johnswatch1
275
This is a very worthwhile topic...
I have always rejected the idea that 'if you have to ask you can't afford it'.
This in my opinion only applies to idiotic billionaires, most billionaires don't get wealthy by ignoring costs and the rest of us surely take this into consideration when making a purchase.
I aspire to own a grand complication and it's not inconceivable that I will be in a position to do so in a few years time. Servicing costs are therefore a real issue especially if I wish to service every three to four years.
It reminds me of the Ferrari Mondial which can be had for much cheapness second hand but which legendarily requires the entire engine to be removed for an oil change! Servicing costs are therefore astronomical offsetting the initial bargain.
Servicing cost for complicated watches (Tourbillon, equation of time, repeaters)
I don't own anything of the sort, but I've always wanted to know how much servicing cost runs for these pieces (no single piece in particular). Thanks in advance.
"if you have to ask..."
Honestly, I'd be interested too. Frankly a general service is getting pretty pricy. I have a standard ETA 2824 in now and it's gonna be $475. You could buy two fresh from the factory for that.
It is impossible to answer such a question.
As it depends on the brand. For example, to service a minute repeater will cost less than a time only, depending on the brands... But, in general terms, expect to pay some big bucks... And yes, you're absolutely right to raise this point: It is one thing ...
I was told a few years ago a Patek minute repeater
Would cost around $30k Nz dollars to service, scary if it's true. Regards Darma
Just to add
IMO after-sales service including servicing costs can make or break a brand for me. For instance, two well know brands can differ so drastically when it comes to customer service. One will give you the run around and will not accept or find it hard to adm...
I think you have to say the brand
So at least we can all keep an eye out and reflect on our experience to see if its true or not. Its not a violation right
As said... Depends on the brand and....
your relationship with them. I have just got a quote for one of my tourbillons to be fully servived and the quote was £775. This includes full disassembly, cleaning, oiling, old worn parts replaced, refinishing the case and will take 2 months to get ...
I think...
...the answer is going to vary depending upon brand and model; just like servicing on "normal" watches can run the gamut. There's no way to just give a baseline cost (i.e. single axis tourbillons will cost $xxxx to fix). Ease of servicing, and future abil...
A few brands publish service prices on their websites ...
... however, often the service for highly complicated watches is quoted as "on special enquiry only". The most complicated watches normally quoted are perpetual calendars. Here are some examples, based on regular maintenance, without case refurbishment or...
Perpetual calendars and chronographs
are not nearly as complicated as some of the astronomical complications or repeating watches, but that gives a pretty good idea. It seems that between 5 and 10% of the original price is the trend, being lower as the watch gets more expensive.
Service cost related to cost of watch
I must admit that I have had the same impression as you: that the service cost of a watch is somehow linked to the cost of the new watch. As if the brand based their service pricing policy on the consideration "if the customer was willing to pay xxx for t...
I've also wondered
about why the difference between servicing of different materials is so great, polishing doesn't explain it (though they will try to convince you that the meticulous polishing process is so much more difficult). Thanks for participating, I figured this to...
This is a very worthwhile topic...
I have always rejected the idea that 'if you have to ask you can't afford it'. This in my opinion only applies to idiotic billionaires, most billionaires don't get wealthy by ignoring costs and the rest of us surely take this into consideration when makin...
Keep it simple.
Service costs, and the time involved in the service, are the reasons I now stick to time-only, manual wind watches. A bloke my age could be wearing a wooden overcoat by the time a complication is returned from service and, if he isn't, the cost will proba...
Well, the rumoured service costs of a certain "simple" watch ...
... could buy you a decent complication from a mid-range brand. Simpli.... eh ... bein simple is not always a guarantee for low cost ... Regards, Marcus
Simple is all over the place
My local watchmaker in France charges €100 for a standard service of a basic manual or automatic, and he does a good job. My brother just paid £250 for a service of a bog-standard Oris at an authorised UK service center, which is over 25% of the purchase ...
It is mostly the question of getting the parts ....
Some brands are rather creative when it is coming to the distribution of spare parts for their watches. In this respect, our shouts for less ETA and more manufacture movements will show their mean side effects. But not only movement parts are important. F...
dude, I love the way you put it LOL.. "wooden overcoat"
I'm sticking to a time-only manual just like you. Keep it simple, keep it classic. However it can cost up to $10,000 and servicing is 8-10% of its price. Expensive man. Arg
My experience...
Pretty much mirrors what others have said. I won't mention names, but if you know my collection you will figure it out... Super chrono complication $2200 basic 1200 extensive case work Minute repeater from reputable brand $700 QP plus EOT. $2200 plus 250 ...
Thanks for the info Gary!
Nice to know some ranges... The cost for that "wacky indie" QP is SCARY!!! Now I'm a bit worried about my "avantgarde indie" QP!
In fairness...
I should report that the service on the VH QP includes some updating of internals of both the case and movement. My watch is an early serial number, so has some flaws that were resolved in later iterations. There is some machining required to the case as ...
That's good to hear!
Thanks for clarifying Gary! I would say spending the money to bring it up-to-date is worth the cost. Good to know going forward it won't be such a sting for every regular service.
Funny how it took until your "2000 th" post
for me to know what you were talking about. Thanks for your input
Servicing cost for complicated watches is scary.
In general, it is much much higher than servicing cost for luxury cars manufactured in Europe. Depending on the extent of service, it could range between 5% - 8% of the cost of the watch. Imagine you have 10 complicated watches due for service. You probab...
Once you have paid for a few services
...on a rear engined Ferrari GT, these amounts appear paltry... Poorer but wiser, Gary
I have to strongly disagree ...
My old Nissan Offroader costs about 700 Euro to be serviced every year: only filters, change of all lubrifiants, etc. I am not speaking of tyres, change of the tooth belt or any other major issue. In five years, this makes 3,500 Euros alone for the basic ...
I have just had my Daniel Roth Perpetual serviced and fully refurbished.
And I paid 2500 euro including all taxes, shipping insurance, etc. The highest cost I've seen around but I have to mention that it also needed a small repair on the dial. It came, as expected, with an extended 12 month guarantee. Best, R
Comparing apples with apples
I guess we need to do a reality check on what is involved in each task to ensure we compare apples with apples. We currently have everything ranging from routine clean/lube/polish/regulate servicing to fully refurbishing with case and dial work. nick
true..how's this for a simple service..
Panerai 112, the one with no seconds hand and a Unitas 6497 movement. I was quoted the equivalent of USD700 for a standard service. Parts were extra on top of that! I'm totally confused - if the brands really can command a price as high as that why aren't...
A lot of "ETA-using" companies
one that starts with B, BR, P, and others, are charging this type of price for overhauling simple 2892-A2, 2824 and similarly simple movements it costs your local guy less than 200 to overhaul. These guys are charging upwards of 500 for time-only pieces.
Some prices
FP Journe annual calendar general service, no parts - USD2500 Patek world timer general service, no parts - USD1200 IWC doppelchronograph general service, date wheel change - USD570 with 2 year warantee and returned with a new box to boot! Hidden costs in...