Where can I get my auto-winding watch overhauled in NYC?
July 26, 2015 10:18 AM   Subscribe

I have a nice watch, an automatic Baume & Mercier. Can anyone recommend a reputable watch service place in New York City? Most of the watch repair places I find don't do much beyond replace bands or batteries... I need a proper overhaul.

I've had the watch for ~15 years, and never had any service done to it. It's begun to run slower and slower, and now I'm concerned that if I don't get it serviced (parts examined/replaced, re-oiled inside), that it may actually be damaged at some point. I took it to a Tourneau store, and they want to send it away to Baume & Mercier for 2 weeks just to have it looked at; they estimate that the service would likely take 6 weeks and cost around $600.
posted by dammitjim to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (3 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Unfortunately, servicing automatic watches can be very costly. $600 and 6 weeks sounds about right to me, especially since it's being sent to the brand's service center.

That said, if you want to take it to an independent watchmaker for a service, Central Watch in Grand Central is great, and according to their website, mechanical watch overhauls start at $350.
posted by bedhead at 12:14 PM on July 26, 2015


Came in to say Central Watch as well. They've done some amazing repairs on vintage watches for me. They're not fast, though.
posted by Mchelly at 12:17 PM on July 26, 2015


Seconding bedhead's note that sending it for service at the manufacturer is pretty standard, and that price is about right. You can certainly trust Tourneau's recommendation. OTOH I've had bad luck with manufacturer service (Chronoswiss), so if you do get a good recommendation for a local shop I'd try it first.

If you interview the shopkeeper, I'd ask him in detail what the service will be, how it differs from manufacturer service, and how he sources any replacement parts he needs. That latter thing is a bit tricky; watch manufacturers have recently made it much harder for independent watch shops to get parts.
posted by Nelson at 7:54 AM on July 27, 2015


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