701 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Suite 352, Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA
Phone 847-949-7069
Frequently asked Questions
Cost
Watch repair costs vary. Keep in mind that the repair of your watch requires hours of work by a skilled watchmaker. Watch repair is not an easy trade to learn. Most professional watchmakers study and train for decades to learn the trade. Besides time and patience, a lot of money goes into buying the proper tools and equipment.
What's Included in an Overhaul?
Once an estimate has been approved, required replacement parts are ordered, the movement is removed from the case and completely disassembled. Some movements can consist of only several parts, however the more complicate the timepiece, the more parts there are. Some movements consist of over 100 pieces. The movement goes through a multi-step ultrasonic cleaning process. It is then reassembled, precisely lubricated with the proper lubricant for each specific function, timed, and tested for factory specific accuracy. Before the watch is closed, all of the necessary seals are replaced and the case is pressure tested. Most watch cases and bracelets can also be refinished or polished if desired.
Partial Repairs: Sometimes a watch only needs a partial repair or service. Such repairs include the replacement of a stem, crown, push-button, gasket, or crystal. When partial repairs or services such as these are performed, there is NO WARRANTY on the movement.
Warranty
We offer a one year warranty on batteries and most complete maintenance services. Manufacturers recommend a complete maintenance service, or overhaul, approximately every four to seven years. Adequate lubrication is required in order for a watch movement to keep time properly. Changes in the viscosity of the oil may generate friction and thus affect the precision of the mechanism. This may cause the watch to run slow, fast, or even stop completely. When the movement is running without lubrication, the moving parts will begin to wear and will need to be replaced during the next service at an extra cost. If you do not wish to invest money into servicing your timepiece, it is recommended not to wear or use the watch until it has been serviced in order to prevent further damage.
Water damage and rust is never covered under warranty. Watches that have been tampered with or have been damaged due to user negligence are not covered under warranty.
Setting The Time
Setting the time is simple, however, if not done properly may result in damage to the watch. First, determine whether your watch has a push-in or screw-down crown. If it is screw-down, then you must unscrew the crown until it pops out slightly. If not, gently pull out the crown. Your crown may have multiple positions which access various functions such as the day, date, or time. Please refer to your user's manual for special setting instructions. After setting the correct time, make sure to push the crown in all the way and screw it down tightly if necessary.
Water Resistance
The water-resistance of a watch is ensured by a system of seals such as the crystal, case back, and crown gaskets. Overtime, these gaskets begin to dry out and crack, and lose their ability to keep water out. It is recommended to have the water-resistance seals checked or replaced approximately every two years (for quartz watches, this is about as often as a battery replacement).
If you notice condensation under the crystal, or water on your dial or hands, take your watch to a professional watchmaker as soon as possible. Besides discolored, water will damage or destroy the movement. Restoration can sometimes result in several thousand dollars in repairs.
After changing the time and before wearing a watch in the shower or pool, it is crucial to ensure that the crown is closed and/or screwed down tight. Never activate push buttons under water as this will cause water to penetrate the case. Check to make sure there aren’t any chips or cracks in your crystal as water may also enter through these areas. Never wear a watch in the hot tub or sauna. Keep in mind that some watches don’t have any protection against water.
Ratings:
30 meters or 3ATM - The watch can withstand accidental, short-term exposure to moisture from splashing, rain, or sweat. Submersion in water is not acceptable.
50 meters or 5ATM - Moderate exposure to watch moisture will not damage the watch.
100 meters or 10ATM - Submersion in shallow water is acceptable. This includes showering, dishwashing, and swimming in shallow water.
200M or more - The watch has been designed for diving. Specifications will vary and should be review before use.
Accuracy
Contrary to popular belief, watches do not keep "perfect time". Although quartz watches keep the most accurate time, even they may be off by a few seconds per week. A properly maintained mechanical watch should run +/- 10 - 20 seconds per day. More precise watches, such as certified chronometer watches, should run -3 to +13 seconds per day. These numbers may vary depending on the watch manufacturer. Older watches may have a much wider variance. The only watch that will keep accurate to the second is an atomic watch.
Magnetism and Shock
Watches can be adversely affected by magnetism resulting in the gain or loss of time. Magnetic objects include cell phones, televisions, computers, certain types of jewelry, hair dryers, electric razors, and of course magnets. It is strongly recommended to keep watches away from such items.
Although some watches are designed to be worn during sports activities, many are not. Therefore, it is recommended that you remove your watch before playing any sports that involve strong impacts. Dropping a watch or hitting it against a hard object may cause severe damage to the internal mechanism as well as the exterior of the watch.
If you notice that your bracelet connection springs have become loose, have them replaced as worn out pins often break or snap out resulting in the watch falling off the wrist.
Leather Straps and Bracelets
The lifespan of a mid to high quality leather strap is about 6 - 12 months. Contact with water or perspiration may cause premature wear and tear of the strap. If you find it necessary to clean your watch case and bracelet, and your watch is water resistant to at least 100m, you may do so with soapy water and a soft-bristled brush. If you have a high-polish bracelet, you may want to avoid brushing too hard as you may leave scratches on the bracelet. Dry the watch with a lint-free polishing cloth and avoid using excess heat, such as a hair dryer.
Quartz Watch
Quartz watches run on batteries which should be replaced about every 1 - 2 years. Some batteries will last longer. Battery life depends on many factors, including when the battery was produced, how old your watch is, the consumption level of your watch movement, and how frequently you utilize additional functions on your watch (such as the alarm, light, or chronograph). However, if a battery is left in too long, it can leak battery acid and cause damage and extra service costs.
Some newer watches run on rechargeable batteries. Such models include the Citizen Eco-Drive or the Seiko Solar or Kinetic. This rechargeable battery, also known as a capacitor, only needs to be replaced about every 5 - 10 years. Eco-Drive or Solar watches should never be kept in the dark but should be kept on a night-stand or in a storage container that has a glass lid. Kinetic watches run from the motion of your hand, similar to a mechanical automatic watch.
It is strongly recommended to have your watch pressure tested after every battery change to prevent the possibility of water damage. If you don't plan on wearing your watch or if your battery has stopped and you don't plan on replacing it, we strongly recommended you have the battery removed so that it doesn't leak and damage the movement.
Windup Watch
Windup watches have a mechanical movement. These types of watches must be manually wound, preferably at the same time every day. Proper winding requires you to turn the crown until the watch is fully wound (about 20 - 40 revolutions). You can tell that a watch is fully wound when you feel resistance. There is no such thing as over-winding a watch however if the crown is forced the mainspring will break.
Mechanical Automatic Watch
Automatic or self-winding watches are wound by an internal rotor, which is activated and powered by wrist movements. Most automatic watches have a power reserve of 24 - 72 hours. To build up enough reserve power, it is recommended that a watch is actively worn at least 8 - 10 hours per day. If a watch hasnt been worn for a while or has run out of reserve, it may be necessary to wind the watch about 20 - 30 times before wearing.
If a watch is not worn regularly, it may be kept on a high quality watch winder. Note that some watches only wind in one direction and it is not uncommon for the mainspring to break if the winder specifications do not match your watch. It is strongly advised to check with the watch manufacturer and winder manufacturer to make sure the winder specifications match your watch.
Chronograph
Chronograph watches have a stopwatch function. Many people mistakenly think the chronograph hand is the second hand. In most watches, the stopwatch can be initiated by pressing the top pusher to start and stop the chronograph. The bottom pusher functions as a reset button and moves the hand back to the 12 o'clock position. t is important to stop the chronograph before resetting it. Consult the owner's manual before initiating the chronograph to avoid damaging the movement.
