Watchmaker Speedy Service Estimate Experience

It's always better to deal with someone face to face, you can communicate what is to be done and what is not.

I can’t speak for other independent watchmakers, but I service more Speedmasters than any other watch model. I’ve serviced hundreds of them, and typically have several in my shop at any given time.

If you prefer to use Omega, that is clearly your choice to make and I personally have no issues with that.

Many people prefer to use the manufacturer, rather than deal with an independent. Omega does a service very different to what an independent will. When a watch comes to me, I am the only person that touches it, so I have complete control from start to finish. At a service center, there are a number of people involved, so someone who is not a watchmaker does the initial disassembly, so removes the movement from the case, removes the hands and dial. These are people who are trained to do just this. The movement is sent to a watchmaker, who does that part, and the case/bracelet is sent to another group who do all the refinishing work, replace pushers, crown, crystal, etc. Again not watchmakers.

The whole thing is then sent back to people who do the final assembly, and these are the same people who took it apart initially. They install the dial, hands, and do the final casing and final quality checks.

For a lot of people, having one person, who is fully trained, doing the work has value. To ge able to speak to the watchmaker in person, make specific requests that you know the person doing the work will get and abide by...again these things have value. Any good watchmaker will give you a solid warranty.

But this is a personal decision for people.

Cheers, Al