Vintage Watch Services Menu

The menu below lays out my standard charges for the typical services that I can perform to service and/or restore vintage watches. If you’re interested in having me work on your watch, please contact me so that we can discuss your project. Before you send me a watch for servicing or restoration, I will provide a work order for you to digitally sign. You will then be invoiced for the full amount upon completion of the work, at which point I will ship your watch back to you.

If you are in need of any services that aren’t laid out below, please reach out - I will be happy to discuss your specific needs and negotiate a reasonable charge if it’s something that I can do.

Please note that these charges will include the cost of return shipping, in addition to charges for any parts or work that was performed.

Vintage Watch Servicing & Repair

Basic Watch Service

A basic service includes complete dissasembly, cleaning, reassembly, lubrication and regulation/adjustment of your watch. It also includes ultrasonic cleaning of case parts and metal bands and replacement of springbars if needed.

Replacement Parts: If I believe replacement of any parts is necessary or advisable, I will consult with you, provide a cost quote for the part(s), and determine an appropriate plan of action. If you are already aware of any parts that need replacing (or that you want to replace proactively - e.g. a mainspring) before sending me the watch, I can provide a cost quote in advance.

Risky Operations: Please note that there are some inherently risky operations that I will generally not perform without your express consent. This includes adjusting the beat error of watches with a fixed (non-rotating) stud carrier or attempting to correct apparent hairspring kinks or distortions.

  • Basic Watch Service Cost: $150.00 + Parts (if needed)

Complications

There will be an additional charge for servicing watches with specified complications, as follows:

  • Automatic/Self-Winding - $30.00

  • Day and/or Date Calendar - $30.00

  • Power Reserve Indicator - $30.00

  • Alarm - $60.00

  • Chronograph (Includes Adjustment of Chronograph Functions) - $100.00

  • Triple Calendar and/or Moon Phase: $60.00

Other Charges

There will be an extra small fee for working on watches that have radium or tritium lume on the dial or hands

  • Radium/Tritium Hazard Charge: $30.00

 

Additonal Vintage Watch Restoration Services

Crystal Polish or Replacement

Crystals with minor scratching can often be polished to a like-new state. Crystals with deep scratches or cracks will need to be replaced. Note that the basic round acrylic crystals typically used in vintage watches cost ~$5-7. Replacement crystals with special or unique shapes (e.g. for tank-style watches) will generally cost more and can be difficult to procure in some cases.

  • Crystal Polish or Replacement Cost: $20.00 + Crystal Cost

Simple Case Buff/Polish

This is a simple buff of the watch case to restore lustre and remove light scratching. I will not be aggressive here, particulary on plated surfaces - deeper scratches or damage will require a full case restoration to fix. This will only be available on polished or brushed surfaces.

  • Case Buff/Polish: $10.00

Re-luming of Hands

When re-luming hands, there are some options when it comes to lume color. I will attempt to match the dial lume unless you tell me otherwise.

  • Hand Re-Lume: $20.00

  • Hazard Charge for Removing Existing Radium/Tritium Lume: $20.00

Full Case Restoration

Full Case Restoration includes stripping of damaged plating and aggressive work to remove or minimize nicks and scatches without unduly altering the case geometry or features. Stainless steel or solid precious metal cases will be polished, while base metal (brass) cases are re-plated in your choice of 14K or 18K gold, rhodium, or nickel. Brushed finishes can also be reproduced in most cases. I have a technique that can produce a matte finish on brass, but not other materials. I will discuss and agree to the details of this work with you, making a specific plan for the watch case in question, before proceeding.

  • Full Case Restoration - Stainless Steel or Solid Precious Metal: $75.00

  • Full Case Restoration - Base Metal with Re-plating: $150.00

Restoration & Re-plating of Hands or Crowns

This includes removal of oxidation and damaged plating from hands and/or crowns, polishing, and re-plating in 14K or 18K gold, rhodium, or nickel.

  • Hand and/or Crown Restoration & Re-plating: $50.00 (or $20.00 if done in addition to case-replating)