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Simon Freese not responding

W
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Simon Freese has had my watch for over a year now with many false promises of it being returned. I have even asked for it to be sent back without it being serviced but still nothing received. Going to take action to recover it. Anyone else in a similar situation?
 
Dan S
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There is already a thread on this topic. Please acquaint yourself with the forum when joining.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/simon-freese-watchmaker.181202/ fergusm
Thread 'Simon Freese watchmaker' ·
Has anyone used Simon Freese?

I sent him a Seamaster for repair in 2020 and he has failed to return my watch. I’ve been chasing him for years and he has stopped replying to my emails (before I...
fergusm ·
 
Archer
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Another thread you might want to read is this one - it didn't end well.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/luxury-watch-repairs-ltd-london.178694/ P
Thread 'Luxury Watch Repairs Ltd, London' ·
Hi everyone, I Just wanted to give a heads up to any UK members about a company called Luxury Watch Repairs Ltd, Hatton Garden, London. I would strongly advise anyone not to use this company if...
PaulJD ·

Before the defenders all jump in, I'm not suggesting the same thing will happen here, but just be aware that things can go a way that is not good for you sometimes.
 
ErichKeane
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Archer Archer
Another thread you might want to read is this one - it didn't end well.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/luxury-watch-repairs-ltd-london.178694/ P
Thread 'Luxury Watch Repairs Ltd, London' ·
Hi everyone, I Just wanted to give a heads up to any UK members about a company called Luxury Watch Repairs Ltd, Hatton Garden, London. I would strongly advise anyone not to use this company if...
PaulJD ·

Before the defenders all jump in, I'm not suggesting the same thing will happen here, but just be aware that things can go a way that is not good for you sometimes.
I read the title, and realized "Simon Freese not responding" is literally all I know about the guy...
 
sheepdoll
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It is like watching a slow motion train wreak.

More importantly it makes it more difficult for independent watch makers to want to take up the trade in this ever more corporate world.
 
Lonestar
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Unfortunately the links below don't do anything and they just point to the main forum page...

Simon's had one of my two (yes, I have two) Freese 101's for more than 2 years then.

The Freese team has even stopped sending me emails at all. Which doesn't make any difference because, frankly, it was useless as I still don't have my watch back...

For the first time, I'm coming to this forum to ask for help regarding this matter. And I'm sorry to see that I'm not the only one. And I can probably read between the line that that will never get my watch back 🙁

I'm actually thinking about jumping in a cheap, easy jet flight and going in there in person now...
 
ErichKeane
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Lonestar Lonestar
Unfortunately the links below don't do anything and they just point to the main forum page...

Simon's had one of my two (yes, I have two) Freese 101's for more than 2 years then.

The Freese team has even stopped sending me emails at all. Which doesn't make any difference because, frankly, it was useless as I still don't have my watch back...

For the first time, I'm coming to this forum to ask for help regarding this matter. And I'm sorry to see that I'm not the only one. And I can probably read between the line that that will never get my watch back 🙁

I'm actually thinking about jumping in a cheap, easy jet flight and going in there in person now...
Weird that the links stopped working, I wonder if @dsio is interested that these sort of links broke (but JUST the inline ones?)?

Here is one of theM?
https://omegaforums.net/threads/simon-freese-watchmaker.181202/

That said, not much to them unfortunately, its quite a few people with similar stories to you, plus some people defending "he's getting better!". Frankly, the it seems like at this point going-to-visit is really your only chance. My fear is you'd end up going to pick up a bag of parts 🙁
 
dsio
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
Weird that the links stopped working, I wonder if @dsio is interested that these sort of links broke (but JUST the inline ones?)?

Here is one of theM?
https://omegaforums.net/threads/simon-freese-watchmaker.181202/

That said, not much to them unfortunately, its quite a few people with similar stories to you, plus some people defending "he's getting better!". Frankly, the it seems like at this point going-to-visit is really your only chance. My fear is you'd end up going to pick up a bag of parts 🙁
We will be working on it this morning so hopefully it should be resolved soon, apologies for that
 
glownyc
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Lonestar Lonestar
Unfortunately the links below don't do anything and they just point to the main forum page...

Simon's had one of my two (yes, I have two) Freese 101's for more than 2 years then.

The Freese team has even stopped sending me emails at all. Which doesn't make any difference because, frankly, it was useless as I still don't have my watch back...

For the first time, I'm coming to this forum to ask for help regarding this matter. And I'm sorry to see that I'm not the only one. And I can probably read between the line that that will never get my watch back 🙁

I'm actually thinking about jumping in a cheap, easy jet flight and going in there in person now...
Freese 101? As in the brand owned by Simon Freese which he personally makes and sells. In over two years Simon hasn't been able to service and return two watches the he himself made and sold directly. Wow that feels like a new low!
I'm sorry this is happening to you after you trusted Simon enough to by two of his watches. Why were they sent back to him to begin with? Just for regular service?
 
ErichKeane
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dsio dsio
@Lonestar @ErichKeane that link issue should be resolved now
Hmm... the links above (in DanS and Archer's post) both still are going to omegaforums.net, not the location of the link. So I don't think so? Unless it was a problem with the creation of the post...
 
Lonestar
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dsio dsio
We will be working on it this morning so hopefully it should be resolved soon, apologies for that
Thank you Ash 😀
 
Lonestar
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glownyc glownyc
Freese 101? As in the brand owned by Simon Freese which he personally makes and sells. In over two years Simon hasn't been able to service and return two watches the he himself made and sold directly. Wow that feels like a new low!
I'm sorry this is happening to you after you trusted Simon enough to by two of his watches. Why were they sent back to him to begin with? Just for regular service?
Apologies if that was unclear: I only sent back ONE of the two F101's.

The first one I own is a true workhorse of a watch and pretty much ticks all the boxes, and was one of my most-worn watches the first couple of years after I purchased it. And performance was great too, always staying within +/- an handful of seconds per day. A true cracker of watch, and still one of my "daily watch box" favourites. This one I never sent back.

The second one, a "3-6-9" developed a habit of stopping unpredictably - Stuff happens. This is the one that went back to the UK under warranty, and has been there for 2 years now.

For the record, I actually love both watches... and when Simon was communicating, for instance during the ordering process, he was a super nice bloke, and went the extra mile in customization etc... And everyone says that from a technical standpoint, he is one of the very best.

I understand that things can happen and I think I read there was some financial and personal hardship occuring, so I am wishing him and his team the best because I was actually very fond of the guy 😀

having said that - my short term (ahem... 2 years) goal now is to get my watch back and move on.
 
Lonestar
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Update - got an email today, with apologies from the team, and telling me the watch will get back to me in January. keeping my fingers crossed on this one...

I will keep the OF community updated - thanks all for the support 😀

Happy Holiday y'all!
 
Evitzee
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Lonestar Lonestar
Update - got an email today, with apologies from the team, and telling me the watch will get back to me in January. keeping my fingers crossed on this one...

I will keep the OF community updated - thanks all for the support 😀

Happy Holiday y'all!
January of what year?
 
E
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I thought I should throw my experience with Simon Freese into the pot, as it may be useful for anyone considering using him in the future.

A while ago I sent a '70s Heuer chronograph to him for a service and to investigate an issue with it intermittently stalling. He worked on the watch and got it back to me within a couple of months, but the stalling problem was still there. I therefore asked him to take a look under his guarantee. He ignored my first email requesting this, but agreed upon receiving a second email, so I sent the watch to him again.

Then it went quiet. Over the following months I emailed several times requesting an update, but I never received a reply.

Then I messaged posing as a new customer with a watch needing a service and I received a response within an hour...

After five months I eventually got the watch back, supposedly after a full strip down, an examination of all components, and an adjustment of the automatic winding mechanism. But the stalling problem was still there.

And the first time I wore the watch, one of the chronograph pushers fell off due to its screw not being tight.

And when I went to rectify this, I discovered that the caseback was screwed on only finger-tight.

The final outcome? I've since had the watch serviced and repaired elsewhere, where the cause of the stalling was identified and components replaced to get it running correctly again.
 
Dan S
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ErichKeane ErichKeane
I read the title, and realized "Simon Freese not responding" is literally all I know about the guy...
Sadly, if I google "Simon Freese reviews," the top results are all negative at this point. Just a few years ago, all you could find were rave reviews on this forum and elsewhere. I hope he can turn things around.
 
Syrte
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Wow, I’ve been away from the forum for a while and I’m stunned to see all this….
indeed he used to be a name everyone recommended in the UK.
 
omega1994
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very disappointing indeed. I'll think twice before using his services now, sadly. STS it is, i guess.
 
drhex
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Had issues as well with him a while back, Ed White had to go back two times until it was right. Can highly recommend Christian at Watchguy. Proper documentation of work with pictures and good turnaround times.
 
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