How much does service cost in the US? Here in Germany just movement service should be around 100-150 (and 150 will include ultrasonic cleaning of the case).
That is a hotly-debated topic. Service can range from almost nothing to quite a lot depending on who does the work. Some places, like New York, have a plethora of watchmakers who are all competing for business, so they don't charge much. Others charge more. Omega charges $550 inclusive of most parts. I've been using Nesbit's for my modern Omega service, and their prices are similar. My local watchmaker charges quite a bit, but he goes above and beyond to not only disassemble, clean, reassemble, and lubricate... he actually adjusts my vintage watches to keep time as well as they did when new.
I am convinced that many watchmakers do not take a lot of time adjusting vintage watches. If it more or less meets the specification, that's what you get. For example, a tolerance of daily timekeeping for the 565 movement is as follows:
Fully wound, average of dial up and crown left: -2 to +10
24 hours after full wind, average of dial up and crown left: -10 to +30
24 hours after full wind, positional error (dial up minus crown left): 20 max.
(Quoted in a random document purported to be from Omega and some years old as it was typewritten.)
A properly-functioning 565 can be adjusted a lot better than this, but if it meets these specs after reassembly, who cares, right? It's an old watch, you want good timekeeping, buy quartz! Now, I don't agree with that opinion, but many think that way. Since it is difficult for independent watchmakers to get parts, you can forgive them this to a point.
So, when someone says they've paid $600 for a service, do not assume they were ripped off. It varies by location, who does the work, and how much work was actually performed.
