Service costs nowadays...(steep prices)

[wielingab]

In my holiday to Italy I bougth a Tudor submariner 37mm from 1990 from a watchdealer (see earlier posts).

It kept good time, but now and then suddenly stopped, so I decided to get it serviced.
I'm living in Holland, so going to the Rolex dealer, because almost al parts are still rolex (only the movement is ETA (2824-2).

Two years ago I had my Omega "bond" serviced, because it completely stopped running, costs at that time 250 euro (including replacing parts, new crowns, etc.)

The guy at the shop showed me some prices of what a service will cost nowaday and it got me scared.

A normal Rolex submariner, 570 euro without any extras like replacing parts, thus only oiling and changing rubbers for waterresistant.
Omega "bond" 340 euro for the same treatment.
After the first shock I left the Tudor over there, because the initially price was low enough, to even come in cheap will the services cost be around 600 euro's

I said the 570 euro is very steep, it's not a rolex, haha, only a ETA movement inside. As expected, he didn't responded to my remark, but only showed me a new Tudor.

It was the Titanium 500mm version, very beautiful, but very expensive at 3100 euro's.

We talked about other watches and I briefly mentioned my Oris TT1-Meistertaucher. He found that a nice watch, especially the old version from 5-7 years ago..

Next time I will were that one, yesterday I wore my Omega for showing off, haha...

Come to think of it, both my Omega and Oris combined have the same price as the New Tudor, in 7-10 years time, prices of watches have grown faster than there are tall buildings in the world...


Bart

[ManMachine]

Labor cost for servicing automatic watches is quite high. For most of the watches under 1k usd there is no need to service them (maintenance) IMO, with the typical service cost around 400 usd. I'd only pay for a repair.

[Zarith]

Bart,

Servicing is a thing of the past. Today is DO IT YOURSELF era!

I found out that buying tools and parts online and educating myself was faster, cheaper and more fun than dealing with official dealers and service centers.

In less than a year, I learned the basic skills to repair and modify mechanical watches. I can now switch hands, solve a crown/stem issue, replace parts, re-polish a case, etc... And I'm now moving to crystal replacement and full movement cleaning.

I'm not a pro, and there are accidents once in a while, but I'm having a great time. And that's all that matters. I'm no longer just a dumb consumer. It also allows me to buy defective watches at low price and get them back to life relatively fast.

[BigBandito]

Servicing is a thing of the past. Today is DO IT YOURSELF era!

Good advice. Just don't start with the Tudor or Omega!

[wielingab]

Thank you al for the replies.

Yes, do it yourself is the key word, but this is something from 1990 and cries Rolex on almost every site of the watchcase, haha. Hard to get original parts for it.

Although, saw a complete (new) movement for my watch, but I can't open the case.

Considering the pro and cons, I think this watch only needs one repair/service for the rest of it's life with me, I don't wear watches 24/7 and no way it's gonna be this one watch, I have to many to choose from.

I go with the last reply, don't start with Tudor (Rolex), Omega, or the like (Oris TT1 Meistertaucher). I could start with a Seiko....

Bart

[Perseus]

I've decided I'll only own three mechanicals because of the cost of servicing. I know you've got to pay to play but three is all I'm willing to pay for.

[skin diver]

Rolex service costs are getting out of hand... took my dad's Presidential in to the AD in Seattle for a basic service and it was over $900. I ran--not walked--right outta there.

I then promptly called Jack at IWW and he's doing it for 1/3 of that cost.

[nakedjohnny]

I was quoted once by my local watchmaker that it would cost close to $200 to service/fix an ETA2824. I can get a new movement on Ebay for that much money! Actually I bought one before... Hmmm... Take your Tudor somewhere else.

[kokoro]

To hell with that im now going seiko tuna quartz

[ManMachine]

Another good reason to own the likes of Seiko monsters.