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WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Independents

In 40 years...

 

I'm currently getting a 43-year old Grand Seiko 5722 serviced / restored, and it's not easy.  Some watchmakers don't like working on them as they're apparently fiddly.  Parts are to all intents and purposes not available.  It needs a movement retaining screw, and either the watchmaker will find something reasonablly close or figure something else out.  Finding a watchmaker who'll make parts like springs or screws is not easy.  A redial is very risky as even a top dial restorer may not have exact fonts etc. 

I have "keepers" 60 years old or more for which I'm stockpiling parts, and in some cases I even have whole or partial movements for parts.

Servicing old watches is a global problem - the only question is how old is "old"?  From bitter experience, I'm inclined to say a 25-year old watch is old from the point of view of servicing and parts.

nick

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6 Comments view entire thread 

Price vs Value and repairs questions

 
By: Yamaguchi : May 9th, 2011-16:33
Dear all, I'm a newbie to the world of independents, so I have a few questions. I'm very attracted by the watches of Vincent Calabrese (les techniques, power), Peter Speake-Marin (piccadilly) and Christian Van Der Klaauw (Pallas, Ariadna... Is Orion a wom... 

X p l o s i v e but very valid question

 
By: Bill : May 9th, 2011-18:30
First of welcome to the forum we are always happy to have new members from around the globe. Price is such a bad measure to capture value. I think there is obviously a cost that each manufacturer has with each product but the price is a function on many t... 

Welcome!

 
By: KIH : May 9th, 2011-20:33
I am so happy to see a new member from my country Hope to see your posts and pics going forward. Now to your questions.... Very valid and important questions. Price is generally what the market (supply/demand) determines. Everybody pays top money for Pate... 

Thank you so far!

 
By: Yamaguchi : May 10th, 2011-01:32
Thank you for the responses so far! When I saw the prices for the watches I was interested in, I thought it was too good to be true, so I wondered what the catch was... I'm happy to hear it's nothing to do with quality. If anyone else has some opinions, p... 

In 40 years...

 
By: nickd : May 10th, 2011-04:36
I'm currently getting a 43-year old Grand Seiko 5722 serviced / restored, and it's not easy. Some watchmakers don't like working on them as they're apparently fiddly. Parts are to all intents and purposes not available. It needs a movement retaining screw... 

Movements

 
By: Greg D : May 14th, 2011-00:59
Most of the more modestly prices Independent watches are based on off the shelf movements modified slightly. So generic parts should be available for the movements, and even if the maker is no longer around, a qualified watchmaker should be familiar with ...