ROLEX WATCH REPAIR, OMEGA WATCH REPAIR, BULOVA WATCH REPAIR, GRUEN WATCH REPAIR, & SEIKO WATCH REPAIR ARE A SPECIALTY!
FROM VINTAGE AMERICAN POCKET WATCHES TO THE FINEST SWISS WATCHES OF TODAY, LET ME HANDLE YOUR WATCH REPAIR!
PRICES AND INFORMATION IN EFFECT AUGUST 8, 2010
The true cost of a $50 overhaul will be with you long after the savings are gone!!!
If your watch has started to tell erratic time it probably needs to be cleaned and oiled. This is necessary every 2-5 years at a minimum because the lubrication will dry-up and dirt will accumulate in the pivots. Among other things this will lead to wear on the parts, and may eventually cause damage to the watch. Many people mistakenly believe they can run a mechanical watch till it stops with no ill effects, this is simply not so. Pocket watches have a mainspring that exerts a great deal of force on very small surfaces. If you don't have pocket watches cleaned and oiled every 2-5 years (depending on how well they are sealed), dirt mixes in with the oil and acts like sandpaper shortening the life of the watch.
If your watch is wound up tight and won't run then it most likely needs to be cleaned or perhaps has a broken balance staff. There is no such thing as "over winding" a watch.
If your watch got wet and it stopped running, the problem could be (and most likely is) rust. Rust damage is hard to estimate and will be done on an hourly rate, final cost depends on how badly your watch is rusted. In severe instances it may be cheaper to just replace the movement. Rust is the number one destroyer of old watches!
If you turn and turn the crown, (the part you wind and set the watch with), and the watch mainspring won't wind up tight, you probably have a broken mainspring.
I totally disassemble every mechanical watch I service. Total disassembly is the ONLY way to do a proper job and find many defects and problems, especially cracked jewels and bent pivots.
Each movement is ultrasonically cleaned, reassembled, oiled, and timed using an electronic timing machine. Each watch is then observed for at least 24-48 hours to make sure it is working properly.
I DO NOT do "dunk and lube" jobs like so many in the watch repair trade today (if your watch is sent to a trade shop by a jewelry store chances are it gets this type of job)!!!
Labor rates below do not include parts or return shipping. Keep in mind that high grade watches (Rolex, Omega, IWC, etc.) will be more.
SOME OF THE CHECKS PERFORMED ON YOUR POCKET WATCH DURING OVERHAUL
Winding and setting freedom, barrel arbor end shake test, all pivots in watch examined under at least 10x magnification for flat spots and/or bent pivots, all jewels in watch checked for breakage or cracks, proper end and side shake of all train wheels is checked, balance is checked for end-play and side-play, escapement of watch is checked for proper set-up, amplitude of balance is checked after cleaning and reassembly, time keeping of watch is checked on the timing machine, and many other checks.
CLEANING OF POCKET WATCHES
Your mechanical watch shall be cleaned in a Mark V ultrasonic cleaning machine. This is one of the best machines on the market today. I use ultrasonic cleaning on wrist watches and pocket watches.
TIMING OF POCKET WATCHES
I will use a Witschi Watchmaster 3 timing machine to time you pocket watch. This is one of the latest, and best machines on the market. As well as timing in positions, amplitude of the balance wheel will be checked. Amplitude of the balance wheel is an important indicator of the correct functioning of a watch.
OTHER POCKET WATCH REPAIRS
Balance staffs replaced starting at $40.
Polishing of screws done on an hourly rate of $40 an hour; minimum charge is $20 per screw. This is often necessary to return a rusted screw to it's former state once the rust is removed.
Bluing of screws done on an hourly rate of $40 an hour; minimum charge is $15. This is often necessary to return a rusted screw to it's former state once the rust is removed.
Mainsprings replaced starting at $25. The price on mainsprings has jumped considerably in the last two years, and many are now hard to get.
Vibrating of new hairspring to your balance from $200.
NOTE: It
may be possible to obtain a suitable hairspring to work in your watch
without the need to vibrate one. This operation will however consume time to
re-collet and re-stud the new spring, and "time-out" the watch. If
such a course is chosen the watch may not keep as good of time, but the cost
savings will be considerable!
Replacement of jewels done at a flat rate of $15 per jewel plus labor, minimum charge of $35 per jewel.
Stems turned for wrist watches and pocket watches starting at $200.
NOTE: The rate of $160 covers 4 hours work. If additional time is needed to complete your stem it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that fee will be added to your final bill. $160 is the minimum charge for this service. Most pocket watch stems take around 4 hours to turn and harden. If the stem is turned to your specifications, without trying in the watch, I guarantee it to match your drawing, but can take no responsibility for it's functionality in the watch.
Balance staffs turned starting at $200 per staff.
NOTE: If staff is turned to your specifications, without trying in the watch, I guarantee it to match your drawing, but can take no responsibility for it's functionality in the watch.
All pivot replacement is done at a rate of $150-$200 per pivot.
POCKET WATCH CRYSTALS
CROWNS
Crowns replaced starting at $35
Other Pocket
I also sell pocket watch domes and chains!
IMPORTANT POINTS, PLEASE READ!
Labor rate is $40 per hour. Pocket watch work is mostly done by the hour.
I totally disassemble every mechanical watch I overhaul. Total disassembly is the only correct way to examine a mechanical watch for defects!
Many watches, especially old pocket watches, have other problems that cannot be seen until disassembly. Approximately 30% of antique pocket watches I see have broken jewels. Approximately 50% of the antique pocket watches I see have bent balance pivots or flat spots on the balance pivots. Without correcting these things I cannot guarantee the watch to keep good time! If any of these defects are found the customer will be notified before the repairs are carried out.
WATER RESISTANCE OF WATCHES IS not GUARANTEED. There are all kinds of legal reasons for this, so your understanding is appreciated! This doesn't really apply to pocket watches, but I thought best to put it in here anyway.
Due to quality and/or parts issues I no longer work on the following brands of watches: Crown, New York Standard, Columbia.
I reserve the right to refuse service on any watch. I am sorry for this, but due to the recent amount of hacked and cobbled watches coming into my shop I have no choice. If you have a badly rusted watch I am probably going to refuse the repair or suggest a complete movement replacement.
I will not under any circumstances work on nor do I endorse any replica/fake watches! Not responsible for accidents, damages, or loss in the mail.
SHIPPING AND ESTIMATES
Please see Pricing Page for shipping and estimate information.
IMPORTANT NOTES
I do not do work on "approval", watches will be held until the bill is settled, or the watch can be sent C.O.D.
You may check the progress of your repair at any time AFTER I have responded with your initial evaluation (it does no good to ask me about the repair status of a watch I haven't even had the chance to look at) by e-mailing me.
If you do contact me about your repair, PLEASE be specific, I can have other watches in the shop and can't remember ever one.
Ohio residents must add 7% sales tax.
Please take the following as a guideline for repair times
Evaluations: 1-2 months. If you haven't heard from me after 2 1/2 months then please e-mail me.
Pocket watch repairs completed: 4-12 months. This will depend on my schedule and parts availability. In the case of some older watches it may take MONTHS to find the parts, not weeks.
PLEASE, allow me time to do the work, I can't estimate/fix every watch that comes in within 4-5 days, it is just not possible, especially during the "busy season".
PAYMENT METHODS
Personal check
Cashiers check
Money order
I do not take any credit card payments. Sorry!
Please make all checks or money orders payable to Scott A. Ekleberry
If you still feel you have any unanswered questions after reading through my website, please feel free to e-mail questions. Thank you!!!
This site is protected by the copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Violations of copyright laws and international treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
This page and all content copyright 2001-2010 by It's About Time! Watch Repair
CONTACT: Scott A. Ekleberry-Watchmaker
This site is protected by the copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Violations of copyright laws and international treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws can be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
This page and all content copyright 2001-2010 by It's About Time! Watch Repair