Watch Service Near Me

A luxury watch or any watch of high value should undergo routine watch repairs and servicing. Depending on the brand, you should have a full movement overhaul every 3 to 5 years. Getting a watch serviced can be done at a watch repair shop, a jewelry store, or an authorized service center. In this article I will discuss the watch service near me, where to find yours, what to consider when choosing who will perform the work, and details about what does a typical watch service includes.

Map of Watch Service Near Me

If you are looking for a “watch service near me”, use the map to find locations…

The above lists the results of “Watch Service near me”. Before selecting a shop you should consider your warranty and/or any place that specializes in your brand. I would advise shopping around locally and contacting your watch brand’s authorized service center. Then you can compare the price and options. You can find a list of authorized service centers by brand here.

How to Tell When Your Watch Needs to be Serviced

I recommend that no matter if your watch shows signs of needing service, you get it serviced every 3 to 5 years regardless. Especially if you have a high-end luxury timepiece. Different kinds of watches have telltale signs of needing service. For example in a quartz watch the battery might be getting low and it causes the movement to run flat or the functions seem delayed or erratic.

Here are a few warning signs that your watch may need to be professionally serviced:

1. Watch Has Completely Stopped: A Quartz watch contains complex gears that need to work together simultaneously for functionality. It may be a movement fault or a battery issue. It’s recommended you replace the battery every 1 to 3 years. If you have replaced the battery and the watch still doesn’t work it’s likely related to a movement problem.
2. The Second-Hand Jumps at 5-Second Intervals: The second-hand jumping is often a low battery power indicator in a Quartz watch. You may also see your alarm or digital display has stopped. Don’t let any of these issues linger. When a watch battery is left completely drained inside a Quartz watch can leak which will cause damage to the movement.
3. The Watch Glass Has Moisture Under It: Moisture and/or Chemicals are highly damaging to all movement types because they lead to rust inside, which requires a major overhaul. Moisture inside the glass is a sign that the seals have corroded or the watch wasn’t resealed correctly.
4. The Crown is Difficult For Time or Date Adjustments: The crown is attached to a stem, which connects to your internal watch movement components. After a while, you may feel the crown is either hard to turn or so loose that you can’t adjust the time and date. While you can get a crown or the stem replaced, it’s often a key indicator of a need for servicing. It’s also possible the stem snapped inside and it’s affecting the movement. In that case, you would need an expert repair.
5. Watch Doesn’t Keep Correct Time (Leading or Lagging): A Quartz watch is known for keeping accurate time, while mechanical movements lose a few minutes a day, especially in a vintage model. Gaining or losing a significant amount of time each day is indicative of a movement fault. If left unserviced can cause more damage to the movement and may stop working completely.

Who Can Perform a Watch Service Near Me?

A full servicing on a luxury watch is not something you should attempt to do yourself. It requires an expert level of skill as it requires taking your watch apart and inspecting the movement. Generally, there are three different places that you can consider for having your watch service performed.

Watch Repair Shop: Typically they are generalists who are familiar with popular brands and models. I would be hesitant to refer to them as horologists or master craftsmen, mostly because anything complicated they will send out for servicing.

Jewelry Store: Typically these are also generalists, but with a bit more experience on the luxury watch end. Again I wouldn’t qualify these as horologists or master craftsmen, because anything complicated they will mail to an expert.

Authorized Service Center: These tend to be specialized horologists and master craftsmen who will deal exclusively in your brand of watch. They will likely have seen your specific model before and be familiar with the mechanics of other watches from the same time period of the same manufacturer.

I’m often asked if you can service, your watch yourself. I never advise you to do that, but if that interests you, read this DIY service article here.

Watch Repair Shop or Jeweler Pros and Cons

Getting your watch serviced at a jeweler or a repair shop is pretty much the same thing. They will perform your servicing which will be outside of your timepieces warranty, unless they are an authorized service center for your brand.

Having your watch serviced by anyone or a company that is not authorized will void your warranty if you are still under coverage. They may be certified and qualified to service your watch, but you should understand the risk if you should ever want to make a claim. Additionally, your local certified watchmaker, repair shop or local jewelry shop may not be able to guarantee their work. On the plus side, this is usually a more economical servicing

The advantage of going to a local shop is dealing with a person directly and the cost is cheaper. There you can discuss what you need with a technician and they can tell you what will be done and other helpful services they provide.

A service center is often a place that has an online web form you fill out and mail in with your watch. Then someone contacts you with a quote for the work. If your watch isn’t under warranty, you don’t have a valid proof of warranty, or you are not the original owner, it may make more sense to visit a local shop. Just make sure they are familiar with performing work on your brand.

Authorized Service Center Pros and Cons

On the flip side, an authorized service center can perform your routine servicing and still keep your warranty intact. You can actually have them do it even if it’s not under warranty. The authorized service center will provide the most qualified master craftsmen for your brand.

Also, their work will be guaranteed for a certain period of time, much lengthier than any local shop will offer. You also get original parts. The downside is all of this will come at a premium price.

Likely your routine servicing is not a process covered by warranty, but having them perform the work will keep your warranty in place. In some instances, you must send your watch for routine servicing just to maintain the warranty.

If you do decide to go the authorized service center route be prepared to specifically describe in detail on paper any service work you want completed. Also, there are a few brands like Cartier, that don’t use service centers instead they use their sales boutiques as service centers.

Many service centers, as protocol replace parts automatically, regardless of whether or not they need replacing. So they may perform a full service because the case is damaged, when it may not be necessary. Then they charge you for it.

What Does Getting Your Watch Serviced Include?

What gets serviced will depend on what you need. Some folks consider changing the battery in a quartz watch every 3 years as a routine servicing. What is recommended is every 3 to 5 years a full movement overhaul including full disassembly, a complete cleaning and re-oiling (lubrication) of the parts, reassembly of the movement, and improvement in the timing. This is particularly true for high end luxury watches.

Will They Perform Repairs?

A Service will include a full inspection of the parts for potential repairs since there will be wear when metal is acting on metal. Always expect some parts will need to be changed. This also means damage to the case, bracelet, gasket or crown.

These repairs will cost extra. If you use an authorized service center that may replace parts as a matter of protocol even if a part didn’t need replacement.

Some places call you and some places don’t. At the watch service near me repairs will not be performed unless you have authorized them. When they open up your watch for disassembly, perhaps they see the stem has broken off, which is impacting the movement.

At this point, they will call you to tell you how much additional it will cost to replace or repair the stem. They will not perform any repairs that aren’t authorized. Often they will air on the side of caution because they want to ensure they get paid for their work and second to ensure they don’t do anything that may decrease the value of the watch in the eyes of a collector.

How Long Will it Take?

The time will vary based on the level of service you need, the amount of customers in the queue, and the business you choose to do the work. For example, a repair shop or jeweler might be open 24 to 48 hours, while a service center could be a month.

A service center is typically significantly longer because of the amount of work they receive. This is what makes a 3rd party like a repair shop more popular for servicing.

How Much Will it Cost?

Cost will vary depending on the level of service, brand, and age of the watch. A standard low-level watch might run $50 for a simple service, while a mid-level watch like a nice Seiko may start around $300. A Breitling, Omega, or Rolex is $500 and up as a starting point.

All of that will additionally be impacted by any repairs or replacement parts you may need. For context one of my blog readers reported that they just had their 38-year-old Rolex 1680 Submariner serviced for $1,200, which required some repairs.

Can I service My Watch Myself?

If you feel brave, have at it, but I would never advise this. My recommendation is to always let a pro technician do their job. Without the right skills and tools, you are in danger of doing damage to your watch and the movement. Plus you need the proper tools. If you are curious about what’s involved in servicing a mechanical watch, check this video out.

As you can see there is a lot involved in doing a service on your timepiece. If you have a high-end luxury watch, please use good judgment. The only DIY I would seriously consider is a deep cleaning of a waterproof watch.

DIY Watch Service Tips

Maintaining a watch is essential to ensure its longevity and accuracy. While there are many professional watch repair services available, especially in places like York, there are some basic maintenance tasks you can perform at home. Here are some DIY watch service tips:

1. Battery Replacement: One of the most common issues with quartz watches is a drained battery. If your watch stops ticking, it might be time for a battery replacement. Ensure you purchase the right batteries for your watch model. Handle the battery with care and avoid touching it with your fingers to prevent corrosion.
2. Cleaning: Use a soft cloth to clean the exterior of your watch. Avoid using harsh chemicals as they might damage the watch’s finish.
3. Test the Watch Accuracy: After performing any service, always test the watch’s accuracy over a day or two. If the time seems wrong or inconsistent, it might need professional calibration.
4. Strap and Bracelet Adjustment: Adjusting the range of the strap or bracelet can be done using simple tools. However, be cautious not to scratch or damage the watch in the process.
5. Website Resources: Many watch brands have website tutorials or manuals that provide guidance on basic maintenance and troubleshooting.
6. Contact Professionals: If you’re unsure about any step or if the watch seems to have a complex issue, always contact a professional. They have the right tools, expertise, and team to handle intricate repairs.
7. Shipping Watches: If you need to ship your watch for repair, especially a luxury brand like Baume, ensure it’s securely packaged and insured.
8. Get an Estimate: Before sending your watch for professional service, always ask for an estimate. This gives you an idea of the pricing and prevents unexpected costs.

Resources for Watch Service Near Me

Sometimes it’s good to get some help from the watch community. You can often find someone with the same model who has probably dealt with the same issues. Here are a few places I frequently check in regards to servicing various watches:

• Watch Repair Talk Forum
• Watch and Clock – Good site for antique watch advise
• Subreddit: Watches  – community over 1 million subscribers

Watch Service Near Me – How to Choose

My best advice is to start local and shop around. If you are in a major city, you will likely have many options. There may even be an authorized service center nearby. Even if the place near doesn’t do servicing they can recommend someone who can. To find a watch service near me, try Yelp or Google Maps by searching for “watch service near me”, or alternatively looking for watch repair near me or jewelry repair near me.

I always advise you to call around a bit. Find out prices, time frame, what’s included in the service, guarantees, and qualifications for my brand of watch. When it comes to my luxury watches I ask for proof of their previous work and ask them to email me pictures. Additionally, I visit their websites and read both reviews and customer testimonials.