Watch Repair: How long it takes, and why it's so complicated

Since our founding in 1948, we’ve carried a variety of timepiece brands, ranging from Rolex and Omega, to Gucci and Swiss Army.

We like variety, so we change the brands we carry every few years. While you may be purchasing different type watches from us now, than say 15 years ago, our team holds extensive knowledge about many different fine Swiss timepiece brands.

As such, we field a variety of questions about watches. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions:

My watch isn’t running. What’s wrong?

Quartz watches run on a battery. That battery typically lasts anywhere from 1-3 years.

Some watches have a low battery indicator, giving you a heads up that a battery needs to be replaced soon. That’s usually a second hand that skips a few seconds at a time.

If a new battery does not make your watch work, the inside may be dirty from years of operation. A full cleaning, known as an overhaul, usually does the trick. You can read more about that below.

Can you replace the battery in my watch while I wait?

Yes, in many cases we can replace watch batteries while you wait. Watches that are worn in the water—swimming, diving, etc.—should be left off for both a battery, and a pressure test.

Why would I need a pressure test and seal?

Many watches are water resistant, but only if properly sealed. Think about it. When we replace a battery, we’re opening the watch from the back. It’s sort of like opening the hatch of a submarine. If that hatch, or in this case watch back, is not properly sealed and tested, you can have a leak. So, once we replace the battery in a water resistant watch, the timepiece should be tested to make sure it is fully sealed and closed to repeal water.

Water in a watch can result in rust, and serious damage to the movement.

My watch is an automatic, so how do I fix that?

Automatic timepieces do not run on a battery. Many run on the movement of your wrist, or can be wound to give them power. Since you can’t simply replace the battery when one of these watches stops, it requires a full overhaul. Usually this is required every 5-10 years.

An overhaul can take anywhere from 2 weeks for a basic model, to 12 weeks for a luxury model like a Rolex or Omega. During an overhaul our specially trained technicians clean the dozens, if not hundreds, of parts inside the watch that make it run on its own. All those pieces need to be put together just right once the cleaning is done, to ensure the watch operates properly. Then we need to observe the watch to ensure it is keeping time within the manufacturer’s specifications.

My watch repair is simple, why is it taking so long to complete?

We often find that clients may not understand just how complex watch repair can be, especially for luxury models. A specially trained technician works for years to master the craft. In addition to being labor intensive, we mandate an extensive quality control inspection to ensure the repair work we complete meets our standards.

After the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve also found that many watch parts, particularly for older models, are harder to come by. Sometimes parts availability is adding weeks to normal repair timelines. Our repair team does its best to keep clients informed of any delays due to parts availability, but sometimes patience is required!

Do you have a question we didn’t answer here? Contact us!