I bought an original JLC Geophysic at auction a couple of months ago and it could do with a service. Can anyone suggest a JLC specialist? Zaf Basha maybe? Not against sending it back to JLC in principle, but worried they might do a Rolex on it and send it back with key parts replaced. Any advice gratefully received. many thanks Tim
Zaf would be a good choice, though if the movement is sound (i.e. no part replacements necessary other than mainspring), any good-class watchmaker would be able to do a good job. Where are you located?
A vintage Geophysic ... I'd send it to Zaf. He is the recognized expert on these, and if it needs a part, IMO the most likely to have it available.
Many thanks for the responses. I'm in Hong Kong, but about to move to a new job that will mean travelling a lot to Europe and the US as well as around Asia, so I can probably get it to New York. It's running well -- not quite at COSC, but not far off it -- but would hate to think it is grinding up its guts every time I wind it because it hasn't been cleaned and oiled since shortly after the big bang.
While he isn't cheap (of course), I can recommend this NY watchmaker without hesitation. Trained originally by Lange, he is well capable of working on any vintage watches and top-class. I've had a couple of my high-end pieces serviced by him. Alkis Kotsopoulos S.W.R. Corp. 515 Madison Avenue Suite 1230 New York 10022 212.758.3224
Good steer, many thanks Tony. Will be in NYC next March or April, I hope, so should be able to drop it off them
Parts will be the issue, if there is an issue... There is nothing special about doing the actual service on a watch like this, so it requires no special skills really. Cheers, Al