How much are you willing to spend on service?

[takashi78]

A quote today prompt me to ask this question.
How much are you willing to spend for a service? Factory or independent watchmaker.

What is your criteria?

For me is how attached i am to the watch.
How much i love it.
Is it a keeper for me.

So far most of my service cost for my cheaper watches are few hundred only.

The most expensive i have spent is to service my Rolex Sea Dweller.

A lot is saying its expensive to go back to factory and wanna service it outside.
This SD is my first BIG purchase with years or working part time in Univ while attending school full time.
Its a watch i wont sell.

As such i want the best for it, back to the RSC. But not any Malaysia as too many "stories".

I instead went to San Francisco's RSC which is NOT directly connected to Rolex but IS authorized. The only known one to exist in America. The main RSC in New York is known to direct people from the west coast to this place.

I first known bout them when i had a used Air King and i was living in SF at the time. Its Italian run and the master watchmaker was then in his 70's. He has retired since the most recent trip i was there.
The watch came back looking LIKE NEW and i was happy with their service.

So this time going back i choose to go back to them. The person handling my watch was wearing a double red SD. How cool is that
And although i ended up paying usd600 BEFORE the price increase and 2 yrs warranty. I am a happy camper.
Why do i pay so much for them?
Service, nice people, passionate people and i KNOW they will take care of my precious.

So there you have it. USD600 was the most i ever paid for factory service.

And please dont PM me on which watch i got a quote from recently. That is a post hopefully coming before the end of 2012

Lets hear your stories.

[TheHobbit]

As for me, I will usually go back to the manufacturer. So far the experience has been varied. As for how much I will pay, it depends on the watch and what I want done. Rolex and Tudor, I will leave it to them (RSC and TSC) and from experience thus far, if you maintain your watch, I.e. regular maintenance, the service cost is not much, for Rolex about RM 1,000 to 1,600. As for the Tudor, below RM 1,000.

The most I have paid is for my (ex) Bell&Ross BR01-92. It cost me RM1,800 to have the watch serviced because there was water ingresion. I consider that expensive as there were no parts change except for the gaskets and movement service.

The other 'experience' was my Breitling Aerospace. I had the watch in for a module change, case back change (pair with module), bezel change, and service (not really much as the module was changed). Total service cost was RM 2,700. I did not pay for it as the seller paid for it.

My brother had his WWW omega serviced by Omega Bienne. They actually made a new dial for him as they did not have anymore dials or parts for the watch. Total cost? RM 2,000 for a full service, dial change and shipping to and from Bienne.

On a different note, I am surprised to hear that RSC Malaysia has issues. I have not had any issues with them, nor has my brother and even some other friends who sends their watches in on a regular basis.

[takashi78]

I think Malaysia was isolated stories.
I know Scott had his Sub serviced there 2yrs ago and all is well.

Just that i "like" the people and service in the SF location.
Thus i trust my watch to them.
The watch came back to me close to GS timing spec!

I am a happy man.

[chrisyen]

It's not how much I willing some times

It is the question of whether it worth

A 10% of the watch value is justifiable for a complete service
Unless I bang it, big thing got to change

[hanz079]

If the service charges are correct for whatever that needs to be changed, my answer would be whatever it cost... To get my watch back spanking new and working flawlessly without worry for at least 5 years....
The peace of mind that comes with a completely serviced watch is priceless, especially when it has flown to the factory and getting original parts.

[G.MAC]

I agree with bro hanz on this point. Of course I look at the value of the watch as well. If for one of the rollie boys and the PAM, I am willing to pay for the service. If it is one of my beaters...well I guess it is time to look for a new beater  But I am willing to pay if the watch comes back in good nick and works like a charm. After all, I have already told myself that maintenance cost is relative to the cost of the watch as well. That is just me.

[takashi78]

I recently had a complete quartz module changed on my dad's Tissot V8.
RM350 when i bought the watch it was rm700 new 8yrs ago.

So lets hear what is the most anyone here has spent on the service of their watch.

[jefflwc]

Depends on how much do I value it. I'm planning to send my late father's Omega Seamaster Automatic (circa 1984) back to Omega for a full service/restoration. I could probably save a lot, having just sending it to some worthy local watchmaker but then again i wouldn't risk it, as from what I can see, it needs a new crown and some work on the watch case due to slight corrosion, not to mention entire movement overhaul
So, yeah, it will have to go back to Bienne.

Speaking of which I'll probably post some pictures when I get it back.

[Godzillaz]

The most I ever spend for service is RM 13,000.

Scary, right? 


Regard
Tyler

[JPSP]

The most I ever spend for service is RM 13,000.

Scary, right? 


Regard
Tyler

what? What watch is that?

[hanz079]

Most I have spent on servicing as of now is rm2250.

[Godzillaz]

AP

The most I ever spend for service is RM 13,000.

Scary, right? 


Regard
Tyler

what? What watch is that?

[TheHobbit]

AP

The most I ever spend for service is RM 13,000.

Scary, right? 


Regard
Tyler

what? What watch is that?

Got to pay to play, I always say. Since I am not willing to pay, I don't play. 

[ck77]

Got to pay to play, I always say. Since I am not willing to pay, I don't play. 

I'll admire far far, molest kau kau during GTG 

[JOS2012]

I don't remember every single watch's service and charges but here are some of those I can think of;

I had 2 TAG Heuers in the 80's. 1 TAG which cost me abt RM 1,200 had to undergo 2 services over a 10 year period as the hands would get mouldy by 4-5 yrs. Servicing cost RM 450 each time.
I did use both TAGs for scuba so I guess their WR is not that great.
The 2nd TAG which cost RM 2,800 was a rattrapante had only 1 service after abt 6 yrs as the hands also got mouldy by then. Service was RM 750.
Eventually I sold both TAGs off at 1/4 of what I paid for them and have never wanted a TAG since. Each time I sent in a TAG, the SC would insist I had to change the gaskets, crown, pushers, all the hands and for 1 TAG even the dial.

My Omega Planet Ocean Co-Axial Chronograph's service cost me RM 1,600 after 4-5 years and aesthetically there was no problem however my PR had shortened from 48 hours to only 30 hours and accuracy was off COSC, so it needed a service. Excellent job done. They replaced the main barrel, escapement fork, some gears and pinions, gaskets, pushers, crown.
Watch cost abt RM 15K.
I've also sent in 2 JLC for service after abt 4-5 yrs, the service cost was RM 2,000 & RM 3,000 where the original cost was RM 27K & 30K. No idea what was changed as they didnt return the parts to me.

My Bell & Ross 144Ti despite going past its warranty was serviced by the Paris office FOC after it started to run very slow..

None of my Seiko & GS have ever needed a service and running as consistently as the day I got them. The 4 Rollies, GMTII, Explorer II, Sub & SD were not serviced as I owned each of them for abt 5 yrs before disposing them.

[G.MAC]

My BP5002 is undergoing service to replace the mainspring. So far the figure stands at RM5000. Hope it doesnt climb higher.

[takashi78]

Normal service with additional mainspring replacement?

Or just mainspring cost rm5k?

[G.MAC]

Replacement mainspring and service. Actually it is slightly more but RM5k is just the starting. Am hoping it doesnt climb. It will be done by middle of next month so will see the final total then.

[takashi78]

Wow you agree to the service even without seeing the total?
Thats dangerous.

[foowy]

The last time I wanted to repair/service my watch, an Epos, I traded it in and walked out of the AD with a new watch instead.

It would have cost me RM800, nearly 30% of the cost of the watch, so I said that doesnt make sense for a watch I hardly wear. No regrets doing that, still happy and wearing that "new" watch more often than I would have with the Epos.

I guess my personal limit would be between 10-20% depending on level of attachment.


Gary

[davidtth]

this is a very good post, it does really cure my W.A.S for now 

[Nksyoon]

Here is a service cost guideline from a local independent:

http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[mod - link to commercial site not allowed]

[Gigi]

Tutima lemania 5100 chrono - AUD 400 including movement service and gasket changed by approved tutima repairer in Sydney. Not willing to send to germany to service due to postal service slow and

Omega mark 4.5 lemania 5100 - MYR 3xxx - did almost everthing except changing the tritium dial which i requested in capital letters.

[keeekeee]

AP

The most I ever spend for service is RM 13,000.

Scary, right? 


Regard

AP? Normal service rm13k?? I was thinking get myself the AP royal oak. I guess I will go back to Rolex  then. What model was it???
Tyler

what? What watch is that?