Michael Young/Classic watch repair experiences

T Theluglife

Hello, anyone got anything good or bad to say about Classic Watch Repair based in Hong Kong? I am specifically looking at their bracelet restoration but am also considering sending them watches to overhaul.

Any words of advice?

P Pauled

I sent the twenty year old Rolex Oyster I bought from new to them for a band restoration and service – none of the work was done well and I wish I had read this review beforehand:

Time to repair – three months plus.

Communications – delayed by weeks, didn’t answer questions, English and grammar so poor it was illegible.

Strap repair – polished the strap nicely, but didn’t strip the links apart as described on the website, didn’t notice a badly worn link that clearly needed replacing, took away the Rolex spring bars (they weren’t worn) and replaced with cheap ones that didn’t fit (the strap fell off the casement within a day of receipt), and stretched the end link to the point where there was a 3mm gap between the casement (they fitted snugly when they were sent).

Watch service – appalling – the watch stopped working a few weeks after it came back and when shaken I could hear parts floating around inside. I took it to the local Rolex dealer who confirmed that the inside was ‘gunked with oil’, and the rotor had snapped off.

Customer service – I contacted Michael many times and he is clearly giving me the run around in the hope I will give up asking for a refund for the work done (hence this review that will be posted on every forum I can think find).

Cost of work – appeared to be marginally lower than legitimate online watch repairers, but if you take into account the cost of postage, time to repair, and time wasted trying to find out where on earth your watch is, then the small savings are negligible.

I did find a watch repair outfit that I would recommend and since having my watch put back to its former state (at the same cost of Michael Young) have sent a further two watches, in both cases received excellent service and workmanship. If you would like the details, please contact me pauledmonds at btopenworld dot com.

I hope this review was helpful.

P Pauled

I sent the twenty year old Rolex Oyster I bought from new to them for a band restoration and service – none of the work was done well and I wish I had read this review beforehand:

Time to repair – three months plus.

Communications – delayed by weeks, didn’t answer questions, English and grammar so poor it was illegible.

Strap repair – polished the strap nicely, but didn’t strip the links apart as described on the website, didn’t notice a badly worn link that clearly needed replacing, took away the Rolex spring bars (they weren’t worn) and replaced with cheap ones that didn’t fit (the strap fell off the casement within a day of receipt), and stretched the end link to the point where there was a 3mm gap between the casement (they fitted snugly when they were sent).

Watch service – appalling – the watch stopped working a few weeks after it came back and when shaken I could hear parts floating around inside. I took it to the local Rolex dealer who confirmed that the inside was ‘gunked with oil’, and the rotor had snapped off.

Customer service – I contacted Michael many times and he is clearly giving me the run around in the hope I will give up asking for a refund for the work done (hence this review that will be posted on every forum I can think find).

Cost of work – appeared to be marginally lower than legitimate online watch repairers, but if you take into account the cost of postage, time to repair, and time wasted trying to find out where on earth your watch is, then the small savings are negligible.

I did find a watch repair outfit that I would recommend and since having my watch put back to its former state (at the same cost of Michael Young) have sent a further two watches, in both cases received excellent service and workmanship. If you would like the details, please contact me pauledmonds at btopenworld dot com.

I hope this review was helpful.