Horological Meandering

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).

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. 

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 to buy a complicated watch, it is another thing to service ( or repair ) it.

We should ALWAYUS ask how much we will be charged for a service. But we never think about that, while we often ask when it comes to a car.

To me, it is part of the decision when I consider a watch.

Best,

Nicolas

Would cost around $30k Nz dollars to service, scary if it's true.

Regards
Darma

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 admit that there was a slip up during manufacturing, even though it was plainly obvious. Follow up was also less than satisfactory. The other simply excels and always exceeds expectations on service or any follow up action if a problem arises. I will continue to patronize the latter, having full confidence that any issues will be well taken care of.

cheers

fernando

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

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 back. Not too bad as it is quite a complicated job and an expensive piece. Others I have dropped them back and it has cost me the price of a dinner (often cheaper to pay for a service but not as much fun!)

Cheers
Andrew

...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 ability to service are definite factors for me when considering a watch.

Thanks,
Daos

... 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 extraordinary repairs:

AP: Jules Audemars perpetual: 1.270 Swiss Franks + tax
AP: Royal Oak Perpetual: 1.430 Swiss Franks + tax

PP: Perpetual: 1.500 Swiss Franks + tax

GP: Perpetual or split-second chronograph: 1.920 Swiss Franks + tax

UN has published the most detailed list, here some examples:
Freak: 1.900 Swiss Franks, tax (8%) already included, also the case refurbishment
GMT Perpetual: 1.600 Swiss Franks, also tax and case refurbishing included
Hourstriker: 2.400 Swiss Franks, dito
Astronomical Timepieces: between 1.900 and 2.400 Swiss Franks, dito
Sonata: 1.900 Swiss Franks, dito

Of course, minute repeaters a breed of their own, since the mticulously accurate adjustment of the many components is important to assure it correct function. I'd expect to add another 700 to 1.000 Franks on top of the above quotes for minute repeaters. And a grand complications, the combination of all these? only the sky is the limit ...

Regards,
Marcus
This message has been edited by Marcus Hanke on 2012-03-07 07:28:35

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.

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 the watch, he/she must surely be willing to pay x% of that cost to keep it in good condition"

I just find it difficult to accept. Just consider complicated watches that come in different case materials. Why would it be more expensive to service the Pt model compared to the SS (except minor things like differences in case polish)?

Thanks for bringing this issue up - it is very relevant (also for me personally). I believe that it will always be an uncomfortable situation to be fully dependent on a prorietary supply such as these services (you can't really shop around for this service, right). I guess dialogue with the brand after sales department can remove some of that discomfort - but it will not necessarily change the price though.

All the best

Nikolaj

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).

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.

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 probably promote a heart attack. Having said that, however, if you're hooked on VC and PP, the cost of having anything done can reduce a strong man to tears. Still, never mind, compared to the cost of keeping bankers in luxury, it's peanuts, and it keeps me off the streets.

... 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

No message body

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 price.

An authorised French Nomos service center wants 180 euros for a Nomos Sport, which is 20% of the purchase price. 

Seiko France quotes 10-15% of the purchase price for servicing a Grand Seiko, which means roughly €390-€580 for something like the  SBGR023. 

nick

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. For a correctly serviced watch, a new set of gaskets is a must. We are now fascinated by more and more complex-made watch cases, with sapphire sidewalls, various sub-components, and so on. All these need parts that have to be checked, and often replaced during standard service. A watchmaker not certified by the brand in question would certainly not get the necessary parts.

This is not limited to complicated models, but the current strategy of the industry for even the simplest models.

Regards,
Marcus

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

Pretty much mirrors what others have said. I won't mention names, but if you know my collection you will figure it out...

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!

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 well as plates along with re-finishing of the affected plates and replacement of the date change mechanism. 

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.

;-)

- SJX

for me to know what you were talking about.
Thanks for your input

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 probably need to sell one to fund the service of the remaining 9 watches.

As regards indie, it is worse.

Regards

Ling

...on a rear engined Ferrari GT, these amounts appear paltry...

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 maintenance only. I am not speaking of a Mercedes or even Lambo or Ferrari.

Given that, the service cost of a complicated timepiece is not so bad.

Regards,
Marcus

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.

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