Can recommend Annandale Watch & Clock.
https://m.facebook.com/389595991116289
Knows his stuff and has always dealt with me very scrupulously in when certain things were worth doing or not.
Interested in responses here too since Zaf Basha has retired. I’ve heard good things about Maryland Watch Works in Hagerstown but don’t have any personal experience with them. They work on vintage and when I spoke with them on the phone they seemed to know what they were talking about at least in terms of Omega 321/861.
And don’t tell there is something wrong with my future Heuer??Was excited to put this on a new bracelet, but the date wheel is acting up. Guess it's time to try and find a watchmaker who does vintage chronos.
Sharing from the wruw thread.
Sorry you have to send it out for service, but it will be good to get this sorted so you can wear it worry free. If you are comfortable shipping it out, I have a very good recommendation I can PM you.
John Alabaster in Vienna, VA too but if it’s a non-chronograph I’d ship it to Justin at tag1000diver.com He does good work at a good price and has a bunch of spare and custom (sapphire lens replacements for mineral glass watches) parts on hand. I’ve had watchmakers tell me they hate the caliber 11 so hopefully that’s not the case for you if it’s a chrono.
I’m watching this thread too. The previous threads on this topic are outdated- time for a refresh.
And don’t tell there is something wrong with my future Heuer??
Sharing from the wruw thread.
Sorry you have to send it out for service, but it will be good to get this sorted so you can wear it worry free. If you are comfortable shipping it out, I have a very good recommendation I can PM you.
@JwRosenthal did I see in another thread that your watchmaker is having some health troubles. Are you trying to sort out a new watchmaker too?
He is. He wrapped up a few that he had been holding on to for a while so I’m getting them back in dribs and drabs. But he does spec work fo itr jewelry stores as well and they always get priority in the little time he is feeling well enough to work on them. I knew this was coming as he’s been winding down for a while, let several of his big clients (stores) go and has been taking longer and longer to get watches back- I just didn’t know why, now I do.
So the hunt is on for a reliable and affordable watchmaker.
On another note I feel like I regularly see OF members write advice along the lines of “don’t forget to factor in a service at $200 - $300”, but that doesn’t seem to be our reality in the DMV. I’ve been to any shop I can find, several not listed above, and vintage Omega usually gets quoted $600 and up for a 3 hand movement. Those ongoing costs have made me rethink how I approach collecting and I currently aim to get the number of watches in my collection down to where my annual servicing costs take a smaller bite of my hobby funds.
I have stopped by Annandale Watch and Clock several times and once brought a couple Omega 565 watches there for an estimate. The owner seems knowledgable and like he would be reliable. He’s very pleasant to speak with. They have an Omega parts account.
I have had most of my services done by 24 Hour Watch and Clock Repair in McLean, and I find the work has always been excellent and reasonably priced for the area.
There is another local service called Timepiece Repair (dot com) who I cannot recommend based on my experiences.
Lastly, I stop by Arlington Watch Works occasionally and have never been made to feel welcome or like I would be valued as a customer, so I haven’t really considered them as an option for servicing. I know other people who have had similar interactions, so hopefully the customer service isn’t just related to me being some sort of jerk.
On another note I feel like I regularly see OF members write advice along the lines of “don’t forget to factor in a service at $200 - $300”, but that doesn’t seem to be our reality in the DMV. I’ve been to any shop I can find, several not listed above, and vintage Omega usually gets quoted $600 and up for a 3 hand movement. Those ongoing costs have made me rethink how I approach collecting and I currently aim to get the number of watches in my collection down to where my annual servicing costs take a smaller bite of my hobby funds. I’ve already got several vintage watches in the service queue and several that were last serviced in 2018 coming due, not to mention a handful of modern watches that aren’t far out from needing a clean, oil, and adjustment. So if anyone knows of watchmakers who are doing quality work that is more affordable than what I’ve outlined above, I’d love to check them out.
Looking forward to input from others as well.
The cost issue is a factor for those of us that enjoy the bargain hunting. My watchmaker usually charged around $175 for a 3-hand and $250 for a chrono- just labor of course, parts were additional. He didn’t have parts accounts for any company but had a network of other watchmakers and collectors from whom he could get parts- or he would tell me what was wrong after he tore them apart and would let me bring parts to him if I had better luck sourcing them.
He was a great resource for the bargain watches- he even did my GMT and Speedy without issue (and sourced parts for the GMT). I know he was an anomaly and I told him often he charged too little (his wife agreed) but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
$600 for service (sans parts other than gaskets) on a three hander would absolutely change the way I collect. $300 I could live with if I love the watch.
I have stopped by Annandale Watch and Clock several times and once brought a couple Omega 565 watches there for an estimate. The owner seems knowledgable and like he would be reliable. He’s very pleasant to speak with. They have an Omega parts account.
I have had most of my services done by 24 Hour Watch and Clock Repair in McLean, and I find the work has always been excellent and reasonably priced for the area.
There is another local service called Timepiece Repair (dot com) who I cannot recommend based on my experiences.
Lastly, I stop by Arlington Watch Works occasionally and have never been made to feel welcome or like I would be valued as a customer, so I haven’t really considered them as an option for servicing. I know other people who have had similar interactions, so hopefully the customer service isn’t just related to me being some sort of jerk.
On another note I feel like I regularly see OF members write advice along the lines of “don’t forget to factor in a service at $200 - $300”, but that doesn’t seem to be our reality in the DMV. I’ve been to any shop I can find, several not listed above, and vintage Omega usually gets quoted $600 and up for a 3 hand movement. Those ongoing costs have made me rethink how I approach collecting and I currently aim to get the number of watches in my collection down to where my annual servicing costs take a smaller bite of my hobby funds. I’ve already got several vintage watches in the service queue and several that were last serviced in 2018 coming due, not to mention a handful of modern watches that aren’t far out from needing a clean, oil, and adjustment. So if anyone knows of watchmakers who are doing quality work that is more affordable than what I’ve outlined above, I’d love to check them out.
Looking forward to input from others as well.
That's a bummer to hear about AWW. I haven't been in person, but my phone/email interactions seemed very pleasant FWIW. He had said that he has an Omega account as well.
Same experience here with servicing costs in the DMV. A few years ago, 3-hander services were in the $250-300 range several years ago but I've noticed higher rates lately. I was quoted $1000 to service my 861 Speedy by another local shop who advised me to not service it -- I couldn't tell if he was trying to get rid of me (I'm always polite) or just didn't want to do the work.
