ROLEX WATCH REPAIR, OMEGA WATCH REPAIR, BULOVA WATCH REPAIR, GRUEN WATCH REPAIR, & SEIKO WATCH REPAIR ARE A SPECIALTY!
FROM VINTAGE AMERICAN POCKET WATCHES TO THE FINEST SWISS WATCHES OF TODAY, LET ME HANDLE YOUR WATCH REPAIR!
PRICES AND INFORMATION IN EFFECT JULY 20, 2007
Please Note! I am currently only accepting Seiko Kinetic watches for repair. Please refer all other repairs to the following individuals who are more than qualified to handle your repair. Thank you for your understanding! Scott A. Ekleberry For general repairs and Rolex repairs please contact James Sadilek at as he has a Rolex parts account and can service your Rolex with genuine parts. For Omega, Rolex, other high-grade watches, and mechanical wrist watches, please contact Jon Horton at . For pocket watch repairs please contact Robert Porter at .
If you have to wind your watch to get it to run, or it says Automatic or Auto-Wind on the dial or case, then it is a mechanical watch.
If your watch has started to tell erratic time it probably needs to be cleaned and oiled.
If your watch got wet and it stopped running, the problem could be (and most likely is) rust. Rust damage is hard to estimate and will be done on an hourly rate, final cost depends on how badly your watch is rusted. In severe instances it may be cheaper to just replace the movement.
If you turn and turn the crown, (the part you wind and set the watch with), and the watch mainspring won't wind up tight, and it's not an auto-wind (automatic) watch, you probably have a broken mainspring.
Mechanical watches have a mainspring that exerts a lot of power on very small surfaces. If you don't have mechanical watches cleaned and oiled every 2-7 years (depending on how well they are sealed), dirt mixes in with the oil and acts like sandpaper shortening the life of the watch.
I totally disassemble every mechanical watch I service. Total disassembly is the ONLY way to do a proper job and find many defects and problems.
Each movement is then cleaned, reassembled, oiled, and timed using an electronic timing machine. Each watch is then observed for 24-48 hours to make sure it is working properly.
I DO NOT do "swish and lube" jobs like so many in the watch repair trade today (if your watch is sent to a trade shop by a jewelry store chances are it gets this type of job)!
Prices also include cleaning/buffing of watch case and checking for water resistance if applicable.
Labor rates below DO NOT include parts or shipping. Keep in mind that high grade watches (Rolex, Omega, IWC, etc.) WILL be more (see pricing below).
SOME OF THE CHECKS PERFORMED ON YOUR MECHANICAL WATCH DURING OVERHAUL
Winding and setting freedom, barrel arbor end shake test, all pivots in watch examined under 10x magnification for flat spots and/or bent pivots, all jewels in watch checked for breakage or cracks, proper end and side shake of all train wheels is checked, balance is checked for end-play and side-play, escapement of watch is checked for proper set-up, amplitude of balance is checked after cleaning and reassembly, time keeping of watch is checked on the timing machine, water resistance of watch case is checked in a "wet" tester (if applicable), and many other checks.
CLEANING OF MECHANICAL WATCHES
Your mechanical watch will be cleaned in a Mark V ultrasonic cleaning machine. This is one of the best machines on the market today. I use ultrasonic cleaning on wrist watches and pocket watches.
TIMING OF MECHANICAL WATCHES
I use a Vibrograf B200 solid state timing machine to time your watch. This machine has been the mainstay of the watch repair industry since 1970. I also check the amplitude of the balance wheel on a Vibrograf Grad-O-Scop balance wheel amplitude meter connected to my B200. Amplitude of the balance wheel is an important indicator of the correct functioning of a watch.
WARRANTY
Mechanical watch overhauls are guaranteed for one (1) year from the date the repair is completed. The guarantee does not cover parts I did not furnish, damage from abuse or water damage, watch bands or chains, crowns, stems, balance staffs (if you drop the watch the staff WILL break), crystals, or repairs done by someone other than myself.
While I will do my utmost to ensure that your watch will function correctly and keep time, it may not be possible to get all watches to keep time. This is particularly true of some old pocket watches and wrist watches which were either "low-grade" to start with, or that have seen "better days" (lots of abuse and possibly "cobbling" by inexperienced repair people or incorrect parts in the watch). I feel it is better to be up-front about this at the beginning than to give false hope or expectations. In any event I must see the watch first to give an estimate and my feelings on how it will perform in the end. Often, everything is fixed properly and a pocket watch still will not run correctly or keep time. In this event I will do what I can, but watchmakers are not "magicians", we can't force the watch to perform. Wear and age take their toll (yes even on people and watches) so all I can do is my best.
No warranty on mechanical watch repairs unless a cleaning job accompanies each repair. Sorry, but to provide a warranty I have to know the shape of the watch which is impossible unless I have disassembled, examined, cleaned, and oiled & timed it.
ESTIMATES
Estimates on mechanical wrist watches in the "General" category will be $40 to cover time to do a proper estimate and return shipping with $200 insurance. This estimate fee is for one (1) watch only, for each additional watch add $40. If you would like extra insurance on your timepiece please add $1 per $100 of extra insurance and state so clearly in your note. If you then decide to have work done, $25 of the initial $40 will be credited to your final bill!
Estimates on mechanical watches in the "High Grade" category will be $60 to cover time to do a proper estimate and return shipping with the extra insurance ($1,500) necessary on those type of watches. This estimate fee is for one (1) watch only, for each additional watch add $50. If you would like extra insurance on your timepiece please add $1 per $100 of extra insurance and state so clearly in your note. If you then decide to have work done, $35 of the initial $60 will be credited to your final bill!
NO estimates (not even a rough one) will be given unless I have the chance to examine the watch, no exceptions! Sorry!
CAN YOU FIX MY MODERN WATCH?
I have had many questions on this as a watchmaker is often perceived as someone that just fixes antique pocket or wrist watches, this is definitely NOT the case!
In terms of repair to the inside (movement) of a modern mechanical watch, the name on the outside may mean almost nothing as a lot of (but not all) modern mechanical watches use ETA movements (Breitling is one that uses ETA movements). Most of the parts for these movements are readily available from material houses I do business with.
As far as the outside of the watch goes, maybe and maybe not. Many watch companies are using proprietary parts on their cases such as crystals and crowns. These same companies are often refusing to sell the parts to watchmakers in an attempt to force consumers to use THEIR service centers, often at great expense to the consumer. As an example I can't get Breitling crystals. Breitling demands that all watches be sent to them for COMPLETE overhaul (about $400) even if you only need a crystal or another simple part like a crown!.
My approach has been to try to find the part (such as a crystal) at a material house first. If this is not successful I then call the watch company's service center and try to get the part (yes I DO ask nicely!). If I don't succeed in getting the part from them I often have the customer call the service center and request to purchase the part (no one likes an unhappy customer!). If all else fails then perhaps a suitable substitute (in the case of a crystal or crown) can be found.
In any event I WILL have to see the watch to give you an estimate or a yes/no answer on weather or not I can get parts or repair it. No estimates will be given unless I have the chance to examine the watch, sorry.
GENERAL MECHANICAL WRIST WATCH OVERHAUL PRICES (PARTS ARE EXTRA)
CLEANING, OILING, AND TIMING OF MECHANICAL MANUAL WIND WRIST WATCHES STARTING AT $130
The rate of $130 covers 3.25 hours work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the current labor rate of $40 per hour and that fee will be added to your final bill.
CLEANING, OILING, AND TIMING OF AUTOMATIC WIND WRIST WATCHES STARTING AT $140
The rate of $140 covers 3.5 hours work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that additional fee will be added to your final bill.
CLEANING, OILING, AND TIMING OF AUTOMATIC WIND CALENDAR WRIST WATCHES STARTING AT $160
The rate of $160 covers 4 hours work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that additional fee will be added to your final bill.
CLEANING, OILING, AND TIMING OF MANUAL WIND CHRONOGRAPH WRIST WATCHES STARTING AT $250
The rate of $250 covers 6.25 hours work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that additional fee will be added to your final bill.
CLEANING, OILING, AND TIMING OF AUTOMATIC WIND CHRONOGRAPH WRIST WATCHES STARTING AT $280
The rate of $280 covers 7 hours work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that additional fee will be added to your final bill.
CLEANING, OILING, AND TIMING OF AUTOMATIC WIND CALENDAR WRIST WATCH CHRONOGRAPHS STARTING AT $300
The rate of $300 covers 7.5 hours work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that additional fee will be added to your final bill.
HIGH GRADE MECHANICAL WATCH OVERHAUL PRICES
The prices is this category are for Heuer, IWC, Breitling, etc. (See "Rolex" page for Rolex service pricing, See "Omega" page for Omega service pricing).
Why are the service prices on these watches higher? Simply put it is because my risk in servicing these watches is higher. If an accident were to happen and I had to replace a part on the watch, the cost of one part could easily exceed what I would make servicing the watch!!!
OVERHAUL OF MOST HIGH GRADE MECHANICAL WATCHES STARTING AT $200 (manual wind).
This starting price will include wrist watches and is for non-automatic, non-calendar models.
These prices include cleaning of case and cleaning of metal bands, new case gaskets, new spring bars (if applicable), testing for water resistance (if applicable), and a new mainspring (if available).
If you would like other services such as case refinishing or a new crystal or hands then those services WILL be extra.
This is ONLY a rough starting price to give you some idea of the cost, it is NOT a firm estimate. You WILL receive an estimate once I receive and have the opportunity to examine your watch!
If you have a high grade watch that you would like carefully serviced please e-mail for a rough price quote! In any event NO corners will be cut while servicing high-grade timepieces! My reputation is on the line with every watch, and more so with high-grade watches, either I will do it right or I just won't do it at all.
Estimates on high-grade watches will be $60 (this is to cover the added insurance necessary on these watches).
OTHER MECHANICAL WATCH REPAIRS
BALANCE STAFFS REPLACED STARTING AT $35.
MAINSPRINGS REPLACED STARTING AT $25 ($15 with a full watch service).
VIBRATING
OF NEW HAIRSPRING TO YOUR BALANCE FROM $200.
It
may be possible to obtain a suitable hairspring to work in your watch without
the need to vibrate one. This operation will however consume time to recollet
and restud the new spring, and "time-out" the watch. If such a course
is chosen the watch may not keep as good of time, but the cost savings will be
considerable!
REPLACEMENT OF JEWELS IS DONE AT A RATE OF $25 PER JEWEL + LABOR (MINIMUM CHARGE $35 PER JEWEL). This same charge will apply to bushing in low-grade watches.
STEMS TURNED FOR WRIST WATCHES AND POCKET WATCHES STARTING AT $160
The rate of $160 covers 4 hours work. If additional time is needed to complete your stem it will be charged at the labor rate of $40 per hour and that fee will be added to your final bill. $160 is the minimum charge for this service. If stem is turned to your specifications, without trying in the watch, I guarantee it to match your drawing, but can take no responsibility for it's functionality in the watch.
BALANCE
STAFFS TURNED AT A RATE OF $175-$200 PER STAFF
If
staff is turned to your specifications, without trying in the watch, I
guarantee it to match your drawing, but can take no responsibility for it's
functionality in the watch.
ALL PIVOT REPLACEMENT IS DONE AT RATE OF $160-$200.
IMPORTANT POINTS, PLEASE READ!!!
Labor rate is $40 per hour.
I totally disassemble every mechanical watch I overhaul. Total disassembly is the only correct way to examine a mechanical watch for defects!
Many watches, especially old pocket watches, have other problems that cannot be seen until disassembly. Approximately 50% of antique pocket watches I see have broken jewels. Approximately 50% of the antique pocket watches I see have bent balance pivots or flat spots on the balance pivots. Without correcting these things I cannot guarantee the watch to keep good time! If any of these defects are found the customer will be notified before the repairs are carried out.
WATER RESISTANCE OF WATCHES Is not Guaranteed!!! There are all kinds of legal reasons for this, so your understanding is appreciated! Please see the Water Resistance page for more information.
Due to quality and/or parts issues I no longer work on the following brands of watches: Crown, New York Standard, Columbia, E. Howard.
Please don't e-mail asking if I have parts for this watch or that watch, watchmakers are NOT material houses. We do keep some common parts, such as mainsprings and balance staffs for American pocket watches, and vintage wrist & pocket watch crystals. I also often try to pick up hard to find parts when they become available also, but we can't stock parts for every single watch, the overhead would kill us! When I need a part I usually order it from one of the material houses I do business with. In any event I WILL have to have the watch here so I can get pertinent information to order the parts.
I reserve the right to refuse service on any watch. I am sorry for this, but due to the recent amount of hacked and cobbled watches coming into my shop I have no choice.
I will not under any circumstances work on nor do I endorse any replica/fake watches!
Please do not e-mail asking me to sell parts. I repair watches for my living and need the parts I have to repair my customers watches.
Not responsible for accidents or damages or loss in the mail.
SHIPPING AND ESTIMATES
PLEASE read, agree to, and follow the procedure below exactly for sending your watch for estimate/repair. The steps below are for YOUR safety and that of your timepiece! I take in many watches for repair and without the proper information I have requested I can not track your watch or return it to you! SIMPLY HAVING THE INFORMATION ON YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IS NOT ENOUGH. I AM SOMETIMES NOT THE ONE THAT OPENS THE PARCELS OR CASHES THE CHECKS/MONEY ORDERS. PLEASE, PLEASE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION I ASK FOR BELOW! THANK YOU!!!
I hate to add this, but after years of asking, people still are sending their watches in envelopes, padded envelopes, and uninsured. That being said, ANY watch that is received in an envelope or uninsured WILL be refused at the post office and returned to the owner at their expense. I am sorry, but if I accept the package and there is damage I then become the responsible party. please ship you watch in a box and insure it. thank you!!!
1) BEFORE sending your watch you must first e-mail me for approval of your repair. NO watches except Seiko Kinetic will be accepted for repair without prior approval. Once your repair is approved by me you will be provided with my complete shipping address. THERE IS NO SHIPPING ADDRESS ON THIS PAGE AS ALL REPAIRS EXCEPT SEIKO KINETIC OVERHAULS AND BATTERY OVERHAULS MUST BE PRE-APPROVED BEFORE ACCEPTANCE.
2) Wrap your watch in BUBBLE WRAP and place it in a BOX (the US Post Office gives away Priority Mail boxes for free (request the small video box). DO NOT SHIP TO ME IN A PADDED ENVELOPE (yes some people HAVE done this!)! ANY WATCH RECEIVED IN A PADDED ENVELOPE WILL BE REFUSED AT THE POST OFFICE AND RETURNED TO ITS OWNER AT THEIR COST. Shipping in a padded envelope is just inviting your watch to be destroyed!!!
Fill the box completely with packing material so your watch doesn't become damaged in shipment! I have had people using 1 small piece of bubble wrap in a large box. The result is the watch comes out of the bubble wrap and bangs around for thousands of miles in transit. PLEASE, use an adequate amount of packing material to fill the box, it will be cheaper than buying a new watch!!
PLEASE do not use "styrofoam peanuts" to pack the watch! The result will be that the watch will settle to the bottom and be unprotected for most of the trip to my Post Office!
Taping is OK, just don't "tape it to death"! I had one watch come in that was lucky to survive the unwrapping process because the owner used half a roll of package tape over the bubble wrap and on the watch! PLEASE, do not put tape on the watch itself!
DO NOT SHIP WATCHES TO ME IN A PADDED ENVELOPE (yes some people HAVE done this)! ANY WATCH RECEIVED IN A PADDED ENVELOPE WILL BE REFUSED AT THE POST OFFICE AND RETURNED TO ITS OWNER AT THEIR COST! Shipping in a padded envelope is just inviting your watch to be damaged or destroyed!!!
Make a note of the serial number and case number of your watch before you send it and write it on the index card you enclosed with the watch. If something does happen this will make sure your proper watch is returned to you safely. The serial # is a 6-digit number on the lower case back.
3) Enclose a card (index cards are great for this, they fit right in my repair envelopes) with your name, address and telephone number including area code AND e-mail address (I like to give estimates by e-mail, produces a written record for both of us). Please write on the card what you would like done to your watch.
DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! I MUST HAVE THE INFORMATION TO ENSURE YOUR WATCH IS RETURNED TO YOU!
4) Include a check in the proper amount to cover the estimate fee (see Estimates above).
NO work will be done without the estimate fee. I DO NOT do work on "approval"!
5) Ship your timepiece by USPS Priority Mail.
Insure your parcel for at least $100.
Put Delivery Confirmation on the parcel (that way YOU can check to make sure I received it on-line). The e-mail situation is getting overwhelming and I will no longer e-mail when watches are received, sorry.
Mark the package "FRAGILE".
DO NOT SHIP BY UPS OR FED-EX, THEY CANNOT DELIVER TO MY PO BOX ADDRESS.
IMPORTANT NOTES
I DO NOT do work on "approval", no watch will be returned until the bill is settled or the watch can be sent C.O.D.
You may check the progress of your repair at any time AFTER I have responded with your initial evaluation (it does no good to ask me about the repair status of a watch I haven't even had the chance to look at) by e-mailing me.
If you do contact me about your repair, PLEASE be specific, I can have other watches in the shop and can't remember ever one.
Please take the following as a guideline for repair times
Evaluations: 1-2 months. If you haven't heard from me after 2 1/2 months then please e-mail me.
Pocket watch repairs completed: 4-12 months. This will depend on my schedule and parts availability. In the case of some older watches it may take MONTHS to find the parts, not weeks.
PLEASE, allow me time to do the work, I can't estimate/fix every watch that comes in within 4-5 days, it is just not possible, especially during the "busy season".
PAYMENT METHODS
Personal check
Cashiers check
Money order
I do not take any credit card payments. Sorry!
Please make all checks or money orders payable to Scott A. Ekleberry
If you still feel you have any unanswered questions after reading through my website, please feel free to e-mail questions. Thank you!!!
AFFILIATIONS
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