Watch repair is a complicated affair, especially with vintage timepieces. If your Rolex stopped ticking or you’re not happy with the quality of your Hamilton, your best option may be to take it to a watch service that specialises in your brand. But if it’s not a Rolex or an expensive Hamilton, you can still bring your vintage or contemporary watch to a watch shop that will do an excellent job for a reasonable price.
A full watch service should be performed every four to six years, depending on the type of watch and its age. When you bring your watch to a watch service, they will open the case with special tools and perform a number of tests including checking accuracy, replacing worn parts and cleaning the bracelet and case. Some services even include polishing, which is a process that removes an extremely fine layer of dirt to reveal the watch’s shine.
Many watch repair shops offer both full and part-services, but it’s important to make sure that whoever you choose is familiar with your specific watch’s needs. For example, if you have an Oris, you need to take it to an Oris-authorised retailer. They have exclusive access to Oris’s rare and proprietary parts, and can service the watch with precision and care.
You should also check with the retailer for any warranties on the watch or its accessories. Apple, for example, provides a limited warranty on most Apple-branded accessories purchased through its retail stores and website. The warranty period varies by accessory and is in addition to rights provided by consumer law.
Depending on your watch, you’ll need to add different oils and greases to keep it running smoothly. For that reason, it’s a good idea to have a jar of benzine degreasing fluid in your watch repair kit. This can be used to quickly remove grease should a repair go wrong or watch parts become recontaminated. Ensure that the jar has a tight lid to prevent the benzine from evaporating.
A small piece of peg wood is another essential tool to add to your watch repair kit. This is used for a variety of tasks within the trade but it’s particularly useful for cleaning watch holes with a chemical and holding down springs and watch parts during reassembly. Adding a bit of peg wood to your toolkit will save you the time and cost of purchasing these items separately from a watch repair store.
The last item to include in your watch repair kit is a pair of sharp and sterile tweezers. Tweezers are held between your thumb and first 2 fingers like you would hold a pen, and are usually very thin so that you can easily grip tiny watch screws and parts. Invest in a pair of Dumont, Horotec or Bergeon tweezers to get the best results. watch service near me