Simon Freese has left STS/Swisstec

On the parts availability, rather than the work 😉

I have no skin in this game, but speculation about something that can be resolved with fact, by simply asking a question of the person involved, seems silly.

Ask Simon an honest question, you get an honest answer, so if you want to know how he's doing for parts... ask him.

Out of interest as I have not had a watch long enough that it needs to be serviced yet. Would you send a new speedmaster to STS/ Simon for example or to Omega? I obviously see all the posts saying not to send anything to Omega but wondered if this included new watches on their first service?

The main reasoning for not sending watches to Omega is to prevent them from replacing dials, hands, etc. with new parts. This is mainly an issue with vintage watches, so sending them a new moonwatch is completely fine.

I've included some pics to assist with visual aid. Hope it helps!

Parts shouldn't be an issue. He even has access to brand new Valjoux 727 movement parts. Which is enabling him to provide a service for my Daytona Ref 6263... My guess is, the UK watchmaking circle is a tightly knit one. When one doesn't have parts, another helps out. Rest assured.

Hello everyone.
After panicking like a big tart at the beginning of this thread I can now, with 1st hand knowledge (and some calming words from @tyrantlizardrex ) add a more balanced view of the situation over in Essex.

SIMON FREESE: When I took my pre-moon Speedmaster to STS last month. Simon came out and spent the best part of an hour examining my watch, checking it against Moonwatch Only and offering information and advice about the servicing requirements for my watch.
(Thanks for the advice @Spacefruit)

I walked out of Swiss Time Services with nothing more than a printed estimate leaving my valuable Speedmaster in his hands. I had complete confidence in his expertise and had no concerns about driving away without my watch. I would certainly not hesitate to use Simon's new company if that was my best option for the watch in question.

SWISS TIME SERVICES: Following a call to tell me my watch was ready, and after saving my pennies for 6 weeks, I drove over to STS on Wednesday to collect my 105.012 Speedmaster.
I was greeted by the Managing Director, Tony Coe, who presented me with a detailed letter explaining my service, a complete invoice and my serviced Speedmaster in an Omega pouch. I paid the bill😲... and thanked them.

As I was about to leave Tony asked if I would like to see the facilities behind the security doors. The next 10 minutes or so we're an experience that I wish all of you could share. After walking through the main office I expected to go out the back to a tired old room staffed by a couple of blokes squinting through a loupe. Not so!

I was led into a spotlessly clean corridor that looked through glazed partitions into an environment resembling a high tech science lab. Each stage of the servicing process seemed to have it's own dedicated self-contained room. Machines for cleaning, machines for testing, Machines for laser welding and a main workshop with purpose made workstations designed for comfort and efficiency. Everything was organised and looked pristine including the watchmakers who all wore clean, white, STS branded lab coats.
THE WHOLE THING OOZED TOP PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE!

Tony pointed out a chap with a beard and said "that's Lee... he's the watchmaker who worked on your watch. He knows more about vintage watches than just about anybody"! After viewing the barcode system of monitoring progress, I was eventually led out into the main reception area.

The desk staff confirmed that they had emailed digital high quality (after service) photographs of my 321 movement and case back. I shared some old photographs of my Dad wearing the watch in the 1970's The STS staff thought that was a nice story to go with a beautiful watch.
I thanked Tony and the helpful, efficient Ladies on the desk and took my leave ready for the long drive back home across Southern England. My Dad's 50+ year old Speedmaster ticking sweetly in it's red Omega pouch. A lovely day.

I hope this account of my experience with both Simon Freese and Swiss Time Services will reassure any members (particularly those not based in the UK) who are considering using either of them for service or repairs. Essex in the UK is a safe place for high quality watches. My Dad would have been so pleased with his how old Speedmaster cleaned up.😀



(Apologies for my dodgy photographs. I will post some clear pictures as soon as I am able. For now these will give you an idea of how my lovely afternoon turned out.)

Jonathan in the UK.

Looks great Jonathan! 😀


It's quite a setup over there isn't it?

That's the place Chris! I wanted to take photographs but I wasn't sure Tony would be happy with it so I didn't ask. Thanks for posting these.

I asked nicely... but I think he was in shock after doing an interview! 😉

I received a Cal 861 De Ville back from STS about three weeks ago. It was the first time I have sent them a watch and did so mainly because of the positive feedback on this forum. They did an excellent job and I would have no worries about sending them other watches in future.

Just had my straight writing Speedy back from Simon's new workshop. Watch was serviced ahead of schedule in three weeks (despite the huge amount of work he's getting from these very forums) and to his usual high standard.

New mainspring fitted after a break, genuine crystal and retaining ring fitted and two previously replaced subdial hands aged to match the third - very happy customer.

Pics to follow in the coming days when I finally get the baby ploprof off my wrist...

I sent Simon my 105.003-64 to service. The hands on the watch when I got it we're not only replacement hands, but the wrong hands for the watch. Simon was unable to source replacements, but after chatting to him I found a guy on e-bay who seems to sell nothing but new Omega spares and he had a set of the correct modern hands. I bought them and sent them with the watch to Simon. He described his process to me of removing the modern day luminova, painting the hands an aged white colour and then filling the hands colour matched to the dial markers. The watch is due back in the next week or so, looking forward to seeing it.

Here's my Speedy on the wrist today - lots of glare in this rare sunny day of British summer, but the light shows the nice work on the subdial hands:

Quick quiz.. which subdial hand is original (no cheating to check my post history to see before shots)?

Id say the 30 minute marker subdial hand.

Wrong! (It's the cleanest though isn't it?) The hour subdial hand is (as far as I'm aware) about 45 years old. It's starting to show its age though; periodic refitting is taking its toll.