What are Common Functional Problems?
The most frequent concerns with the functional aspects of a watch have to do with the watch only working off your wrist, the second hand skipping, the alarm not working, and the watch knob not turning properly. Additional complaints have to do with the chronograph battery life or the watch not working at all. If you have experienced any of these concerns where the watch is still somewhat working, you may be tempted to put off a trip to the repair shop. However, the longer you wait, the more complicated and expensive the repair can be, depending on the underlying cause of the issue.
Which Functional Repairs are Easiest to Fix?
Battery replacement is by far the easiest part to replace in most watches. If your watch stopped working completely without any potentially damaging incident or warning, check the battery first. It could be this quick and budget-friendly fix is all you need.
A little more expensive yet less so than a full complication replacement is a damage caused by dry oil. Like lawnmowers, cars, boats, planes, and other machines, watches need oil for lubrication to keep each part moving. Routine maintenance will ensure your timepiece is properly lubricated thereby avoiding costly damage resulting from dry oil. Such repairs can involve replacing a couple or many of the 180 or more parts. The length of time between maintenance visits may be an indication of the extent of the damage before taking it in for a full examination.
Are There Expensive Repairs?
A true diagnosis of the functional culprit or the number of parts requiring repair or replacement will often involve a thorough examination through a "full service". If full service is recommended, it typically includes all the parts being removed, cleaned, and replaced as needed, which sounds much simpler than it is when at least 180 hard to see parts must be disassembled and reassembled.
Water Damage
Water and dirt are not kind on metal gears. Therefore, you may not need a crystal ball to know the source of the problem after swimming with your watch or dropping your watch in the sand. However, what about the times you walked to your car in the rain? Even the humidity can affect your timepiece. A full service will allow for the watch repairman to check for water damage such as rust, along with broken seals and cracked gaskets.
Avoid Costly Wear & Tear Repairs
Routine maintenance is necessary for keeping the costs of owning a luxury timepiece lower by catching visible signs of damage before it becomes a larger problem. The myriad of parts should each be cleaned, checked for damage, lubricated, and tested every three to five years. Moreover, seals and gaskets should be checked regardless of known problems as they are made from rubber and naturally wear down over time.
Choosing Your Repair Shop
One more costly mistake besides skipping on routine maintenance and dropping your vintage watch in the pool is selecting the wrong repair shop. This is particularly true if you are lucky enough to own a more complex luxury watch. Say no to technicians, middlemen, and assemblers. You want to make sure all the repairs, tests, cleanings, and any polishing are done in house start-to-finish by Swiss-trained, accredited and experienced repairman. After all, who wants their watch to be sent off for repairs performed by a repairman you have never met in an unknown location with who knows what training and experience, much less assembled by an uncertified trainee?
When is it Cheaper to Buy a New Watch?
We get this question a lot. Unfortunately, only you can determine when it is time to purchase a new watch based on your finances, watch condition, repair estimate and sentimental attachment. Ask for a free service repair estimate from your repair shop. The cost of this estimate usually involves free shipping of your watch to the repair center, having a qualified accredited repairman examine the issue, and receiving a quote for the repair. If you decide the repair is too costly, you pay return shipping and handling plus insurance fees to have the watch sent back.
Ultimately, the cost of owning a watch can be considerably reduced with the right care and attention. A little maintenance and steps to protect your investment can go a long way in preventing bigger issues later. Sometimes, despite best practices, your watch may require show signs of deterioration or damage. In the event this happens, search for in-house repairs using only accredited professionals to examine and work on your timepiece.
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