just got quoted $325 for basic watch repair

[faenix]

The second hand stopped working though it still kept time. It's a B&M Classima, does this sound like a complete rip off? (Out of warranty now)

The lady said this entails cleaning out and redoing the entire working mechanism or whatever blahblah, wondering if I can get this done cheaper anywhere else.

Watch experts please help

 

[OBLAMA2009]

that sounds like a pretty standard price to me. when i got my rolex serviced more than ten years ago it was a straight 300

 

[speedy2]

Sounds about right. We are a watch repair & jewelry store. My dad is a Rolex Tech. We live in a very rural area though and it's hard to get prices like that on watches. A complete overhaul of a Rolex is usually under $300. Again, that is in our area only.

 

[sygyzy]

I sent my Sinn in to get fixed. First of all, there is only one company that is authorized to repair them in the US, so they can charge anything they want. I wanted to get the threaded part under my crown replaced. That part was something like $50. But they charged me like $400 because they needed to do "pressure" tests. I guess they warranty their work and anytime they open it up, they have to pressure test it (waterproof) to make sure water doesn't leak in. And I have to pay for it. This means even if you send it to them to change a battery, it'd cost about $400 (not that you ever would). The worst part is it's a ~$1000 watch repairing it was 40% of the cost. I paid less so the effect is even more dramatic.

 

[BreastInspector]

Originally posted by: speedy2
Sounds about right. We are a watch repair & jewelry store. My dad is a Rolex Tech. We live in a very rural area though and it's hard to get prices like that on watches. A complete overhaul of a Rolex is usually under $300. Again, that is in our area only.

OP: that sounds about right

Speedy, where do you live? I got a call this morning from the Rolex NY service center, I had to have my GMT regulated and serviced (Hey, it didnt sell in FS/FT so I figured why not get it done?) and a basic movement service is up to $550. In 05, I had it overhauled and it was only $300.

Things dont get any cheaper.

 

[speedy2]

That's sending it to Rolex. We do the repairs and service here. But, we still use genuine parts when parts need to be replaced.

 

[EvilYoda]

That looks fine to me...I have my father's old 1968 (or so) Omega Seamaster Automatic that I want to restore - a full overhaul (it's not working) is like $800+. I think I might have to hold off on that one for a while.

 

[0roo0roo]

its a rare skill. so yea you've have to pay for that kind of work.

 

[Born2bwire]

That's about the price I have heard for people getting their watches just serviced, let alone repaired. So it seems reasonable. I am thinking about getting my Speedmaster Pro serviced. It's a second hand 10 year old watch. The standard service should remove the ding in the edge of the bezel but I will probably pay to have the dial replaced with Superluminova dial as opposed to letting them just clean the existing Tritium dial. At the Omega flagship store they quoted something around $500 USD for servicing.

 

[mcveigh]

That's a normal price. They are great watches, I have the Capeland XL diver and love mine.

 

[Silex]

It's like being able to afford a Ferrari, but not wanting to pay the $800 cost to change the oil every 3k miles. Gotta pay to play. Watches are not much different being fairly complicated mechanical devices. I'm quite a fan of the ones you shake in order to power them.

 

[iGas]

Do you think American labor is free?
How much a obscure computer software or hardware specialist bill out an hour?

I had my watch repaired for about $180 CAD in the mid 90s, and the watch/jeweler told me it was a simple repair or it would have cost more.

I threw my Canon F1 away because the simple spring replacement, and tune up would cost me over $450 (or the price of my new Canon EOS 630, or 10s) in the early 90s.

 

[Ronstang]

Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

 

[RESmonkey]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

People still wear watches? I thought we were back in the age of pocket watches (we call them cell phones now, but they serve the same purpose).

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

Not a new B&M watch.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: EGGO

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

Not a new B&M watch.

Who said I wanted one...hell I don't even know what one is. My point is the most expensive watch I would ever buy is still cheaper than you guys shell out for repairs.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Man, lots of dumbasses here. Why not just buy a new watch for that money? Does this one keep time better?

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: EGGO

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

Not a new B&M watch.

Who said I wanted one...hell I don't even know what one is. My point is the most expensive watch I would ever buy is still cheaper than you guys shell out for repairs.

And a lot of what people pay for Lamborghini repairs or even tuning what would be a whole new car. It's not your thing, but it's someone else's.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: EGGO

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: EGGO

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

Not a new B&M watch.

Who said I wanted one...hell I don't even know what one is. My point is the most expensive watch I would ever buy is still cheaper than you guys shell out for repairs.

And a lot of what people pay for Lamborghini repairs or even tuning what would be a whole new car. It's not your thing, but it's someone else's.

I'm not knocking it, it was just an observation. I have a close friend who collects classic watches. He has some worth $25K. I don't get it but it isn't my money so I don't care.

 

[EvilYoda]

I'm amazed it took that long for this thread to turn into the "you pay HOW MUCH for a watch?" thread.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: EGGO

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Kind of funny but you guys are willing to spend more on a repair than I would spend on a whole new watch.

Not a new B&M watch.

The point is that he'd never waste so much money on such a frivilous purchase.

 

[dennilfloss]

Let's see... Watch repair or hookers and blow...

 

[krunchykrome]

my tag cost me $50+shipping to get the battery changed...took 3 weeks also

it's not a rolex, but still...i thought it was pricey

 

[BKLounger]

i got my movado used off ebay for a good price but it needed a battery. I called the closest authorized repair center 2 states away and they quoted me at $180 to replace the battery and they said it was because they warranty the fact that it is waterproof. I said screw it and went to a local jeweler where is cost me 10 bucks and took 8 minutes. Yeah they can't guarentee it is still waterproof but i can't think of many situations I would be swimming with an expensive watch on anyways.