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$280 for a 861 movement. Parts extra of course.

Anyone have any knowledge of this shop?

I volunteer @oddboy to send them his beloved 2998-62 and check them out.

 

Not Bad price if the service is actually good

 

And if they have access to parts or a really good supply.

@Gemini4 , how 'bout this. Send me one of your 105.002's and I'll send it along to them and review the outcome.


..oh, and then send it back to you. Maybe.

P.S., I don't have a -62, yet.

 

No feedback on his servicing.

 

if parts are needed, it is a different picture......a very different picture ! good luck ! kind regards. achim

 

Availability of Parts need not be an issue. He can take them from the next 321.

 

Isn't that how Bernie Madoff got in trouble? Oh wait..........

 

Is not into returns... Does that mean....?

 

I can have them serviced in holland for a lot less.. (excluding parts off course)

 

I too live in the Netherlands and indeed, a complete service on a 321 is available under $280 including VAT.

I pay 220 euro (in today's market about $240) for a complete service on a Valjoux 22 and a Zenith 156. I reckon a 321 will not exceed that much.

 

So not from experience then.

I am slightly obsessed with trying to find an alternative watchmaker, for the simple reason I don't like to be reliant on one source.

In my journey I have had 321's looked at in Hong Kong, Thailand, USA France and Italy, and of course in UK.

For the most part, they can all strip and reassemble a 321 and have it running again, with what seems like appropriate lubrication. Most of the watchmakers I have tried, (not all), are very competent. Interestingly my Thai watchmaker was very good, but I had to drop the watch off at the side of a road in a shoe stall, that sent watches upcountry once a week to him in his shack in a rural village. I had to try it!

Now PROVIDED no parts are required, and provided there are no issues preventing the smooth running of both the time keeping and the chronograph, the watch is returned to me running.

On more than one occasion I have had a 321 returned to me not running, or with an adjustment issue, or un worked on with the message that the watch needs parts that the watchmaker cannot get.

321's need watchmakers experienced in 321's, and with access to parts, if anything other than a simple strip and service of a good condition movement is required.

 

--
Seems like good watchmakers are a closely guarded secret.

Archer is the exception!

 

Nope, for I do not own a 321. But I am more than happy to get you a quote and link you to the watchmaker.

 

Think mine Will do it as well for around €200.

He does a datejust for €180 and did a Tudor sub for €90

 

These words are very interesting because reflect the normal attitude of a collector towards the service of a movement.

In actual fact many 321 can be adjusted to run smoothly and to give the impression of being quite accurate as well.
However, this can be simply obtained through compensating the rate differences between different positions.
Obtaining a correct timegraph and adjusting the watch to isochronism and positions (within the possibilities of a sturd, reliable but not high-quality movement, of course) is a totally different and time consuming task.
This is the reason for which one must be very careful in judging different jobs.

 

I think we are on the same page.

My point is a lot of people hold themselves out to be able to "service" a 321 when in fact they do not do the in depth testing and subsequent adjustment you discuss.

In my experience it is during this phase of testing that issues are raised that those less experienced with 321's find hard to address.

It seems that many think because they can service a Rolex that can service a 321. It is my experience that most cannot.

 

Exactly.
However, people able to service a 72B a 722 or a 727 are certainly able to service a 320/321.