Watch Repairs & Services

If your watch stops it can be annoying at worse upsetting, as we are attached to our timepieces, whether a gift or self-purchased. We want to know it can be put right and at very least simply tell the time whether mechanical or quartz.

They require cleaning at least every three to five years in the case of the mechanical, and when necessary and if parts are available, for a battery watch.

All watch services or overhauls come with a one-year guarantee. And we only carry out work if we can satisfactorily guarantee the work we do. 

Batteries make quartz watches work; they need replacement when they run down. You might assume this is a simple task however batteries require a deft hand and skill with knowledge of what not to touch, it can be tricky as a multitude of problems can arise from a simple task: we can replace all batteries in all makes and brands of watches.

The price of watch batteries can differ as there are two main types silver-oxide and lithium, silver oxide is 1.55v and Lithium are 3v. In both cases the battery’s life is dependent on the movement in the watch. The most important thing is that the batteries don’t leak into the watch, which will cause huge damage which on occasion cannot be repaired.

Watch bracelets and straps can be replaced to fit or affixed to most suitable watches. Sometimes this involves removing links from bracelets or adjusting stiff bracelets by cutting them to the exact size of your wrist, removing links and cutting the ends in order to fit your wrist.

We have an extensive range of straps and bracelets which can be fitted to the majority of watches. We are here to take the hassle from you. Simply adjust the wrist sizing band and mark where comfortable. If possible, take a photo of it on our website camera and send it to us.

Bracelets and links can be resized by either removing links, adding links, cutting straps to measure and cutting precious metal bracelets to size.

Bracelets and links can be removed from all types of watches from 18 carat to stainless steel this makes sure you have a snug fit as it is important that your watch is comfortable to wear.

Extending watch bracelets in precious metal (we would require different links if not a precious metal) is one job that can be tricky. We can do ladies and gentlemen watches with no visible signs of repair.

Links can be removed and replaced in expanding and fixed watch bracelets.

Precious metal link bracelets, can be adjusted in size in our workshops, (one important point to mention is that unless you have the original links, it can be very difficult to extend, in this case an extension plate or ladder style clasp, would be produced by hand). In all cases with precious metal watches, it is important to obtain original parts from the manufacturer as non-original parts will devalue the watch.

Rolled gold or modern gold plate watch bracelets can be adjusted, however like their precious metal counter-part it is essential to keep the links to hand so adding and taking away is possible without issue.

It can be irritating and cause damage when your watch strap appears to break and falls off your wrist. A metal sprung bar attaches a strap or bracelet to your watch, this is known as a spring bar: these bars keep your strap or bracelet attached to your watch. If you have a fixed bar this generally applies to a gold or rolled gold watch, we can fit the strap or bracelet.

The water resistance of your watch is essential if you have an active life, either training or swimming you want to be able to get your watch splashed without worrying about water getting inside. From a hygiene viewpoint you also want to be able to remove any dirt from your timepiece.

Resealing a watch for water resistant purposes is essential if you are a sports diver or a professional: water resistance is essential for use in diving, at any capacity. You must endeavour to check the water-resistant qualities of your watch, as often as possible.

For professional purposes this will generally mean replacement of seals and checking timekeeping, this can be costly as it can involve all gaskets seals and glass being replaced, in order to obtain a manufacturers guarantee.

However, this is necessary as the accuracy of your watch can save your life. In a normal daily life, we only need a splash proof watch but if immersing one’s hands constantly this is different.

Waterproofing is important though it is easy to go over the top as a general rule, if your watch states water resistant it already has a basic level of protection against dust and occasional splashing and in training, getting sweaty.

If you drop your watch or knock it, the glass can break this may be a minor scratch, nick, or even a crack: however, your watch is now not dust or water resistant. We can replace the broken glass with either an original manufacturers glass or a generic glass.

One point to remember due to the nature of natural or hardened glass once it breaks, the timekeeping of watch cannot be guaranteed unless a full service has been carried out.

The button and stem are used in most cases just to change the time. On battery models, this is a simple task of removing the broken stem.

On a mechanical watch it is a completely different process and the watch must be stripped down, to replace the stem as it is an integral part of the movement.

The advantage from the mechanical watch client’s point of view is that the watchmaker, can assess whether the watch requires a service or overhaul.

Antique and older than fifty-year-old watches, can have dials that can become discoloured and stained with age or water damage. In a great number of cases, we can restore the dial to its original state.

This process involves removing all dial furniture, baton numerals and markers & dots stripping off original dial paint or transfers, and reinstating them using modern processes that take the dial back to its original clean and unmarked state.

Precious metals are naturally soft this makes them scratch and grow dull extremely quickly. We can refinish the case housing shoulders and back, so your watch is literally shining like new, we achieve this by carefully polishing so we glance the metal as opposed to removing the precious alloy.

It happens sometimes we are in a rush and we take our watch in to have a battery replaced and, as we later find out, our watch is scratched and marked on the back.

Unfortunately, however all metals are relatively soft and will scratch easily and the damage can be caused accidentally.

If a watch back is damaged or buckled in a repair we can refinish the back for you, re-polishing it or we can try to find a replacement back from the original manufacturer.

Any watch that has some historic or sentimental family importance and has been passed down through time, would generally be gold or another precious metal.

These watches can obviously be subject to wear. The watch will more than likely require restorative work as precious metals are soft and with time the back, sides and shoulders plus edges will more than likely require and need repair as patches of wear will occur.

This is extremely detailed work and the slightest mistake can melt the watch back or buckle the case housing, ruining the watch. As with all our restoration work there should be none or marginal signs of repair.

On occasion we inherit or purchase a watch at auction in a shop or online. These timepieces have caught our imagination and invariably they are older and require a watch maker not a technician i.e., someone who can make the parts by hand or might have them in their collection.                                              

This way the integrity of the timepiece is intact so it can be passed to the next generation. If you have a family heirloom watch or timepiece which does not function, we have a watch making team who can look to repair and restore and will estimate a cost for you.

Please bear in mind that with all mechanical timepieces, we will have to completely strip the watch in order to assess its state of repair as this is the only way we can give you an estimate of cost.

Obviously, this can be time consuming and is not always possible, due to the internal condition. On occasion, a small charge may be levied.

Watches can be engraved with either plain block text or script depending on the metal on the back from stainless steel base metal to 18ct or platinum we can supply a style card.

Hand engraving can achieve a superb and joyously simple message or perhaps a unique orange peel pattern, the ideas are limitless.

Your watch can be valued by our watch expert; obviously this is essential if you are looking to insure your watch against loss. As with all valuations a significant number of factors are taken into account such as, brand, age, wear plus current auctions sales prices - all these will be used to reach the correct insurance value.