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SOG53
·I agree time to move on. There are speed bumps and potholes on the vintage road.
Watchmaker damage
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reggie_v
·Context : he didn’t answer my question about return postage costs and or address my pushback in the dial damage for the day.
I won’t sent the whole chain but this watchmaker is quite unfriendly in my opinion.
Real shame to see this kind of response from the watchmaker and sorry about your watch.
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omega1994
·Thanks Reggie. It’s unacceptable really. I wasn’t even fishing for a refund. Just a bit of accountability!
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CaseStudy
·The dial damage looks regrettable. Will they stay anonymous?
I’d just send my address so they can ship me the crystal after all that. What price did you pay total?
I’d just send my address so they can ship me the crystal after all that. What price did you pay total?
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ErichKeane
·The dial damage looks regrettable. Will they stay anonymous?
I’d just send my address so they can ship me the crystal after all that. What price did you pay total?
The more I think about this thread, the angrier I get 😁 I'm currently working on something with a nice dial and am constantly crapping my pants doing everything I can to not damage dial/hands/etc with everything I do. If I were to damage a watch on someone who was paying money, I'd be incredibly horrified.
All that to say: I'd name, shame, and never talk to this watchmaker again.
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Davidt
·No issue with naming them so others can avoid similar issues in the future.
Dial damage can happen and tbh it’s not going to impact the value of yours significantly due to the overall dial condition but that isn’t the point is it.
Dial damage can happen and tbh it’s not going to impact the value of yours significantly due to the overall dial condition but that isn’t the point is it.
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YVR785
·Unfortunately, this is very common.
You roll the dice every time you service a watch (which is why I never service unless I absolutely need to). I also make sure to read the fine print for recourse due to cosmetic damage.
Damage to hands+dial are almost a guarantee during a service. If it helps, what you’re going through happens commonly at big brand service centres too.
This watchmaker’s tone is completely unacceptable. I would not trust my watch going back there. You also need to be clear what your expectations are for next steps.
You live and you learn.
You roll the dice every time you service a watch (which is why I never service unless I absolutely need to). I also make sure to read the fine print for recourse due to cosmetic damage.
Damage to hands+dial are almost a guarantee during a service. If it helps, what you’re going through happens commonly at big brand service centres too.
This watchmaker’s tone is completely unacceptable. I would not trust my watch going back there. You also need to be clear what your expectations are for next steps.
You live and you learn.
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Jakeys
·Context : he didn’t answer my question about return postage costs and or address my pushback in the dial damage for the day.
I won’t sent the whole chain but this watchmaker is quite unfriendly in my opinion.
I've never encountered anyone who rejected being referred to by their first name like that since primary school. That is truly bizarre. Though, I am Australian and we are pretty casual about that sort of thing so maybe it's regional.
The irony is this person's correspondence is overall pretty unprofessional in my view. There appears to be a chip on his shoulder as well as the crystal...
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YVR785
·You need to find different watchmakers…
At any rate, I’ve tried a healthy sample size of service centres, AD watchmakers and independents, spanning multiple brands. Always had watches come back with issues requiring multiple follow-up visits.
I’m sure there are some phenomenal watchmakers out there who are meticulous and do great work. The sad truth is that most aren’t.
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t_kermi
·Based on this WM's replies I would say he doesn't have required appreciation towards vintage watches. Though that doesn't excuse his quite inconsiderate messages.
Some WMs can be good and precise on servicing new watches but see our vintage treasures as worn and defective watches to begin with. So they don't give them the careful treatment they deserve.
Some WMs can be good and precise on servicing new watches but see our vintage treasures as worn and defective watches to begin with. So they don't give them the careful treatment they deserve.
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ScDevon
·No disrespect to Archer, but small business watchmakers tend to be the most crusty and deliberately obstinate people you can imagine. This thread is why I took up amateur home watchmaking a long time ago. Archer has risen above. Most have not.
Oh, a stem and a generic crystal are the two easiest parts to get for this watch which is what I found most amusing. "Microscopic damage to the crystal"? "Waterproof"? No watch of this vintage is "waterproof" to any reasonable person. Never take this watch anywhere near submersible amounts of water, chipped crystal or not.
Oh, a stem and a generic crystal are the two easiest parts to get for this watch which is what I found most amusing. "Microscopic damage to the crystal"? "Waterproof"? No watch of this vintage is "waterproof" to any reasonable person. Never take this watch anywhere near submersible amounts of water, chipped crystal or not.
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Nupero
·I want to know who this "very experienced senior watchmaker" is! I can't stand his attitude, just admit you fυcked up and apologize.
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Jakeys
·No disrespect to Archer, but small business watchmakers tend to be the most crusty and deliberately obstinate people you can imagine. This thread is why I took up amateur home watchmaking a long time ago. Archer has risen above. Most have not.
I recall one from Australia coming onto this forum years ago and making a complete ass of himself, acting superior to everyone and even talking down to Archer.
However, the local watchmaker I've used is a young guy who is extremely friendly and approachable. From 365 Google reviews he has a 5.0 star review, so yeah plenty of good ones.
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kvikster
·I tested like 7 local watchmakers all to horrible results.. now im using a younger guy who still ruins all my dials but at least the service itself is sort of okayish lol. If i get a damaged crystal i'm happy cuz the dial is fine... I can only pray the damage on the dial is minimal.. Very sad to deal with this but have no other options.. How common is this? any reliable watchmakers abroad ?
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omega1994
·I’d love to know the answer to exactly this. How common is dial damage during service, however minimal it may be?
Where are you based? Here in the UK, there are a fair few reputable options.
Where are you based? Here in the UK, there are a fair few reputable options.
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t_kermi
·I tested like 7 local watchmakers all to horrible results.. now im using a younger guy who still ruins all my dials but at least the service itself is sort of okayish lol. If i get a damaged crystal i'm happy cuz the dial is fine... I can only pray the damage on the dial is minimal.. Very sad to deal with this but have no other options.. How common is this? any reliable watchmakers abroad ?
But I realize it's not that practical if you are from another coutry. I only have those of my watches serviced by him that I bought from him. I'm lucky to also have good watchmakers on my own town here in Finland, so I can use them. One has worked years on Lange's service and been in higher up position there.
My understanding is that dial damage is / should be very rare. It's of course needed to use a protective plastic and proper tool (can vary between cases) for remove the hands, but when everything done according to best practices damage should be rare to occur.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI tested like 7 local watchmakers all to horrible results.. now im using a younger guy who still ruins all my dials but at least the service itself is sort of okayish lol. If i get a damaged crystal i'm happy cuz the dial is fine... I can only pray the damage on the dial is minimal.. Very sad to deal with this but have no other options.. How common is this? any reliable watchmakers abroad ?
It would be interesting to know his hand removal procedures. You might want to direct him to this thread for some tips:
One thing I don't mention in that thread is what I do with the dial once it is removed. Once the dial is removed from the movement, it immediately goes into a container all by itself. That container then goes into a covered tray where the other parts of the movement are disassembled and sorted by function - looks like this:
The cover is not on the tray at this stage, but the dial is in a container that a movement came in and it stays in there through the entire service until it's put back on the movement. When it's on the movement, the movement is always covered with a plastic dome unless I'm directly working on it.
I often see what I call watchmaker glamour shots, with all the parts of the movement and the dial/hands laid out on the bench in nice order. It makes a nice photo, but all I can say is if my watchmaking instructor ever saw me leave a dial sitting face up uncovered on a bench, it would not end well.
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