between metal parts) is that those lubricants can pick up and carry tiny metal residues around with them - even if you can't see this with the naked eye.

In the worst case, such metallic residues make the watch lubricant act like sandpaper - instead of ensuring that the movement parts glide smoothly against each other with a minimum of abrasive effects.

And if you have quartz watches which have been lying around for some time, don't be surprised if the battery inside has not only died on you, but leaked its corrosive contents and - quite possibly - destroyed the insides of your watch in the process.

Key considerations

We conducted a survey earlier this year, sending watch brands a questionnaire that covered key considerations about servicing. We asked them, for instance, what's done to your watch, how long it takes, what it typically costs, and how good the local techies are in terms of experience.

Eight brands were kind enough to respond to our queries and here are some typical answers they gave. For example, recommended service intervals of three to five years was the most common response, though some suggested water resistance tests as often as once a year, especially because of Singapore's year-round humidity.

Post-service warranties were most commonly for one year, but stretched to two years in the case of Audemars Piguet, IWC and Omega.

There's more. To make the costs more comparable across brands, we tried to identify a simple but iconic watch for each of the eight brands - a timepiece with an automatic movement, three hands for hours, minutes and seconds, with or without date, but a minimum water resistance of 100 metres.

As a result, we found ourselves looking at watches such as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Girard-Perregaux Seahawk II, IWC Aquatimer, Omega Seamaster, Oris Diver Date, Panerai Luminor Submersible, Patek Philippe Aquanaut and a Tag Heuer 2000 Exclusive.

Survey results

For the convenience of our readers, we have summarised our survey results in table form.

And in terms of what's done for your watch when it is sent in for regular servicing, the eight respondents told us what they typically do to get your watch back in tip-top shape:

• Movement parts are separated from the case, then all items checked or tested for wear and tear
  
  
  • To clean away old lubricants and remove any other residues, individual movement parts are thoroughly cleaned with the help of chemicals and purpose-built machinery;
    
    
    • Replacement of parts where deemed necessary (could entail extra charge);
      
      
      • Movement re-assembled and re-lubricated;
        

      [*]The watch is then re-assembled in its case, and to ensure water resistance, new gaskets are fitted for important areas like the front and back of the case as well as the crown;

      [*]Finally, before it's ready to be returned to its owner, the cased watch is typically subject to satisfactory final multi-day testing for key factors such as power reserve, accuracy, magnetism and water resistance.

      As for the optimal combination of least time taken and most reasonable costs, the trio that emerged tops from our inquiries were Omega, Oris and Tag Heuer. And, of the three, Tag offered the best value for money, by throwing in a free polish of watch-case and bracelet for just $240. More expensive alternatives start as high as $1,000, or more.

      If total man-years of experience in the service centre form any reliable gauge of the quality of personnel working on your favourite heirloom, we are happy to report that a good number of those polled here had combined personnel experience of more than 100 man-years in servicing or repairing watches.

      In many cases, local expertise could handle watches that were more than 20 years old.

      Omega and Patek Philippe had the largest number trained in Switzerland - at seven each.

      Notably, an expatriate headed more than one brand's service team, and watch complications up to perpetual calendars could be handled locally in many cases.

      As for watches too old or too complicated to be repaired locally, most do offer watchowners the option of sending it back to the head office for a quote, though customers may be asked to bear the transfer and insurance costs in some cases.

      All said, it's true that the cost of keeping your watches in good shape has risen over the years. On the other hand, what hasn't?

      

[Logan]

It can be expensive owning gens.. My Breitling Avenger needs looking at soon.. I'll be paying the price of a pretty nice rep to get that done

[Ztech]

Great info car. I never did know what the so-called service entailed. Thanks, now I know.

[vric]

Damn The Zigmeister is cheap

[RWG Technical]

Damn Ziggy is cheap

Not "cheap" but less expensive...

I have been saying for years that it's expensive to service watches, and always get told I charge too much.

RG

[Toadtorrent]

Not "cheap" but less expensive...

I have been saying for years that it's expensive to service watches, and always get told I charge too much.

...an those that say that you don't need as customers!!

Anybody who has owned a gen and has had to service them knows how much they cost to own and maintain. Just because a rep costs way less at the initial outlay...the same number of parts (in the case of A7750 movements) means the same level of complexity to maintain as a gen...but with an Asian movement...more frustrating to source parts, and more frustrating to deal with rep idiosyncrasies.

There are no Asian movement servicing manuals and parts lists like you would get with ETA movements...making them I would think, harder to deal with in many respects than gens.

The Zigmeister, you do us all an honour to even participate in this forum and share the experience you have. Your prices make you the King of Value!!

[fotoman]

Not "cheap" but less expensive...

I have been saying for years that it's expensive to service watches, and always get told I charge too much.

RG

i don't know much about the internals of watch mechanisms

but i do know that The Zigmeister is not expensive

[caracarnj]

Ztech, glad you find the info useful.

The Zigmeister's service is value for $$$!!!

[Ztech]

Ztech, glad you find the info useful.

The Zigmeister's service is value for $$$!!!

Yeah, now all I have to do is get on The Zigmeister's "trusted" list. How I'm going to do that is a mystery.

[coolfire]

Thanks for posting this, cara!

Never knew BT had such great info....