Author Topic: looking for a good watch repair shop  (Read 112667 times)

Offline takashi78

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #50 on: May 05, 2010, 09:54:54 PM »
Well to me you gotta pay to play.
Sending it back to Swiss will come back almost new and fresh, but at the end i'm sure it will cost you as much as the price of the watch.

Offline shinigami

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #51 on: October 06, 2010, 09:20:54 AM »
Hi Gapper,

I just got back my Sub from RSC and complete overhaul cost around 850MYR, got some part changed too (i think few gears and crown)...

Is your RM2K included the bracelet?

I find the Rolex service is the cheapest so far... I once sent back a JLC and it cost me MYR1.5K++ and the time will not accurate...   :Scolding:


scott.



I actually sent my Rolex Submariner to RSC recently... the total time they took to service my watch was 3 months and the price charged was close to RM3K...

I asked what was changed and why so expensive... they kept saying the parts that are needed to be changed needed to be ordered from Switz... but till the day I collected the watch, they never explained what the parts were.


Offline Scott C.

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #52 on: October 06, 2010, 09:54:25 AM »
Hi Gapper,

I just got back my Sub from RSC and complete overhaul cost around 850MYR, got some part changed too (i think few gears and crown)...

Is your RM2K included the bracelet?

I find the Rolex service is the cheapest so far... I once sent back a JLC and it cost me MYR1.5K++ and the time will not accurate...   :Scolding:


scott.



I actually sent my Rolex Submariner to RSC recently... the total time they took to service my watch was 3 months and the price charged was close to RM3K...

I asked what was changed and why so expensive... they kept saying the parts that are needed to be changed needed to be ordered from Switz... but till the day I collected the watch, they never explained what the parts were.



RSC has adjusted their service prices, normal service now cost MYR1.8K...

I think the service receipt should have mentioned what's has been done to your watch, no?

Offline besview

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #53 on: October 06, 2010, 10:16:57 AM »
The service costs more in Bienne than wat swatch group charges according to the chart .I have a speedy 35th with OSC now and full service for my caliber 1861 is rm 1300.In Bienne I think it was a few hundred more if I rmbr correctly.To add salt to the wound,they said it was compulsory to change the hands which are in perfect condition and on top of that the balance wheel has broken coil springs and that has to be changed at a whopping rm1500.Damage,rm3035 :Blue:


Anyone knows how much a balance wheel set cost?



scott,
How come yr service at RSC so cheap?
« Last Edit: October 06, 2010, 10:19:21 AM by besview »

Offline Gigi

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #54 on: October 07, 2010, 06:59:29 PM »
The service costs more in Bienne than wat swatch group charges according to the chart .I have a speedy 35th with OSC now and full service for my caliber 1861 is rm 1300.In Bienne I think it was a few hundred more if I rmbr correctly.To add salt to the wound,they said it was compulsory to change the hands which are in perfect condition and on top of that the balance wheel has broken coil springs and that has to be changed at a whopping rm1500.Damage,rm3035 :Blue:


Anyone knows how much a balance wheel set cost?



scott,
How come yr service at RSC so cheap?

If i were u... I would prefer to send the whole watch to binne to service when u ask for it.

At least those uncles and aunties at Bienne will know what are they doing and expect long waiting time yo. But is the watch perform well before u send to the service center?

Eh, the hands if i remember u can opt not to change, i dunno how the system work in swatch group service center.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2010, 07:12:08 PM by gigiplastic »

Offline TheHobbit

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #55 on: October 07, 2010, 07:35:23 PM »
Based on experience, when you send the watch to Swatch Service Centre, they will have a look at the watch and tell you if they can do it, locally. If they cannot do it, they will ask you if you want to send it back to Bienne. They do have a fixed price for the service and shipping is included in the quote. You will have to decide if it is worth it to send the watch. You can tell them what parts you want them to replace and what parts you do not want them to replace, but this have an impact on the service warranty. Be prepared to wait as it can take time to get the watch serviced. The last time my brother sent his Omega from the 40s it took Bienne 6 months to turn the watch around.

Other option is to go international. End of the day it comes down to the value of the watch and what it means to you.

As for RSC, I have not had much problems with them. They usually quote (my experience anyway, both in Malaysia and elsewhere) upfront what requires to be changed and the estimate cost of replacement. Along the way, if there are other parts that needs to be changed, they will call you to inform you of the cost. This is where the practice differs from RSC to RSC. Some RSC have what is called a fixed package pricing. They will quote upfront the cost of repair and a fixed service package. For parts that they have to change along the way, falls under this fixed package. Usually this price is about the cost of replacing the movement as the replacement cost for the other parts is already quoted, e.g. stem tube, winding stem, gaskets etc and the only 'surprise' left is the movement. This service package price is not very much, safe to say that it is about RMxxx (below a grand). Also you can tell them what you want to replace and what not to do with the watch, e.g. do not replace the dial of your red submariner or polish your vintage submariner reference 5512.

The RSC will also tell you if they can provide you with a service warranty, full or otherwise. For example I know that RSC Malaysia cannot provide full service warranty of the SeaDweller reference 1665 as the parts for the watch is very difficult to get. But this does not impact things like water resistance as they can change the gaskets etc, unless your case is damaged. It usually covers things like the bezel insert, dial or hands, more so if you insist to keep them original (tritium hour markers dial and hands).

There are other differences as well like the actual issuance of the service warranty certificate and if they give you the watch back in a Rolex service box or not.

Offline David_cheong

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #56 on: October 08, 2010, 06:37:54 AM »
The Hobbit - Brovo.

Detail explanations on after-sales service scenario.
Thank you for sharing.


dc
I am almost a recovered watchaholic, but last checked shows only 70% recovered. How?

Offline besview

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #57 on: October 08, 2010, 09:32:44 AM »
Hobbit,

Well explained :Cheers:

In my case,its a simple matter of replacing the balance wheel and regular service.Other than the BW,all else fine.But having said that,I did see young looking technicians at OSC,so what's the experience level?.Will be taking the watch back from OSC and let watches of switzerland do it for much less.

Offline watchtime

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #58 on: October 08, 2010, 02:27:21 PM »
Hi everyone,
I use to wear my 50 years old Titus automatic regularly. Very reliable never need any service until one day
the crown dropped off. It still run so i wore it without crown for a few years. Everytime i pass by a watch shop i
will ask if they can repair it usually answer no or can try. Dare not send to watchmaker bcos of cost.
Anyway i found a old shop in Semenyeh ( the half watchshop and half goldsmith type of shop). The watchsmith
older than my watch replaced the crown and lube. service it for less than Rm100. The watch is still ok but retired.
Just want to tell my story and aim for Junior member rank. ha ha!!

Offline Gigi

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #59 on: October 08, 2010, 08:56:49 PM »
Hobbit,

Well explained :Cheers:

In my case,its a simple matter of replacing the balance wheel and regular service.Other than the BW,all else fine.But having said that,I did see young looking technicians at OSC,so what's the experience level?.Will be taking the watch back from OSC and let watches of switzerland do it for much less.

Most of the technicians (RSC or swatch group included) in Malaysia are mostly fill by young ppl unlike in US where there those "sifu" still working. I am sure there are not pro as their "senior technicians". That why i rather (in my opinion) let my watch be handled by very experience ppl like Omega Bienne (you can tell swatch group malaysia u want it to be serviced there) even though u gotta wait for quite sometime.

Well you can let "watches of Switzerland" to do the job but you gotta remember that:

-Do they have the know how to repair your watch PROPERLY without any after service problem
-Do they have acess to genuine parts
-Last of all, do you TRUST the person who will service your watch.

Try pm chrisyen, he know some few ppl who are well verse in watch repair. :)

Offline takashi78

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #60 on: October 08, 2010, 10:32:14 PM »
Abel,

Still no update on your Omega?
Its been months man....

Offline chrisyen

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #61 on: October 08, 2010, 10:45:02 PM »
Hobbit,

Well explained :Cheers:

In my case,its a simple matter of replacing the balance wheel and regular service.Other than the BW,all else fine.But having said that,I did see young looking technicians at OSC,so what's the experience level?.Will be taking the watch back from OSC and let watches of switzerland do it for much less.

Most of the technicians (RSC or swatch group included) in Malaysia are mostly fill by young ppl unlike in US where there those "sifu" still working. I am sure there are not pro as their "senior technicians". That why i rather (in my opinion) let my watch be handled by very experience ppl like Omega Bienne (you can tell swatch group malaysia u want it to be serviced there) even though u gotta wait for quite sometime.

Well you can let "watches of Switzerland" to do the job but you gotta remember that:

-Do they have the know how to repair your watch PROPERLY without any after service problem
-Do they have acess to genuine parts
-Last of all, do you TRUST the person who will service your watch.

Try pm chrisyen, he know some few ppl who are well verse in watch repair. :)

KL is a small city, not many watchmaker.... most of them know each other...
some cari makan, some not even repairing the watch themselves, some really like watches, some will slaughter you....

swatch malaysia do hv senior watchmaker.... but when u send a complicated watch, it likely will send back to swiss
but if service a lemania 5100, eta 2824-2, 2801, 2892-a2, 2893... 6497 & 6498, all modern rolex, most seiko movement except modern grand seiko, citizen, valjoux 7750..... local watchmaker should be able to handle

polish case also got a few local specialist

refinish dial, we hv a specialist famous in asia

mineral crystal maker... the specialist is getting old... no replacement likely if he stop

relume dial... hmmm.... never find a good 1.... even i knew my regular can do well but he reluctant to do...
too time consuming.... n he never charge too high...
so better send oversea....

so depend on what watch u want to repair...


Offline TheHobbit

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #62 on: October 09, 2010, 04:57:05 PM »
dc, besview,

We learn together.

Offline watchtime

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #63 on: October 09, 2010, 07:55:46 PM »
Hi,
Another watch shop story.  This time it happened today. I was at a watch repair shop in a shopping
mall ( mentioned by some of you before) and a young girl ( early 20s) walked in alone took out
2 watches to show to the boss. 1 rolex cellini solid gold with gold buckle and another solid gold omega
with gold buckle. Both watch look old design but mint cond. size about 34mm. The boss was very excited
abut the cellini even weigh it on his electronic weighing machine. The girl claimed they belonged
to her dad and the boss called him on his HP (he remarked to his worker he sounded too young).
Anyway he offered 2k for the rolex and rejected the omega. The girl accepted. I feel the Rolec
probably worth more than 10K. Can I get into trouble if I had offered to buy the omega from the girl?

Moral of the story. Watch repair shop probably make more money buying and selling watches
than repairing them. thats why they are cold to regular type of customers.

Offline besview

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #64 on: October 09, 2010, 09:27:58 PM »
watchtime,
The girl has been had .Easily worth more than 8k-12k for an A serial Danaos model even tho the resale value sux for the cellini range..solid gold somemore.The girl probly needed the funds and the offer amt is pittance!!! >:(

Offline Cloud7

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #65 on: October 09, 2010, 10:29:03 PM »
I won't be surprised if the watch was stolen.... so the girl could care less, as long as she got ca$h for it... the watch shop owner should have been more careful; no papers, a "dad" who sounds young... or am I paranoid?

Offline watchtime

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #66 on: October 10, 2010, 08:42:40 AM »
The shop probably cannot resist such a good deal but they did request copy of girl and 'dad' IC.
Old watch without receipt can accept lah.

Offline ck77

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #67 on: October 11, 2010, 03:29:23 PM »
Abel,

Still no update on your Omega?
Its been months man....

ya gigi, how's your omega restoration process?

Offline Gigi

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #68 on: October 11, 2010, 06:01:17 PM »
Abel,

Still no update on your Omega?
Its been months man....

ya gigi, how's your omega restoration process?

Hi, Sorry i am too caught up with other matters. My omega is service is completed. One thing for sure, it is awesome (for me lar). I will do a write up once i done with my stuff  :)

Offline hildagarde

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #69 on: March 20, 2011, 11:02:08 PM »
I've just recently sent my Speedmaster reduced to Swatch Group for servicing. It costs me MYR1530 without any hidden costs. My problem was the watch running slow. They did a remarkably good job. What they did was replacing the sub-dial hands (compulsory), replaced the hesalite crystal(although they aren't any scratches on it), replaced the crown and both pushers(also still in perfect condition), the gasket BUT they replaced my whole movement because the claimed that my previous movement has suffered due to lack of servicing but I have to agree that this was the first time this watch had been serviced since 1998. After that, they told me that I have to service the watch on every 5 years interval. But nevertheless, I had received very good services from them. Recommended!!

Offline takashi78

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #70 on: March 21, 2011, 08:04:47 AM »
Wow with all that was done including a NEW movt that price is a steal!

Offline chrisyen

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #71 on: March 21, 2011, 09:53:44 AM »
I've just recently sent my Speedmaster reduced to Swatch Group for servicing. It costs me MYR1530 without any hidden costs. My problem was the watch running slow. They did a remarkably good job. What they did was replacing the sub-dial hands (compulsory), replaced the hesalite crystal(although they aren't any scratches on it), replaced the crown and both pushers(also still in perfect condition), the gasket BUT they replaced my whole movement because the claimed that my previous movement has suffered due to lack of servicing but I have to agree that this was the first time this watch had been serviced since 1998. After that, they told me that I have to service the watch on every 5 years interval. But nevertheless, I had received very good services from them. Recommended!!

almost everything is new then except the case

Offline hildagarde

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #72 on: March 21, 2011, 05:15:53 PM »
Yeah, and I forgot to mention that they even polished the case and bracelet too and also gave me a 2 year warranty. No regrets for paying that much. Was really satisfied with their services
« Last Edit: March 21, 2011, 05:19:00 PM by hildagarde »

Offline ginvin

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #73 on: March 22, 2011, 09:07:45 PM »
I've just recently sent my Speedmaster reduced to Swatch Group for servicing. It costs me MYR1530 without any hidden costs. My problem was the watch running slow. They did a remarkably good job. What they did was replacing the sub-dial hands (compulsory), replaced the hesalite crystal(although they aren't any scratches on it), replaced the crown and both pushers(also still in perfect condition), the gasket BUT they replaced my whole movement because the claimed that my previous movement has suffered due to lack of servicing but I have to agree that this was the first time this watch had been serviced since 1998. After that, they told me that I have to service the watch on every 5 years interval. But nevertheless, I had received very good services from them. Recommended!!

hi hildagarde, when you mentioned the parts replacement, did Swatch Group actually returned the old parts to you after replacing with new ones?

anyhow, good review for their service.  ;)


Offline hildagarde

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Re: looking for a good watch repair shop
« Reply #74 on: March 23, 2011, 01:36:25 PM »
They did not return me the parts though. But they did state that which particular part was replaced on the receipt.