Hamilton Watch Repair Near Me

by James · Published December 13, 2021 · Updated September 8, 2023

Hamilton watches are a Swiss manufactured luxury watch. They were originally American watches back in 1892, but in the late 60’s a series or business mergers occured and now it’s part of the Swatch Group. While they make luxury watches, the classic Marine Chronometers from WWII is one of of the most coveted from the brand. Below I’ll dicuss Hamilton repairs, warranty information,and finding an authorized Hamilton service center. I’ll also share my experience with Hamilton watch repair near me.

Map of Hamilton Watch Repair Near Me

For “Hamilton Watch Repair Near Me”, see the map below for locations…

Unauthorized Hamilton Watch Repair Shops

Any local shop will be happy to take look at a Hamilton watch. While that may be convenient, it does not mean that the repairs are authorized by the manufacturer. An unauthorized repair means that you may void your warranty, there is no guarantee of the work, and anything covered under warranty is not honored.

Despite those drawbacks there are still reasons to consider a local repair shop for your work. This includes faster turnaround time, speaking to a technician in person, and convenience. It also may make sense to seek a local repair if your warranty is expired anyway or the issue isn’t covered by warranty.

Authorized Repairs Take Time…

When you get an Authorized Hamilton watch repair near me through a service center it can take 4-8 weeks. Additionally you likely won’t speak to a technician and will communicate via email or online portal.

How Long is The Warranty on My Hamilton Watch?

Hamilton’s carry a two year warranty and have similar policies to that of all the major watch brands. You must have purchased it from an authorized Hamilton dealer and have a warranty certificate dated, fully filled out, and stamped in order to make a claim against it.

As far as coverage it is a limited liability warranty and covers material and manufacturing. This means basically their craftsmanship is covered. So any mechanical issues or faulty parts are replaceable or repairable under the warranty. Any damage caused by you, is not covered.

If you have a claim against the warranty it will be fixed free of charge and they will guarantee their work for a set number of months after completion.

Here are other items not covered:

Battery life
Normal wear and tear and aging
Damage from abnormal/abusive use, lack of care, negligence, accidents or, incorrect use
Non-authorized persons repairs

Here is the Hamilton International Warranty

Hamilton Watch Battery Replacement Near Me

Some Hamilton timepieces have batteries and require a swap. It is recommended to change the battery every 1-3 years even if it is still working. If the battery dies, it can leak and cause internal damage to the watch. The Hamilton watch battery replacement near me, will clean a minor battery leak free of charge.

In my experience, the batteries in these watches are button cell style batteries. It is not hard to change these yourself, but a shop can do it for you. You should note though that even a battery swap by an unauthorized person or shop can void your warranty. If you decide to do it anyway it usually costs $10 to $20 at a Macy’s or Jared. You should also consider going back to the place of purchase, where they may change the battery for free.

If you need to change brands of battery, see this battery conversion chart.

For a waterproof Hamilton, I would suggest seeking a professional repair. When a battery is changed on a waterproof timepiece it needs to be tested to ensure the seal is leak proof. The Hamilton battery replacemnet near me, always inspects the gasket before the reseal the timepiece.

Hamilton Crystal Replacement

The crystal is commonly referred to as the watch glass. Hamilton watches vary in crystal type from sapphire, acrylic, and mineral glass. Each material has it’s pros and cons. Sapphire doesn’t scratch easy, but it will shatter. Mineral glass scratches easy, but is harder to shatter.

Crystal replacement is something you should seek help from a pro shop on. This is particularly true of you have a vintage Hamilton. In my experience at the Hamilton watch repair near me a minimum charge of $100 is where Hamilton crystal replacement/repair starts. The age and model of watch will play a role in the cost. If the crystal is lightly scratched, you can try some DIY methods to buff them out.

Replacing the Band or Strap

These watches vary in band material from leather to metal, with leather being some of the most popular. The type of material used for the band/strap impacts the cost of replacing it. High end metals of course will cost more. Bands and straps for these watches cost upwards of $30 at the Hamilton watch repair near me. You can find generic 3rd party brands though for less that will pair with a Hamilton timepiece.

Resizing a Band or Strap

Having a properly fitting watch not only looks better, but helps protect your watch from damage. A watch not sized correctly can bang into objects or even fall off your wrist. Resizing is a common repair job at any jeweler or watch shop. This repair commonly costs $10-$15, but if you go to where you bought it you may get the service for free.

Straps made of leather, rubber, and fabric can be resized by punching new holes or shortening the length. For adding new holes though eventually you run out of material. Bands made of metals on the other hand resize easier. For those you can add and remove links.

Hamilton Crown Repair

The crown on your watch is the dial on the side that let’s you change and adjust functions. Replacing a crown can be a simple repair, but when the crown is damaged the pin inside called the stem is sometime damaged with it. This makes a crown repair more complicated when both pieces are damaged.

Crown and stem repair on vintage Hamilton watches can be costly because the parts are no longer manufactured. That means a technician either needs to find used parts or fabricate a part for you (which would impact the watches value).

Newer models of Hamilton’s can be handled much more simply since parts are available.

Repairs to a Hamilton Movement

The movement is the mechanical mechanism inside the watch that makes it work. Over the years Hamilton’s have featured different variations of movements with different jewel counts. Any work on a movement is typically expensive and even more so on a vintage model.

Any work you seek on a movement should be completed by a professional watch technician. To ensure that your watch movement stays in good condition you should seek regular servicing to prolong needing a total overhaul.

Here is a list of estimated prices on movement work at the Hamilton watch repair near me…

Automatic / Manual winding 2- 3 hands $190
Automatic Chronographs $290
Quartz 2 – 3 hands $150
Quartz Chronographs, Multi Touch $220
Watches with multiple movements, complications Estimate required
Vintage watches (automatic, manual, quartz) Estimate required

Hamilton Automatic Khaki Field Titanium

Authorized Hamilton Repairs

For an authorized Hailton watch repair near me, you can mail in your watch to an authorized service center. Despite the fact these are now Swiss watches there are 3 service centers on the US. They are located in New Jersey, Florida, and California.

Hamilton, who is owned by the Swatch Group, replies on Swatch centers for their repair work. In my experience with the Hamilton watch repair near me, they may advise sending my watch in. Sending it in will likely take 4 to 8 weeks on turnaround time depending on the repairs complexity.

The Swatch Group also provides a phone number for customer service: 1-800-283-7236

Authorized Hamilton Watch Repairs Near Me

When delaing with an authorized Hamilton watch repair near me, it means mailing away your timepiece. When mailing to authorized service center and claiming against your warranty you must provide proof of warranty. So have your dated warranty certificate, fully and correctly filled out, and stamped.

When sending in a watch to any authorized center…

Always add a index card to describe what the issue is. Be prepared to be charged if the issue isn’t covered under warranty. If the issue is not covered they won’t do the work with obtaining your permission first. If you don’t like the price quote you get, ask them to mail your watch back.

Tips for Sending Away Your Watch to an Authorized Hamiltion Service Center Near Me

Be specific describing the problem you are having
Estimate the value of the timepiece and include it in the package
Insure your shipment for a minimum the value you estimated.
Put the watch in sturdy box and wrap it with bubble wrap.
Follow all information on the warranty card and the Swatch Group website
Contact customer support

Can you Fix a Hamilton Watch Yourself?

Yes, fixing a Hamilton yourself is possible, but not advisable. I always lean on seeking a pro to do my watch work. Opening a case can potentially introduce new damage to the watch like scratching the cast or getting dust in the movement.

Other Resources for Hamilton Watch Repair Near Me

Sometimes getting specific help is needed. First I always call the Hamilton watch repair near me, but here are some great resources…