Thank you bro ! Most welcomed , my pleasure to help
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Australian watchmaker, rep friendly!
- Thread starter Rovin
- Start date
Sent you a PM regarding service on a 116613 from Camperdown. Thanks for your time. cheers,
@marrickville
Another big thank you M!
Two IWC transformations, sorting my son's Yacht Master and nursing my old beloved DSSD to ongoing good health.
It's repetitive but it bears repeating - M knows his stuff
Another big thank you M!
Two IWC transformations, sorting my son's Yacht Master and nursing my old beloved DSSD to ongoing good health.
It's repetitive but it bears repeating - M knows his stuff
Hi Everyone,
Just a quick review of mrrickville. I contacted him last week about my non-working submariner rep. He asked for a couple of photos, gave me an indication of what it would cost and we went from there. I posted the watch on Thursday and received it back today. I couldn't be happier. There was great communication along the way and the process could not have been easier. I've just posted two more watches to be looked at because i'm that impressed. Highly Recommended !!!
Just a quick review of mrrickville. I contacted him last week about my non-working submariner rep. He asked for a couple of photos, gave me an indication of what it would cost and we went from there. I posted the watch on Thursday and received it back today. I couldn't be happier. There was great communication along the way and the process could not have been easier. I've just posted two more watches to be looked at because i'm that impressed. Highly Recommended !!!
Thanks @marrickville and @tongsui
It's great we have two rep friendly members here with good feedback.
It's great we have two rep friendly members here with good feedback.
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You know, if you two want to become official RWI 'smiths we will be happy to give you a section.
too kind - I won't speak for Tongsui but given this is still a part time thing for me, I wouldn't be doing it justice by any means.
Appreciate the gesture as always - let us know how we can continue to serve / contribue to the forums.
Hey guys, Just want to thank Marrickville for repairing my Panerai rep. I reached out and they responded promptly. After a little back and forth I got an address to send the watch to. Got it back working good as new after about a week. Really appreciate the work and whole experience.
Hi Marrickville, I'm looking to make my first rep purchase and would be interested in a service/waterproofing. Am Sydney-based. Could you please advise of your costs or PM me?
Cheers!
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Why don't you send him a PM if you want to use his services?
Thanks for the great gesture boss ! Same like Marrickville, I only have capacity to help out members on an occasional basis hence turning official will not bode well with my family and work commitments.
I'm a noob and have now figured how to do so - was also hoping if anyone else sees this who has used him lately might be able to advise if he isn't then there could be alternate options.
He's a stand up guy - DM him with what you're requiring. He'll let you know if he is he is able to do the work, maybe a rough cost estimate... do remember each watch is different and he's busy with 'life'.
As the boss has said. Just contact him with the details of work you want and the watch make/model. Pretty straight forward.
Each watch/issue is different and as stated he maybe too busy too work on it.
There's plenty of feedback in the previous threads to prove he'll help where he can.
I personally can couch for him.
Best of luck
It’s so frustrating trying to get our watches serviced….it makes me wonder if anyone out there who hasn’t already chosen a profession in life, who’s keen on the industry and addicted to watches like the rest of us, even knows that they can go to school almost free in the USA ti learn to be a watchmaker…..? Seriously, if you’ve got a steady hand, an interest, and wouldn’t mind working steadily for the rest of your life, there’s great opportunity!
Ps. Just by proxy you’d have an open door to the exotic car constituent of our population…Ferraris and the like go hand in hand (no pun intended) with fine watches!
Ps. Just by proxy you’d have an open door to the exotic car constituent of our population…Ferraris and the like go hand in hand (no pun intended) with fine watches!
Some off the cuff thoughts to your question.
1) watchmaking is a bit of lost art (which you have highlighted) - the old school watchmakers are now either retired or about to retire. There are less next generation watchmakers replacing them - its not a particular "sexy" job - wearing a loupe in white lab coats and frankly, I don't think many make fantastic money.
2) many that have trained and work for brands or boutiques won't really touch replicas and its for a number of valid reasons. a) they don't want to be associated with replicas in fear of contaminating their legitimate careers, b) replicas are inferior in quality so often dont want to stand behind the work (can't blame them).
So what does that mean? it means its hard to attract more watchmakers in this hobby of ours. Both Tongsui and I (and the other international watch makers on this board) have been in this hobby for a while now (look at when I joined!) so I've seen my fair share of replicas which includes understanding the common flaws and work arounds behind them. This is actually super important because when you give your replica to John Smith at the local mall, he will have limited knowledge and hence many would also turn you away.
Ultimately, its a niche market so it'll unlikely to be oversupplied with watchmakers but at the same time, the addressable market is also small and transient. People join this board, buy a few reps then leave so while there are alot of members here, the number of active members are far less.
Very, very well said. I am lucky enough to have been interested in jewelry repair at the young age of 15, and was able to get a work permit from school and “apprentice” at a local jeweler that’s been in my area for decades. He doesn’t bat an eye when I bring in a rep and several friends use him as well….as a matter of fact, he’s stunned at the quality levels they’ve achieved as of late! He even built himself a franken Breguet with inlaid rubies which is exquisite.
Watching him work with a loupe or even under a microscope is what led me to discover the magnificence of mechanical watches. I was so intrigued; I was also just building my first car, and to me, it was like wearing a tiny engine on the wrist.
My passion for building, modifying, and repairing automobiles overshadows most other aspects of my life, so I assume there’s people out there just as crazy about the watchsmith world.
Unfortunately, my jeweler’s tools and machinery are limited, as well as his knowledge, but it is wonderful to even know one other that understands reps, and has some skills to boot.
It will be very interesting to see what this hobby evolves into over the next decade.
It's good to see there are watchmakers/repairers out there that are happy to work on reps, and are doing it because they enjoy the craft itself, not the brands.
Not all are like that however... one refused to put a (gen) Seamaster Spectre lollipop second hand on a (gen) Seamaster because that was not the specific part it came with. Crazy.
Not all are like that however... one refused to put a (gen) Seamaster Spectre lollipop second hand on a (gen) Seamaster because that was not the specific part it came with. Crazy.
@tongsui was the bees knees. Sent a DOA piece down to him in Melbourne and he identified the issue quickly.
Waited patiently whilst I sourced and sent over a new movement which he then proceeded to fit in no time, providing detailed updates along the way. Great working with him and will definitely be in touch.
Waited patiently whilst I sourced and sent over a new movement which he then proceeded to fit in no time, providing detailed updates along the way. Great working with him and will definitely be in touch.