I am the proud new owner of Seamaster with a Cal. 1010 movement (circa 1979) snagged off eBay. I am looking for a watchmaker in Chicago who can take a look at it and tell me if it is (at least mostly) authentic, and give it a service at a reasonable price . Any recommendations?

Thanks for any input you can provide!

 

I cut and pasted this from an old thread I responded to....


I am not an expert and these are only my personal experiences but,
years ago I had Father Time in Chicago do work on my 69ST Speedmaster and my Seamaster (1956). I had a good experience with them.

http://fathertimeantiques.com/

More recently I had an antique Whitnauer serviced at Swiss Watch in Lagrange Illinois and had a good experience with them. They claim to do a lot of Omega work.

http://www.swissservice.com/

 

Perhaps one should read this first: https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-cautionary-tale-rip-off-by-a-dealer-on-belmont-avenue.80518/

 

I went in there once, prices were pretty high.

 

As I said. I'm no expert but my experience was positive.

 

Here are some photos from the posting. I should get the watch sometime this week.

Thanks all!

 

Can anyone advise with respect to the original question: a reliable Chicago watchmaker? I have duly noted to avoid the Belmont establishment--so downtown suggestions would be appreciated--surely there must be someone good in the area of Jeweler's Row?

Many thanks--

 

I would recommend MJ watch service in Glenview. But if you’re downtown it’s a bit of a haul to get up there.

 

Speaking of downtown Chicago...there’s a great DD/BR somewhere downtown [I can’t remember the numerics and/or street]...open 24 hours!

 

Thanks, guys--Glenview is a bit of a trip. There's a DD on Monroe fifty feet from my office on Michigan, so I have the donuts and coffee covered pretty well--they don't service mainsprings at DD though, so there's a small problem there.

 

That never stops @Mad Dog. DD should start stocking Waltham parts.

 

So...where do you guys in Chicago take your Speedies for servicing? When you read the Yelp reviews for the downtown joints it's hard to know what they're really like when the reviews go "Changed my watch battery for ten bucks! They're great!"

There must be someone downtown who is good?

 

You may need to take a trip north. I use MJ. RK in Northbrook (a mile up Waukegan from MJ), I need to drop in and talk to him, is getting good reviews as the watch doctor in Vernon Hills. Belmont ...does Speedies ...His fees are eye watering / his testing tech is outdated. You are going to get the john Q public "changed my battery" reviews as well as the reviews from folks who probably should not own a mechanical watch at all ... what I would do is pick a few downtown and go talk to them. Feel them out. Otherwise jump on the Kennedy to the Edens.

 

Yeah, I guess you are right--it would give me an excuse to go to Max and Benny's joint for a good corned beef lunch--. But I'll see what I can find downtown too, and if anybody's name is worth sharing here, I'll do that.

Thanks--

 

Max and Benny’s is always icing on cake.,

 

I second what @Larry S said. I drive 2 hours to go up to Glenview for watch service. It’s not as if you’re making the trek every week.