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Simon Freese watchmaker

fergusm
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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 used to get messages saying he would send the watch in a few weeks).

I get that he is probably busy and while I don’t suspect he has stolen my watch, this is completely unacceptable.

I will now file a small claims court claim against him which is going to be annoying.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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https://omegaforums.net/threads/simon-freese.149243/ Steve1haggart
Thread 'Simon Freese' ·
Hi OF
Looking for some help is Simon Freese still in Business the reason for asking I have been trying to get in touch with him for a week now by phone and email without much success .

thanks
Steve1haggart ·
You can jump ahead a few pages to the more current posting dates
 
Mark020
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Had anyone used the search function 😜
 
Dan S
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You should add your comment to the other thread, IMO. There are people making excuses in that thread, and it could be helpful to have the full picture in one place.
 
impaw
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fergusm fergusm
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 used to get messages saying he would send the watch in a few weeks).

I get that he is probably busy and while I don’t suspect he has stolen my watch, this is completely unacceptable.

I will now file a small claims court claim against him which is going to be annoying.
Sounds very frustrating 😥
 
AAAKK
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Dan S Dan S
You should add your comment to the other thread, IMO. There are people making excuses in that thread, and it could be helpful to have the full picture in one place.
Yup, I'm sure the usual apologists will be lining up to defend this as well.
 
SpdMastr
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Five years?! Damn. Hoping you’re eventually reunited with your Seamaster OP…
 
mac_omega
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Simon eagerly is promoting his new watch release on IG - no wonder that he has not time for repair work...
 
Omegafanman
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Dan S Dan S
You should add your comment to the other thread, IMO. There are people making excuses in that thread, and it could be helpful to have the full picture in one place.
People have also offered real world information (their actual names), a real world location (shop in London) and contact points (PM on OF) to try and help get things back on track for all concerned. So far only one person has taken up that offer. Nobody is pretending there has not been an issue, just some are trying to help for all the right reasons.
 
Dan S
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Omegafanman Omegafanman
People have also offered real world information (their actual names), a real world location (shop in London) and contact points (PM on OF) to try and help get things back on track for all concerned. So far only one person has taken up that offer. Nobody is pretending there has not been an issue, just some are trying to help for all the right reasons.
You keep bringing up this issue of real-world names, which seems entirely irrelevant to me. Who cares. I have no idea if those names are real names, if you are actually trying to help or if you are just making excuses and criticizing other people as a form of whataboutism. And I don't care, TBH. You are not the issue here.

My suggestion is to mind your own business and allow people to post their experiences so others can learn from them. Obviously people can post anything they want on the internet, and we are capable of using our own judgement without you telling us how to think.
 
Omegafanman
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Dan S Dan S
You keep bringing up this issue of real-world names, which seems entirely irrelevant to me. Who cares. I have no idea if those names are real names, if you are actually trying to help or if you are just making excuses and criticizing other people as a form of whataboutism. And I don't care, TBH. You are not the issue here.

My suggestion is to mind your own business and allow people to post their experiences so others can learn from them. Obviously people can post anything they want on the internet, and we are capable of using our own judgement without you telling us how to think.
I dont think you took my last post as it was meant (badly worded by me maybe). I did not tell anyone what to post or what to think, or to stop sharing experiences etc, I just noted there are real world contact points/names and a location listed in the other thread, which will help if people have a current issue and want help to get it fixed (in every sense :0). The community is about sharing information and also helping each other. I have focused on that in my message, nothing more. I will as you suggest stay out of it now.
Edited:
 
Dash1
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Omegafanman Omegafanman
I dont think you took my last post as it was meant (badly worded by me maybe). I did not tell anyone what to post or what to think, or to stop sharing experiences etc, I just noted there are real world contact points/names and a location listed in the other thread, which will help if people have a current issue and want help to get it fixed (in every sense :0). The community is about sharing information and also helping each other. I have focused on that in my message, nothing more. I will as you suggest stay out of it now.
Yeah, I tried that and got a very polite response from Arwind who seems like a decent guy, but ultimately got nowhere. I prompted, was promised a follow up but still nothing so not sure how useful the contact is.
 
Ron_W
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It happend with my watchmaker as well, from 2 months wait time up to 7 months while they kept accepting new work. They just wont say no. Not hiring extra hands so after a while a large part of your working day is answering mails and calls about delays and updates. Less hours for doing the job you promised.

And what p... me off most was the fact the he would go back to teaching again for 1 day a week , plus doing private courses on Saturday... Looking at Simons case i see a similair picture as he does find time for commercial activities. Totally unacceptable imo.
So if you want your watch back he will be happy to talk to you here i read on his Insta ;

2025_02_18_17_24_44_Greenshot.webp


Owners from outside the UK could join to find a sollicitor and subpoena him that day.
 
Charlemagne1333
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Ron_W Ron_W
They just wont say no. Not hiring extra hands…
Easier said than done. Most watchmakers tend to be self-employed.
 
Ron_W
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Charlemagne1333 Charlemagne1333
Easier said than done. Most watchmakers tend to be self-employed.
I know of 4 in my area and they all have 8 - 10 weeks of work "in stock" and no financial worries afaik. They should at least get an aswering service or share an admin/telephone person - could work from home helping out 3 or 4 watchmakers to make it easier for them.

The planning isnt thought trough as you never gain time ( without extra hands ) , every disturbance takes production time away from you, back logs grow and people start calling and mailing ; where is my watch ?
So if you dont stop taking in new work when you are already behind, you are digging a deep hole and get stressed out, and then stop answering clients all together and within one year your solid reputation is junked.
It is beyond me SF thinks it is a good idea to make watches looking at how things are, instead of helping his existing client base that can probably feed him for the rest of his working life.
 
Evitzee
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Many super talented people just can't capitalize on their skills. For every Breguet, Musk, Jobs or Gates there are a million Simon Freese's. Talented but just not good business people, and if you don't hire people to look after administration and the books it's tough to grow or even maintain your business. A shame in this case.
 
southtexas
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Uh, 5 years??? Seriously? Am I missing some major context here?
 
Dan S
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southtexas southtexas
Uh, 5 years??? Seriously? Am I missing some major context here?
I'm guessing that we haven't heard the entire story, and probably we never will.
 
Charlemagne1333
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southtexas southtexas
Uh, 5 years??? Seriously? Am I missing some major context here?
You’re not missing anything. 5 years is the elephant in this room…
Edited:
 
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