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JwRosenthal
·We really need a “not like” button
Omega Watch Repair in PA, USA
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vintage hab
·So I'm trying a new watchmaker for a service on my vintage Defy. He was recommended to me by Govberg. Alex Horn is in Ardmore, a little mom & pop shop. It's listed as a clock repair place, but he does mostly watches I think. Anyway, I stopped in and spoke to him at length, and he was clearly into watches and knew what he was talking about. He swapped a bracelet and crown for me as I waited. Then I left him my Defy with a "please don't polish the watch" and he was surprised that anyone would even consider polishing a vintage watch. Nice guy. He has a backlog of a few months but I'll report back when service is completed.
Three months later I got the call that the watch was ready. When I arrived, Alex introduced me to his new watchmaker, a young fellow who just completed watch school training after his military service. The young guy went on about what a great watch I had and gave me the "they don't make it like they used to" type thing. He also told me that he didn't need any parts from the donor watch. Alex then hands me a bill for $600, so I tell him he quoted me $400, and he responds with "needed some parts". Really? I had a donor watch and your watchmaker just told me no parts were needed! Ok, we haggle a little and settle on $450 to account for his new watchmaker hire. I'm feeling that I'm being pretty generous.
When I wind the watch, it makes the most brutal grinding sound. See my post here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/grinding-noise-when-winding-seems-wrong.148267/
The shop is closing but I get to talk to the new watchmaker and he tells me that it's normal with old watches and shows me another that grinds too. At this point, I've totally lost confidence.
The epilogue is that I bring the watch to my usual watchmaker Peter (who's not there) and leave it with his helper. I get a call back from Peter who tells me that the watch hasn't been serviced in 20 years: oil is completely dry and missing, and there are no markings on the inside caseback. So now I'm having to pay him actually service the watch.
An expensive lesson.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified Watchmaker
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gbesq
·Wow, I’m counting myself fortunate. In the past two years I’ve given work to four independent watchmakers, two in PA, one in CA and one in ND. All of them did a fine job. The only bad service experience that I’ve had was with . . . wait for it . . . Omega.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerUnfortunately I also have a bad experience to share. I felt good about leaving my new vintage Defy with Alex Horn after speaking with him and watching him swap crown and bracelet from the donor watch. He quoted me $400 for a complete service, which is a little higher than I normally pay, but reasonable nonetheless.
Three months later I got the call that the watch was ready. When I arrived, Alex introduced me to his new watchmaker, a young fellow who just completed watch school training after his military service. The young guy went on about what a great watch I had and gave me the "they don't make it like they used to" type thing. He also told me that he didn't need any parts from the donor watch. Alex then hands me a bill for $600, so I tell him he quoted me $400, and he responds with "needed some parts". Really? I had a donor watch and your watchmaker just told me no parts were needed! Ok, we haggle a little and settle on $450 to account for his new watchmaker hire. I'm feeling that I'm being pretty generous.
When I wind the watch, it makes the most brutal grinding sound. See my post here:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/grinding-noise-when-winding-seems-wrong.148267/
The shop is closing but I get to talk to the new watchmaker and he tells me that it's normal with old watches and shows me another that grinds too. At this point, I've totally lost confidence.
The epilogue is that I bring the watch to my usual watchmaker Peter (who's not there) and leave it with his helper. I get a call back from Peter who tells me that the watch hasn't been serviced in 20 years: oil is completely dry and missing, and there are no markings on the inside caseback. So now I'm having to pay him actually service the watch.
An expensive lesson.
Few comments - not meaning to be critical, just giving my opinions...
In my world, $400 for service of an automatic chronograph would be a red flag - I realize not everyone sees it that way, and I'm not really going to debate prices, but this really isn't the typical market price for something as complicated as an El Primero with the good watchmakers I know.
A watch that doesn't need parts, in particular something older or vintage, is a very rare thing in my experience, so that would be red flag #2.
Strange, did Alex not hear his new guy just say that the watch didn't need parts, and then he said it needed parts? I recommend always asking for the old parts back, and if they refuse, that is red flag also. Parts that are replaced should be returned to their rightful owner, the person who owns the watch. The only exceptions would be if a part has to be sent in for exchange or something of that nature.
I've said this before, but being a watchmaker is not a protected title in most locations. Back in the day (long before my time as a watchmaker) it was a licensed trade here, like a gas fitter, auto mechanic, electrician, etc. It required schooling, apprenticeship, and taking provincial tests to get your license. When quartz came long, it was no longer deemed necessary to protect the public by requiring this sort of licensing, so it was done away with (in the US I believe it was struck down in the courts). It unfortunately leaves people not knowing if the person working on their watch is in any way qualified, because literally anyone can call themselves a watchmaker.
This is only going to get worse as time goes by, and more retire or die off...if you have a good watchmaker, do whatever you can to keep them.
Cheers, Al
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gbesq
·Can we start a collection to have Al cloned? 😁
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sheepdoll
·... This is only going to get worse as time goes by, and more retire or die off...if you have a good watchmaker, do whatever you can to keep them.
Cheers, Al
A bit scary in a way. For the most part I am my own watchmaker, but there are some things I can not do, or do not feel comfortable doing.
Mostly relating to casing (water resistance seals) and regulating. There is also the time If I have 25 chronographs and 25 Omega watches that alone is 50 watches. The last watch I serviced myself took 18 years (And still is not regulated.)
I keep asking after reccomendations to get proper service on my speedmaster and perhaps some of my other nicer Omegas. I am considering visiting the SF Omega Botique as I really do want factory service on the speedmaster.
I have been letting the hardware store folk work on junk watches. Batteries, bands simple service etc. But I really want someone I can trust.
-j
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JwRosenthal
·Few comments - not meaning to be critical, just giving my opinions...
In my world, $400 for service of an automatic chronograph would be a red flag - I realize not everyone sees it that way, and I'm not really going to debate prices, but this really isn't the typical market price for something as complicated as an El Primero with the good watchmakers I know.
A watch that doesn't need parts, in particular something older or vintage, is a very rare thing in my experience, so that would be red flag #2.
Strange, did Alex not hear his new guy just say that the watch didn't need parts, and then he said it needed parts? I recommend always asking for the old parts back, and if they refuse, that is red flag also. Parts that are replaced should be returned to their rightful owner, the person who owns the watch. The only exceptions would be if a part has to be sent in for exchange or something of that nature.
I've said this before, but being a watchmaker is not a protected title in most locations. Back in the day (long before my time as a watchmaker) it was a licensed trade here, like a gas fitter, auto mechanic, electrician, etc. It required schooling, apprenticeship, and taking provincial tests to get your license. When quartz came long, it was no longer deemed necessary to protect the public by requiring this sort of licensing, so it was done away with (in the US I believe it was struck down in the courts). It unfortunately leaves people not knowing if the person working on their watch is in any way qualified, because literally anyone can call themselves a watchmaker.
This is only going to get worse as time goes by, and more retire or die off...if you have a good watchmaker, do whatever you can to keep them.
Cheers, Al
Sadly it’s one of the few professions that requires using the words “professional” before it to distinguish it as a trade… you don’t hear professional lawyer or professional doctor to differentiate from the shade-tree lawyers and doctors. Who doesn’t love dabbling in a little open heart surgery on the weekends for friends and family
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UncleBuck
··understands the decision making hierarchyCan we start a collection to have Al cloned? 😁
I'm afraid that mechanical vintage watches are to become objet d'art with most not working and only the chosen few restored by a small handful of artisans.
I joined the local NAWCC some years ago and asked the nicest, most knowledgeable if I could work around his shop and learn a little. He sincerely listened, considered and then asked me to complete the 4 yr. horology course at Oklahoma State University before I begin.
Not to insult anyone, but I mainly view these as pieces of art anyway. Still, having said this, what would Maillardet's automaton be if it didn't work?
Making Marvels—The Draughtsman-Writer - YouTube
Edited:
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vintage hab
·In my world, $400 for service of an automatic chronograph would be a red flag - I realize not everyone sees it that way, and I'm not really going to debate prices, but this really isn't the typical market price for something as complicated as an El Primero with the good watchmakers I know.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerThanks for the comment, but do note it's not an El Primero chronograph, but a cal 2552.
Fair enough.
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MTROIS
·For these of you who are in the Philly area, I would definitely recommend you check out Hamilton Jewelers in Princeton NJ. Their watchmakers are top notch and I have had nothing but great experiences when they serviced my flightmaster or my Speedy 2998-4.
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gbesq
·For these of you who are in the Philly area, I would definitely recommend you check out Hamilton Jewelers in Princeton NJ. Their watchmakers are top notch and I have had nothing but great experiences when they serviced my flightmaster or my Speedy 2998-4.
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savka
·Peter Whittle in Wayne, PA is WOSTEP certified and has an Omega parts account. But he has quite a long backlog and isn’t alway the most detail oriented
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vintage hab
·Peter Whittle in Wayne, PA is WOSTEP certified and has an Omega parts account. But he has quite a long backlog and isn’t alway the most detail oriented
