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Simon Freese

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Hi everyone,

I found this forum as I’ve received multiple letters and even had a visit to my home from people trying to contact Simon Freese regarding watches they’re trying to recover.

The address in question is Woodfield Road, Hadleigh, Essex. I moved here in September 2025, and Simon was the previous tenant.

I wish everyone the best of luck in getting their watches back, but could I please ask that any further correspondence addressed to Simon at this property cease, as he no longer lives here.

Thanks!
 
Steve1haggart
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I’ve kept an eye on this thread for many years and this is just my opinion. It’s all well and good saying Simon is have a rough time lately but take a minute to consider the honest people that have sent him there watches for repair/service payed for this service not getting the service they paid for and waiting up to and over two or more years to get there personal belongings back . There used to be an address on Simon web site and I’ve noticed it’s no longer there that in itself tells me he doesn’t want to be found . This has gone beyond the normal realm of business is it me or do may of us reading this think there’s a case to involve the police here ..
 
elephantcage
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Maybe there should be a more organized attempt to pin down the problem with Simon. There are clearly a few here who want very much to support him, probably having had work done at a time when he was servicing and returning in a reasonable window of time, but there are many more who he clearly WILL NOT respond to and whose watches may have been gone for a year or two. I'd be quite dismayed if my watch were one of those he is sitting on. I think the last person I saw mention they had gotten a watch or watches back was the guy who had several repaired and returned during a time when many others had nothing good to report. Maybe we should at least try to ascertain who got their goods and when....and if Simon communicates with them. Apparently he has no account with this forum? Now we have a man who lives at Simon's old address? Has anyone filed a report with the police?

And Omegafanman, did you read the thread before mentioning NUTURING the guy? I expect you might feel differently if your 25k usd watch was gone for two years when it was estimated to be a month or two....and the watchmaker refuses to respond to you. This is clearly a real problem. If he is over burdened, he needs to come clean with all of us in the watch os phere.
 
elephantcage
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Mark Rick Mark Rick
Hi.
I have used Simon's services on a couple of occasions with great results and prices, all that is needed is patience.
This thread is not telling the entire story. Arent't there one or two other threads that have recent horror stories? Can the threads be merged?
 
Fallout Boy
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paste&copy all in AI: asked for facts : ::rimshot:::

2.​

What​

  • Watchmaker and independent watch brand: Freese services Omega and other mechanical watches. He has also developed his own watch, the Freese 101 Mark II.


    Omega Watch Forums
    +1

  • Long delays: Several customers report waiting many months, and in some cases years, for their watches to be serviced or returned.
  • Poor communication: Customers repeatedly describe unanswered emails and phone calls, as well as a lack of meaningful progress updates.
  • Watches allegedly not returned: In February 2025, one customer reported that his Seamaster had been with Freese since 2020 and had not been returned. He announced plans to bring a claim in the UK Small Claims Court. The outcome is not established by the forum posts reviewed.


    Omega Watch Forums

  • Disputed repair quality: Some customers allege that watches were returned with unresolved faults or missing parts. In an October 2026 post, a Rolex customer claimed that his watch ran fast and subsequently stopped after being returned from Freese. A Rolex dealer reportedly got it running again, but the customer then noticed a rattling noise. He also stated that his refund request had not been met at the time of posting. These allegations have not been independently verified.


    Omega Watch Forums

  • Positive experiences also exist: Other customers praise the quality of previous servicing and Freese's knowledge of vintage watches. One customer reported collecting three Speedmasters in 2025 after repeated postponements.


    Omega Watch Forums
    +1

Overall​

The recurring concerns are delays, poor communication and difficulties getting watches returned. There are also specific allegations concerning the quality of some repairs.

These are forum members' accounts, not independently established findings. The available posts do not establish that every allegation is accurate or that any criminal offence has occurred.
 
ErichKeane
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Fallout Boy Fallout Boy
paste&copy all in AI: asked for facts : ::rimshot:::

2.​

What​

  • Watchmaker and independent watch brand: Freese services Omega and other mechanical watches. He has also developed his own watch, the Freese 101 Mark II.


    Omega Watch Forums
    +1

  • Long delays: Several customers report waiting many months, and in some cases years, for their watches to be serviced or returned.
  • Poor communication: Customers repeatedly describe unanswered emails and phone calls, as well as a lack of meaningful progress updates.
  • Watches allegedly not returned: In February 2025, one customer reported that his Seamaster had been with Freese since 2020 and had not been returned. He announced plans to bring a claim in the UK Small Claims Court. The outcome is not established by the forum posts reviewed.


    Omega Watch Forums

  • Disputed repair quality: Some customers allege that watches were returned with unresolved faults or missing parts. In an October 2026 post, a Rolex customer claimed that his watch ran fast and subsequently stopped after being returned from Freese. A Rolex dealer reportedly got it running again, but the customer then noticed a rattling noise. He also stated that his refund request had not been met at the time of posting. These allegations have not been independently verified.


    Omega Watch Forums

  • Positive experiences also exist: Other customers praise the quality of previous servicing and Freese's knowledge of vintage watches. One customer reported collecting three Speedmasters in 2025 after repeated postponements.


    Omega Watch Forums
    +1

Overall​

The recurring concerns are delays, poor communication and difficulties getting watches returned. There are also specific allegations concerning the quality of some repairs.

These are forum members' accounts, not independently established findings. The available posts do not establish that every allegation is accurate or that any criminal offence has occurred.


TIL about the Freese 101 Mk 2. I checked it out, and it is about as ali-express design as they come. HOWEVER, looking at his choice of movement, the SW200, I gotta question his knowledge/experience as a watchmaker! I've only worked on a couple, and can't imagine EVER choosing to build a watch based around it (or the 2824, but thats the same story).
 
Walrus
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I gotta check. Is he still making YouTube videos? He did some very cool ones on the pouge. Pouge and other vintage seikos. I was surprised when I saw all these complaints regarding his services I wanted to send a watch to him. I think I’ll sit it out wait for better clarification.
 
elephantcage
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Walrus, this is precisely why I have taken an interest in Simon's practices. There are far too many victims here who are now very concerned as to whether or not they will ever see their watches again. Whatever his reasons, he is conducting himself poorly. Sadly, some like to continue to tell us that he USED to do great work...or he returned watches to A customer. That is not enough. For my part, I'd just like people to know that sending watches to him is a risk, and if he was serious about building trust, he would comment on this forum or others. He could easily comment. He has chosen to be silent.
 
Walrus
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elephantcage elephantcage
Walrus, this is precisely why I have taken an interest in Simon's practices. There are far too many victims here who are now very concerned as to whether or not they will ever see their watches again. Whatever his reasons, he is conducting himself poorly. Sadly, some like to continue to tell us that he USED to do great work...or he returned watches to A customer. That is not enough. For my part, I'd just like people to know that sending watches to him is a risk, and if he was serious about building trust, he would comment on this forum or others. He could easily comment. He has chosen to be silent.
Yes the market doesn’t like uncertainty either do I. I thought it would have been cool to have my semi pouge (no resist on it) serviced by him but not enough to wait five years for clarity. When I go to my local watchmaker he lets me know if he is too backed up and the wait will be unreasonably long. Since he’s omega certified sometimes I accept the wait other times I realize he’s suggesting I go elsewhere. I know his two month holiday schedule.

Communication is key. As long as I know what to expect when I drop my watch off.
 
JimInOz
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This thread is locked.

Please make any further helpful or informative input here.

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 ·
 

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