Horological Meandering

While I'm of the school that thinks anyone who is a serious watchmaker has to be eccentric, have a dilemma and would like some advice on the best way to handle this. This message has been edited by mrsnak on 2012-08-07 17:47:51

I think (and have been told by watchmakers) that watchmakers slow down as they age. Sometimes it's more than slowing down: the quality as well as the quantity of their work may suffer. Sometimes they seem to quit paying attention, which is not unreasonable after decades of staring at semi-microscopic pieces of metal.

There is also the issue of priority. For a number of reasons, we Purists may be placed at the back of the line. Possible reasons: (a) we're perfectionists and thus difficult customers; (b) we have strange watches that are relatively hard to service; (c) we're nice guys who don't complain about delays; and (d) the watchmaker knows we won't have to go around with naked wrists, as we have other watches.

I am having a comparable experience: my current watchmaker, while not noticeably more eccentric or slow than he has been in the past, has been producing inconsistent results. I think he's close to 70 and would certainly be justified in retiring, but he isn't doing so. I'm left not knowing what is the right thing to do.

By the way, I tried your watchmaker several months ago. (I'm pretty sure he's the same guy.) I will not be going back, as I did not like the results any more than the waiting period.

to have a watch serviced.  But I am fortunate to have found a very good watch guy nearby who has worked on most of my watches, which are mostly chronographs.  He is very busy all the time.  One day last year, I went to have him service my Omega Speedo, and there was a familiar face there dropping off eight watches for him to restore to like new condition.  I was dreading what he was going to tell me, but was thrilled when he said my Speedo would be ready in three weeks.  He told me the other customer brings a load of watches in all the time.  He just wants them in good running condition so he can sell them.

I've gone thru four diff watch service guys in three years until coming upon this one.  Was very unhappy with the previous service.  Had a Rolex stop on me after three months, a Zenith ran ten minutes fast per day, and multiple stoppages on my wife's vintage watches.  But all that is in the past.  I could not ask for more from this guy.  It's like finding a good private mechanic who is reliable to work on your cars, at a reasonable rate.

 

 

he can.

... But want to at least end the relationship in a positive way if he is unable to give me the respect I have shown him. Hate to burn bridges if I don't have to.

from my not so wast experience is

Right there with you. The bigger problem with this guy is that he also teaches and lectures. He is also in his late 50s or so... Not an old coot by any stretch.

Since there is a demand ramp up and he and his small team are very good the turnaround time is increasing dramatically, even for small jobs.

Another point to consider is the fact that we are friends and he knows that I always trade patience for quality.

At this moment I have 3 watches there "forever" and I'm anxious to see two of those watches on my wrist.

I go to call him NOW!

Cheers,

Nilo

"Tomorrow".

This word, in watchmaking lingo, means "next week ".

Cheers,

Nilo

...and if I don't get something definitive, I may cut my losses and pull everything, but I do know he at least had one on mine fully apart. Hate to take it back in that shape.

having just waited nine months for a cleaning and a new crystal for a simple 17 jewel movement. When I dropped off the watch, the store owner/repairer told me six weeks. Because the shop is 2-1/2 hours driving from my home, I could not bug him constantly, but whenever I was in that town, I would drop by and bug him; about two times. There was not even a hint of aplogy or concern, just a smile and laugh and "I'll call you when its done." Watch runs extremely well, no problems.

My way out of state guy is very timely and responsive, but I have had to send a watch back to him twice because of a problem with the repair. Still, he is committed and will make things right. By the way, both these guys are Swiss and are named Jacques. I guess we are in this predicament for a very long while until we have more repairers trained and working.

But in addition you say that when you see the repair guy you always spend at least an hour talking to him about watches and clocks. Is the penny starting to drop? The guy is telling you that he is starting to catch up, implication being that he is behind, and so you walk into his shop and take up another hour, minimum, of his time after which he is behind again. He is probably on a watchmakers forum right now asking his virtual buddies how to politely tell his good customers that he only earns money repairing watches, talking about them won't pay the mortgage.

I wish you the best of luck with your dilema.

...and my watches are never there, always "at his house". We usually only talk while he performs work on a watch, but he does tend to be chatty, and any lengthy discussion will always be from his end.

As I have a full shop of tools and parts, and trained for a few years, I do most of my own work and a few jobs for others.  This message has been edited by cazalea on 2012-08-08 16:03:59

Probably going to be my plan of attack, as diplomatically as I can muster.

I thought I was suffering alone but I see that service delays are common....unless we are all using the same watchmaker!

Halfway 




This message has been edited by tick tock doctor on 2012-08-08 19:04:50

Thanks Doc,

So it's either 35 min or 12 h 35 min to disassemble the Bulova. ;-)

Looking forward to the cleaning, lubrication and reassembly photos.

But I guess that sourcing damaged parts and/or manufacturing replacements is a real bottleneck when it comes to vintage watches?

Appreciate these insights you bring.

Regards

Andrew

..is really replacing a jewel. The watch was in fine shape, save a cleaning, aside from that. He broke one putting it in but ordered a couple backups. The only task he said he had to do was to do slight milling for an easier fit.

"who can do no wrong" do this either as a matter of course or more than once in awhile.

The only one in my humble experience who has never done this to me (though he was at the mercy of some critical component supply problems, but he did what any good businessman does who cares about good will in such a beyond control situation - he communicated!) is Kari Voutilainen.

I got so angry at one "watchmaking god" I sold off every one of his creations I owned...I have since gotten over the anger  though the wound(s) still stings from time to time...

Another has gotten so bad with emails he now takes 3-4 months JUST TO REPLY TO A SIMPLE EMAIL.

All we can do is grin and bear it, until we don't, and then simply refuse to support them, no matter how gifted they are.

TM

My best friend had a platinum travel time which went back to Patek for a five year service, nothing wrong with the watch, and it took 6 months to return and a massive bill!

Remember, we're not talking about obscure parts, but just refitting a jewel. 

. . . to venture that a good portion of the cause for seemingly interminable delays can be laid to the time and effort involved in searching for parts. 

To make a long story short, it's taken over a year to get a handle on the technical issue with my IWC cal 89.  Once our watchmaker was finally convinced the matter could only be resolved by replacement of the seconds pinion, it still took extraordinary measures to track down the correct part.  There are two different seconds pinions for the cal 89, only one of which would be correct for a particular sample.  Just nailing down which one took extraordinary effort.  The correct part is not available locally, and had to be sourced offshore at considerable expense. 

From a watchmaker's point of view, he (or she) doesn't get paid for all this time spent searching for obscure parts from vanishing stocks, not to mention the aggravation of having to explain why a part no larger than an insect costs three figures $US.

Have you noticed that we don't seem to have problems with Omegas?  My guess for the reason is that parts are still relatively easy to find and reasonable in cost.

...and I know you would rather avoid making waves with any of your situations,  but I'm not waiting for a part from Germany, just the time for him to put in a jewel (that he already has). 

From the information you've given me I would be a little concerned, especially as the watches are 'at home'...

Where I live there are suprisingly lots of people offering watch repairs.  Having used a couple of the most highly recommended ones I will certainly never use them again.  One watch was badly serviced with completely inappropriate lubricants and another came back with damage from use of incorrect tools.

This contrasts markedly with the service recently performed on my vintage Calatrava.  This was handled by a keen amateur and I think it was all the better for it.  As it wasn't done primarily for monetary gain the level of service I received was vastly superior to that I've experienced even with major brands.  Not many watchmakers would be prepared to spend up to 15 hours restoring corroded steel parts back to a black polish.  I can't recommend him highly enough!

If he sees 5 or 6 people pop in for a simple adjustment and they all spend an hour chatting like you do that effectively writes off most of his working day.

He could of course be overwhelmed with work. I think you need to ask him, in your normal polite manner, when your watches are likely to be finished.

Yours diplomatically
G

Whatever this guys excuse,