Maybe I missed something here. Your watchmaker feels the watch had not been previously serviced. Is the movement broken or... not running due to old lubricant , soil, etc, etc. ?. If the movement needs a lube and tune ( a 100k mile service) I am not sure you have a legitimate gripe here. The dealer said it would need a service. You may have assumed the service would be a modest one, not a complete disassembly and cleaning.
In these type of situations I think we all hope for the best and plan for the worst.
I just scanned this thread again to see if I missed something. He refunded you half the service cost!. Quit while you are ahead. Oh, and name this dealer. Not to shame, but to allow members to be informed when dealing with him.
I agree with others' sentiments in that you're being way too forgiving and accommodating. You state that you were told that the watch "has not been serviced but it is running." Once you received the watch, it became evident that it doesn't run when the dial is up.
He was flat out negligent is his description to you to the point of being deceitful. Then he acts as if he's doing you a favor by paying 50% of a service, just to get the damn thing to operate, because he's "nice" on a watch you paid a premium to acquire?
Name him and shame him if for no other reason that to help the rest of us avoid this guy.
Kinda suprised there isn’t a no pictures then it didn’t happen comment. How about a picture of the watch.
I thought it would just need an oiling, change of gaskets, new tubes and she's good to go.
Turns out it has a broken balance staff and roller.
Hi.
Yup, I had the same mindset as you. I thought it would just need an oiling, change of gaskets, new tubes and she's good to go.
Turns out it has a broken balance staff and roller.
