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  • Repair (Timepiece Age 1990s to Present)

  • Maintenance (Timepiece Age 1990s to Present)

  • Restoration (Pre-1990’s or excessive damage)

Complete Service
Traditional Complete Service for a Modern Mechanical Watch

Traditional Complete Service for a Modern Mechanical Watch

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Complete Service 

(Maintenance or Repair of 1990s to Present – Vary by MFG)

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Before the invention of quartz timepieces, synthetic oils, or modern interchangeable parts, a Complete Service (or Overhaul) would be performed by State Registered watchmaker annually. This was often because the natural oils used to lubricate the mechanical movement would break down and cause the watch to stop. Today, most manufacturers recommend to have a complete service carried out every three to five years.

 

Please do not confuse a Complete Service with a Clean, Oil and Adjust (COA) by technicians that either lack access to spare parts or do not want to pay for them.

 

Our Complete Service consists of the following operations:

  • the case and movement are entirely dismantled; 

  • and every part is inspected for wear and tear;

  • any movement parts showing wear and tear are replaced before cleaning in a special chemical bath;

  • the dismantled movement is cleaned, reassembled, torque screwdrivers used to tighten all movement screws, with lubrication applied to specific parts;C

  • the movement is demagnetized;

  • the movement’s accuracy is restored;

  • if requested by the client, the case and the bracelet are refinished (additional charge);

  • the case is rebuilt with new gaskets and the bracelet is reattached;

  • the movement's rate and power reserve are tested for a minimum of 72 hours, sometimes longer if timepiece has a greater than 48 hour power reserve;

  • if timepiece designed as water-resistant, the water-resistance is confirmed with industry leading and approved equipment, to the appropriate rating;

  • the bracelet is checked for pin/screw tightness and clasp is adjusted for security;

  • the timepiece will carry a 24 month warranty.

 

A Complete Service is required when:

  • A timepiece has not been serviced for 3 or more years. (Maintenance)

  • The watch no longer functions from normal wear and tear. (Repair)

  • The watch no longer functions from any abnormal damage such as an impact, heat or exposure to moisture. (Repair or Restoration in extreme cases)

 

Parts included with Complete Service:

All Gaskets

Minor mechanical (movement) components

Components included in a Complete Service: mainspring, oscillating weight ball bearing, reverser wheel(s), other known parts to suffer excessive wear.

Please note, occasionally the crystal or crown need to be replaced.

We reserve the right to void the warranty in evidence of mishandling by the client. 

 

Starting price: $550 for simple Automatics, $750 for Chronographs

Restoration Complete Service
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Restoration Complete Service 

(Repair/Restoration, Maintenance/Restoration – Pre-1990’s MFG)

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Unlike the movements and cases of “Modern” timepieces, spare parts for Pre-1990’s timepieces are becoming scarce, even for watchmakers with spare parts accounts. Some manufactures have a policy of discontinuing parts from certain decades. In such events, we will either inform the client of the lack of original parts and will offer after-market substitutes, if available. Restoration will be performed with a limited or no warranty, as gaskets and many movement components are impossible to find. 

 

We strongly encourage owners of vintage timepieces have a complete service carried out every three years to prevent excessive wear and tear to movement components that can evolve into a Restoration Service.

 

Our Restoration Complete Service consists of the following operations:

  • the movement is entirely dismantled; 

  • and every part is inspected for wear and tear;

  • any broken movement parts are replaced or fabricated before cleaning in a special chemical bath (parts not showing excessive wear will need to be re-used);

  • the dismantled movement is cleaned, reassembled, with lubrication applied to certain parts;

  • the movement is demagnetized;

  • the movement’s accuracy is adjusted to a “best possible” result;

  • refinishing of the case and bracelet is strongly discouraged (additional charge, if requested);

  • the case is rebuilt with new gaskets (if available) and the bracelet is reattached;

  • the movement's rate and power reserve are tested for a minimum of 72 hours, sometimes longer if timepiece has a greater than 48 hour power reserve;

  • the water-resistance may not be guaranteed, in such events, client will be warned during the estimate;

  • the bracelet is checked for pin/screw tightness and clasp is adjusted for security;

  • unless otherwise stated, the timepiece will carry a 12 month warranty.

 

A Restoration Complete Service is required when:

  • A timepiece has not been serviced for 3 or more years. (Maintenance strongly encouraged)

  • The watch no longer functions from normal wear and tear. (Repair/Restoration)

  • The watch no longer functions from any abnormal damage such as an impact, heat or exposure to moisture. (Repair/Restoration)

 

Parts included with Restoration Complete Service:

Any components that will strictly impede the function of the movement.

We reserve the right to void the warranty in evidence of mishandling by the client. 

 

Starting price: $950

Water Resistance Restoration
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Water-Resistance Restoration 

(1990s to Present – Vary by MFG)

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It can be considered that in the over 400 year history of timepieces, water-resistant timepieces are a fairly new development in the industry. In 1927, Mercedes Gleitze swam the English channel wearing a Rolex designed to be “water-proof”. Since 1927, many manufacturers have sealed their timepieces with rubber gaskets, plastic gaskets, elastic UV glue and more. It is required that gaskets be replaced whenever a seal is broken (crystal removed, case-back opened, crown tube unscrewed). On modern timepieces, gaskets should always be replaced and NEVER re-used, modified, or replaced with inferior quality.

 

DISCLAIMER: Water-resistance of any object (timepiece, smart phone, clothing) is subject to change and deterioration over time. Water-resistance ratings should be tested and restored regularly. The staff of House of Time and many of our industry colleagues have witnessed the devastating effects of moisture damage, even after as little time as 24 hours of exposure. As such, our staff does not swim, shower or generally submerge their timepieces unless absolutely necessary or for work related activities.

 

It cannot be stressed enough how damaging moisture is to the internal components of a timepiece. If the client witnesses evidence of moisture permeating the case, it is advised to IMMEDIATELY bring the timepiece to your nearest qualified watchmaker for review and repair.

 

Per a client’s request, we will happily restore a timepiece’s water-resistance under the following conditions:

 

  • Gaskets are still available and supplied by manufacturers or near identical quality after-market gasket exists for vintage cases;

  • Movement is in an optimal functional state;

  • No current signs of moisture damage exist within case;

  • Case components (crystal, crown, mid-case and case-back) have no structural damage (impact, rust, etc).

 

Our Water-Resistance Restoration consists of the following operations:

  • the case is completely dismantled;

  • all gaskets are replaced;

  • in the event of a quartz movement, the battery will be a complimentary replacement;

  • in the event of a mechanical movement, the rate will be a complimentary adjusted;

  • the case and the bracelet are cleaned in an ultrasonic bath;

  • the case is reassembled with new gaskets throughout;

  • the water-resistance is tested using dry and wet testing equipment;

  • a print-out of successful water-resistance pass will be provided to the client;

  • the clasp of a deployant buckle is adjusted for security;

  • timepiece will carry a 12-month warranty on water-resistance ONLY.

 

Please note: the Water-Resistance Restoration carries no warranty on the functional internal components of the timepiece.

We reserve the right to void the warranty if evidence of mishandling by the client (impact or operation of pushers/crown while case is submerged).

In the event of moisture damage to the timepiece, we reserve the right to void the warranty if timepiece passes our manufacture required water-resistance testing.

 

Starting price: $295

Battery Service
Diver Battery Service

Diver Battery Service

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Battery Service 

(Swiss Manufacture of 1990s to Present or 100+ Meter Divers)

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The invention of the quartz movement revolutionized the industry and nearly drove the mechanical movement into extinction. The combination of relatively accurate timekeeping, low maintenance and simplicity was a winning combination for the consumer. However, modern Swiss Made quartz timepieces still require testing and verification that they are functioning correctly. For most clients, the water-resistant gaskets will wear out far sooner than the quartz movement. With professional care, Swiss timepieces can last decades.

 

A Battery Service on a high-grade Swiss timepiece includes the following operations:

  • if timepiece is designed as water-resistant, before the case is opened the water-resistance is confirmed with industry leading and approved equipment, to the appropriate rating;

  • the bracelet is removed from case;

  • the case is hand cleaned and the bracelet is cleaned in an ultrasonic bath;

  • the case is opened;

  • the voltage of the old battery is tested and recycled, if discharged;

  • the following electronic circuit and analog parameters of the quartz movement are tested:

    • Rate;

    • Consumption;

    • Lower Working Limit;

    • End of Life Indicator, if possible;

    • Coil Resistance;

  • the voltage of the new battery is tested and installed;

  • the case-back gasket is exchanged;

  • the crown tube gasket is exchanged;

  • the case is closed and sealed;

  • if timepiece is designed as water-resistant, the water-resistance of the case is confirmed to not have been affected during battery service;

  • the bracelet is checked for pin/screw tightness and clasp is adjusted for security;

 

Starting price: $115

Battery Replacement
Non-Diver Battery Service

Non-Diver Battery Service

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Battery Replacement 

(Non-Swiss Manufacture or less than 100m Water-Resistant rating)

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Swiss Made movements are designed for longevity and serviceability. Quartz timepieces of non-Swiss origin rarely have spots on the movement that can be tested. Due to the limitation, unless otherwise stated, if a battery does not hold up to at least one full year of function, the price of the battery exchange will be deducted from the price of the more comprehensive quartz movement exchange. In the vast majority of situations, a battery exchange on these timepieces fixes the problem while maintaining a more reasonable cost.

 

A Battery Replacement on an entry-level non-Swiss timepiece includes the following operations:

  • if timepiece is designed as water-resistant, before the case is opened the water-resistance is confirmed with industry leading and approved equipment, to the appropriate rating;

  • the case is opened;

  • the voltage of the old battery is tested and recycled, if discharged;

  • the voltage of the new battery is tested and installed;

  • the battery is labeled with current month/year for tracking purposes;

  • the case-back gasket is exchanged, if available;

  • the case is closed and sealed;

  • if timepiece is designed as water-resistant, the water-resistance of the case is confirmed to not have been affected during battery service. 

 

Starting price: $24

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