THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING YOUR WATCH
Maintaining your collection of prestigious, high-precision timepieces is important. It is important the same way selecting the right maker and model of the watch you want to call your own. Not only is your watch a faithful companion, but it is also a mechanical wonder. Mechanical objects need care from time to time. Just as a roaring V8 engine needs sparkplugs and oil, your watch will need service at some point. Careful maintenance will keep the watch functioning. During a service procedure, seals and certain movement parts are replaced. Parts such as a crown, handset, or mainspring barrel get replaced only if necessary. Delicate gears and moving parts are lubricated with special oils and techniques. Service is key to keeping your timepiece in top working order. This work must be completed with the utmost of care and precision.
WHEN IS THE WATCH READY FOR SERVICE?
Depending on the watchmaker, service intervals will vary. A new watch requires a first service visit in at least 5 years. Vintage models deserve specialized care. The debate goes on about opening a watch for service that keeps time strong and steady. The argument is why fix it if it’s not broken. Experts agree the internal parts of a precise mechanism needs expert care.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN PLACING THE ORDER
First things first. You will be using an authorized service center for the brand of watch you wear. Remember this great advice. Take your knowledge or trust to the watch shop. Fine watches should not go near a repair center not authorized to handle your repairs.
TYPES OF MAINTENANCE PERFORMED
What exactly needs maintenance? This is the most common question posed by fine watch fans. There are three watch categories. All of which need maintenance at predetermined intervals. Watches with simple movements. Watches with complications. And watches with Grand Complications.
WATCHES WITH SIMPLE MOVEMENTS
There is a wide variety of watches both quartz and mechanical that fall into this category.
WATCHES WITH A MOVEMENT AND COMPLICATION
Included in this group are watches with annual or perpetual calendars. Watches with Travel Time functions such as the GMT, a moon phase watch belong in this group. Also considered in this group are Chronographs and Retrogrades. Retrograde hands do not move in a circular pattern but reset or jump back to its beginning position. A great example if you need a visual is the Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk 140.029.
MOVEMENT WITH GRAND COMPLICATION
The second category includes watches we call Movement with Grand Complication. This group includes Tourbillon Split-seconds Chronograph, Minute Repeaters, and others.
SERVICE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH WELL-KNOWN BRANDS
TAG Heuer Service Cost
See Full list of service charges from the Tag Heuer website
TAG Heuer Service price List 01 October 2017
| R.R.S.P | |
| QUARTZ WATCH SERVICE | |
| Standard | £240 |
| QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| Standard | £325 |
| DIGITAL DISPLAY COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| Standard | £345 |
| AUTOMATIC WATCH COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| Standard AutomaticDay DateGMT & Twin Time | £325£345£345 |
| CALIBRE S COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| Hybrid Watch | £345 |
| AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| StandardDay DateCarrera 1887 & Heuer 01SLRMonacoAquagraph | £410£435£450£490£490£490 |
| CHRONOMETER WATCH COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| Standard ChronometerGrand Carrera Calibre 6 RSGrand Carrera Calibre 8 RS GMT | £345£410£445 |
| CHRONOMETER CHRONOGRAPH COMPLETE SERVICE | |
| Standard Chronometer ChronographGrand Carrera Calibre 17 RS/RS2Standard Calibre 36Monaco 24Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS/RS2 | £475£480£520£520£520 |
OMEGA Service cost
See Full details of Omega service cost and process
NON-PRECIOUS MATERIAL
Steel, Titanium and Ceramic
| CALIBRE TYPE | PRICE |
| NON-CHRONOGRAPH | QUARTZ £340.00MECHANICAL £430.00 |
| CHRONOGRAPH | QUARTZ £450.00MECHANICAL £570.00 |
PRECIOUS MATERIAL
Bicolour, silver, gold, platinum, palladium
| CALIBRE TYPE | PRICE |
| NON-CHRONOGRAPH | QUARTZ £430.00MECHANICAL £500.00 |
| CHRONOGRAPH | QUARTZ £600.00MECHANICAL £730.00 |
IWC Service cost
Maintenance costs for the popular IWC Pilot’s Watch ref IW327009 run-up to £570. Regular service on the gorgeous Portofino Chronograph ref IW391031 would go CHF 880.
See full list of IWC service prices
ROLEX Service cost
Although Rolex do not official publish the prices on their website, Rolex Submariner service cost is around £536 for its regular service. The sought after Rolex Daytona service cost about runs £589.
See Rolex website for official guide on how and where to service your Rolex
AUDEMARS PIGUET Service cost
See full list of AP service costs
We highlight below the popular Royal Oak family costs
| ROYAL OAK | |
| CALIBRE TYPE | PRICE (CHF) |
| QUARTZ | 550 |
| SELFWINDING | 950 |
| EXTRA-THIN | 1,150 |
| CHRONOGRAPH | 1,450 |
| QP (CHRONO,QP,EOT) | 1,800 |
PATEK PHILIPPE Service cost
See full list of Patek Service costs
We have highlighted below an overview
| CALIBRE TYPE | PRICE (CHF) |
| Mechanical, manually wound (Level 2) Mechanical, self-winding (Level 2) | 9001000 |
| Complication I (Level 3) Annual Calendar, Travel Time, moon phases, etc. | 1,300 |
| Complication II (Advanced Level) perpetual calendar, chronograph, Annual Calendar chronograph | 1,800 |
| Complication III (Advanced Level) chronograph with perpetual calendar, retrograde perpetual calendar | 2,300 |
CONCLUSION
Regular maintenance keeps your timepiece in top condition. Your authorized service center is a valuable resource for fruitful long-term ownership. Your maker’s service center will help you care for the intricacies of the movement. Leave cleaning, assembly, lubrication, calibration, and testing to the experts. Cleaning and polishing of the bracelet are also available if you request it.
