Is it safe to walk into your local privatly owned watch repair shop with a replica?

[tedthegood]

Why not do what I did and teach yourself to service them

 

[JWJ]

Why not do what I did and teach yourself to service them

Did you have to purchase any special / costly tools or equipment?

 

[brok landers]

Always take mine into the local dept store watch counter. The guy seems stoked to be able to do something other than fit batteries and straps.

 

[tedthegood]

Case openers, strap pin removers,micro drivers, loops. Most is relatively cheap, the most expensive thing was the tool for opening the back of Rolex's

 

[r0b9502]

I took my Noob V7 (2836) to a local watch shop in the Bay Area. When I asked him how much he would charge for a full service, he quoted $350-500. When I told him the watch didn't cost that much he said "Oh I didn't realize it was a fake. It looked gen enough from afar. I will charge you $150 for its service then".

Since then, the date flips 2 minutes to midnight, has maintained its time to within 5 seconds over a month since I have worn it, had no issue in salt water or sand (other than sand scratches), no issue in chlorine water and no issues in soapy clean water.

 

[replicalover]

I am currently working on a AP Royal Oak Offshore diver with a 7750 that belonges to a forum member.

Sent from my watch repair shop

 

[muiramas]

So I am about to pull the trigger on purchasing my first Rep from BK if I get a reply in the next couple days.
I have been thinking... What if I want to have the watch serviced or a minor repair done? Instead of sending it all the way from Canada down to BK in the USA could I not just walk into a local shop? Do they have the ability to do anything such as call the authorities and report a counterfeit item? Will they even be able to tell? (I suspect so...).
If anyone knows of a reputable repair shop in Nova Scotia, Canada please let me know for future reference.

Thanks.

Hello. First of all BK does not service watches. There was another forum member 2 months ago who had a problem and BK said he would need to send the watch back to China, which seems extreme to say the least. But it is known he can't do a service.

Second, you don't need to be wearing the rep into the jeweller to ask the question - just explain that you have a rep with ETA movement, which you received as a gift, so it has sentimental value.

Or third, there are a few smiths on the forum who will do it for you at a fair cost - you shouldn't need a traditional bricks and mortar shop do do a service. That being said, their is no substitute for face to face, and it's useful to have someone down the road who can do it - is there anything more 'legitimate' you can have a local shop do first by way of introduction and trade? A new bracelet, polish, regulation of a non rep watch first for example?

 

[JayPaul]

Hello. First of all BK does not service watches. There was another forum member 2 months ago who had a problem and BK said he would need to send the watch back to China, which seems extreme to say the least. But it is known he can't do a service.

Not sure if this is true... How is he getting genuine ETA's from China? Was the problem with the ETA, or with the rest of the watch?

 

[muiramas]

Not sure if this is true... How is he getting genuine ETA's from China? Was the problem with the ETA, or with the rest of the watch?

lol, where do you think his movements come from?!

 

[JayPaul]

lol, where do you think his movements come from?!

Elsewhere, as they aren't Asian clones..

 

[Maron]

Did you have to purchase any special / costly tools or equipment?

Yes, many tools and equipment are needed to service a movement. As well as specific oils for lubrication.

It's not realistic at all to purchase all the tools and learn how to actually do it unless you plan to continue doing it as a hobby or profession for years.

The quote of $500 for a service I'm assuming was meant to be for a rolex watch. That price would include parts replacement, complete disassembly of the entire watch into parts. Cleaning of the case and all parts , service of the movement, testing off the movement after service, reassembly, water proof testing.

A service for an eta movement alone should be around $200

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[daniel10n]

Pretty sure you're looking at this...

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[muiramas]

Yes, many tools and equipment are needed to service a movement. As well as specific oils for lubrication.

It's not realistic at all to purchase all the tools and learn how to actually do it unless you plan to continue doing it as a hobby or profession for years.

The quote of $500 for a service I'm assuming was meant to be for a rolex watch. That price would include parts replacement, complete disassembly of the entire watch into parts. Cleaning of the case and all parts , service of the movement, testing off the movement after service, reassembly, water proof testing.

A service for an eta movement alone should be around $200

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^^ this.

Check out Mark Lovic's workshop on YT

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RybaVC7HWwY

 

[Topdown89]

If you aren't wanting to do it yourself and mess something up (like me) just call around to local shops and ask. There's a helpful guide in the how to section I believe on finding a watch smith. Eventually you'll find one that is kind and will help

The first one I called called me a c*nt for buying a rep so I recommend calling not going into their shops[emoji23]


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[The Docta]

You should be good to take it in for service. The worst they can do is say no. If that's the case, just send it to a modder here on the forum.

 

[Mikeodandy]

Just stopped by one of the only local shops here in Halifax and they quoted me between $500 - $600 for a service on a ETA... Seems high? Mind you I was asking about the service charge on a genuine rolex... wasn't going to get into the whole Replica discussion with him just yet until I actually own one.

I'm in Halifax as well. Which place was this?


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[DaHokage]

I recall about half a year ago I read of a member saying how the watchsmith, upon receiving the rep, pulled out the mainspring to spite the owner by destroying the watch.

When I moved to a new city I brought in one of my crappier reps and let the shop work on that. If they do an ok job I let them work on my better reps, and eventually gen.


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[UDTMIKE]

I have used HOW HotMods/Rick914 for all my repair work. Not only is he very good, he is also fast and reasonably priced. Located in Texas is a big plus for me, since I live 100 miles away from him.

 

[joesetx]

$500 to $600 sounds about right to service a genuine Rolex movement. Rolex parts are expensive and difficult to obtain and watch repairmen take a risk in servicing a genuine Rolex that they may accidentally break something and end up losing money fixing your watch. No one will charge that to service an ETA.
You should be able to get one of those service for under $200 making it almost cheaper to just replace the movement with a brand new one.
A few years ago I bought a TC 16610 that had a movement problem with the reversing wheels.
I sent it to BK who replace the movement with a gen ETA. Next to my gen Rolex it is the smoothest movement in any of my watches and never a bit of trouble.
You can't go wrong with BK.

It is better to be patient and get it right than be in a hurry and have problems down the road.