Non-rip Off Watchrepairs

[skippybangkok]

Bought a lovely Omega about 10 years back - but needs a good clean and tune up. Went to Omega, and the starting price is 10,000 baht ++ if find issues.

Any place you can recommend? ( Their technicians at omega might get 9k baht a month, so 10 k for an hour or two work is a rip off

Thanks

Edited January 17, 2010 by skippybangkok

[Moonrakers]

The repair places at the skytrain stations are usually fine, I've never had a problem with them. One of them, near the Emporium (whatever station that is), even fixed my watch for me whilst I had a couple of pints in the Robin Hood and called me when it was ready.

*Edit

Depends how much your watch is worth though. Would you take an Aston Martin to be fixed at your local quickfix?

Edited January 17, 2010 by Moonrakers

[skippybangkok]

Sea master titanium - not cheap (for me), but then again.......in the world of watches its "cheap".........

From another angle, @ 10k baht it will remain in storage which it has been for 2 years now.

Edited January 17, 2010 by skippybangkok

[powderpuff]

Any branch of the Central Dept Store. Fine watch dept.

[skippybangkok]

Any branch of the Central Dept Store. Fine watch dept.

thanks

[Loz]

woooooh there, Hos!

If that has anthing to do with the chain found at the Mall department store please be aware of my experience. Having formerly traded and collected fine watches I like to think I know a little about them. When I came to thailand I liquidated the exotic stuff and just brought my trusty Tissot T Touch with me. about 800 Euros at Geneva Airport in 2004. I was aware that 18 months to 2 years was the recomended service interval but waited an extra few months because I didn't see anyone that seemed to have particular expertise with this brand. THen they had the Watch show at the mall and as Tissot were there I enquired. They took me to the shop (which shall remain nameless unless I allowed to name and shame them) where they quoted me 350-550 for a "battery change". I took them up on it. NEEDLESS to say to was the 550 price when I returned but the barometer, thermometer and altimeter were all broken! only the stop watch, compass and time/alarm were working!!

THe guy tried to reset but realised there was nothing he could do. after much tooing and froeing they said they would send the watch to BKK to check it out. I had already paid... I was not pleased but tried to be thai and didn't vent my frustrations at them. Week later I go to check progress, manager (lady) handed my watch back with a note explaining that they could not fix it, needed to replace the movement at a cost to me of 9500bhat!

So lets get this straight:

I paid 550bhat for a battery change ( it was all working when I took it in)

I got it back broken

The people who broke it wanted 9500bht to fix it!!

I could probably find a copy of the letter I sent to the head office (basically a 7 day letter) to which I got nil response. I suspect there is no joy to be had so I dropped the matter but I tell EVERYONE who will listen what happened in the hope it will not happen again at least to anyone I know. THis kind of customer serivce is not what I would expect from JJ market, let alone a "reputable" repair shop!

Good luck finding one better!

[citizen33]

I had good work done by a Chinese watch repairer near Saphan Kwai. From the tube station go back towards the city centre and under the footbridge south of the big intersection. The shop is on the right. My watch was just a run of the mill Rotary though, not an Omega!

Edited January 17, 2010 by citizen33

[b19bry]

Sea master titanium - not cheap (for me), but then again.......in the world of watches its "cheap".........

From another angle, @ 10k baht it will remain in storage which it has been for 2 years now.

I bought a Seamaster Chrono probably 8 years ago and have had it serviced and cleaned twice since. Both times this was in Dubai (where I was living at the time) at the authorised dealer and each time it cost the equivalent of 8-9k baht. I'm now in Khon Kaen but I too would be interested to know a good place to take it for a service ? I know that won't be here in Isaan !

[skippybangkok]

Went to Central, and the quote was 12,000 baht .......... ( i wonder for what ? - must be very expensive o-rings ). Happy not to use it under water - will see if i can find someone to give it a clean and tune up without new o-rings.

Crazy...... clean and tune up, and 1 baht worth of rubber cost 12,000 baht.

[b19bry]

Went to Central, and the quote was 12,000 baht .......... ( i wonder for what ? - must be very expensive o-rings ). Happy not to use it under water - will see if i can find someone to give it a clean and tune up without new o-rings.

Crazy...... clean and tune up, and 1 baht worth of rubber cost 12,000 baht.

Any chance of a 'Seamaster titanium needing a service' going cheap ?

[skippybangkok]

Went to Central, and the quote was 12,000 baht .......... ( i wonder for what ? - must be very expensive o-rings ). Happy not to use it under water - will see if i can find someone to give it a clean and tune up without new o-rings.

Crazy...... clean and tune up, and 1 baht worth of rubber cost 12,000 baht.

Any chance of a 'Seamaster titanium needing a service' going cheap ?

wud destroy me old heart Would love to use it again, but for the life of me cannot see where the 12,000 baht goes, except into some greedy peoples pocket. worst comes to worst will buy my own magnifying glass, ultra-sonic cleaner some screw drives etc and of course a book " watch repairs for dummies".

Repaired my Nikon last month ( nikon said "can't be repaired, need to buy a new one".............. well, were they wrong ! ). Took me 6 hours, but some how managed to glue some broken things back together ( fidgetty stuff ) and it works like a charm ( until i drop it again ).

[b19bry]

Went to Central, and the quote was 12,000 baht .......... ( i wonder for what ? - must be very expensive o-rings ). Happy not to use it under water - will see if i can find someone to give it a clean and tune up without new o-rings.

Crazy...... clean and tune up, and 1 baht worth of rubber cost 12,000 baht.

Any chance of a 'Seamaster titanium needing a service' going cheap ?

wud destroy me old heart

You're right it's a nice watch.........worth a try tho huh ? Hopefully someone can help on the servicing ?

[tigerfish]

theres a guy in mbk 2nd floor in the gold section who specialises in buying, selling and repairs tags, rolex and omegas.

i have a tag f1 chronograph, had it for 12 years now. had the batteries changed, seviced, new straps, you name it. all by authorised dealers. for one reason and one reason only, i do alot of diving and was warned when i first bought the watch to get any work done by the manufacturers themselves, through authorised dealers. its dam exspensive though, but at least they know what they are doing, i.e. they dont break the seals on the back of the watch which stops water getting into the mechanism.

so last year needed a new battery, went to the tag heur shop in mbk. 10,000. i thought sod this for a game of soldiers, ive had it over 10 years and all the work i have had done on it has cost more than what i payed for the watch originally.

so i thought why not give this guy a try! explained to him that the watch has a lot of sentimental value to me and that i would only be happy to let him change the battery if he could assure me that he really knew what he was doing.he said to me "take a look around!

i have had this place for years, do i look like i dont know what im doing" fair enough.

left it with him, went back about 4 hours later and he charged me 800baht for a new battery and a clean.

havent had a problem with the watch since.

[b19bry]

theres a guy in mbk 2nd floor in the gold section who specialises in buying, selling and repairs tags, rolex and omegas.

i have a tag f1 chronograph, had it for 12 years now. had the batteries changed, seviced, new straps, you name it. all by authorised dealers. for one reason and one reason only, i do alot of diving and was warned when i first bought the watch to get any work done by the manufacturers themselves, through authorised dealers. its dam exspensive though, but at least they know what they are doing, i.e. they dont break the seals on the back of the watch which stops water getting into the mechanism.

so last year needed a new battery, went to the tag heur shop in mbk. 10,000. i thought sod this for a game of soldiers, ive had it over 10 years and all the work i have had done on it has cost more than what i payed for the watch originally.

so i thought why not give this guy a try! explained to him that the watch has a lot of sentimental value to me and that i would only be happy to let him change the battery if he could assure me that he really knew what he was doing.he said to me "take a look around!

i have had this place for years, do i look like i dont know what im doing" fair enough.

left it with him, went back about 4 hours later and he charged me 800baht for a new battery and a clean.

havent had a problem with the watch since.

Funnily enough I have a TAG F1 chrono too and it now needs a new battery. Last time I took to to the authorised dealer (in Dubai) it took 3 visits to get it fitted right so the chrono worked properly, mind you they did it for free !

Can you pm the guy in mbk's details ?

[skippybangkok]

theres a guy in mbk 2nd floor in the gold section who specialises in buying, selling and repairs tags, rolex and omegas.

i have a tag f1 chronograph, had it for 12 years now. had the batteries changed, seviced, new straps, you name it. all by authorised dealers. for one reason and one reason only, i do alot of diving and was warned when i first bought the watch to get any work done by the manufacturers themselves, through authorised dealers. its dam exspensive though, but at least they know what they are doing, i.e. they dont break the seals on the back of the watch which stops water getting into the mechanism.

so last year needed a new battery, went to the tag heur shop in mbk. 10,000. i thought sod this for a game of soldiers, ive had it over 10 years and all the work i have had done on it has cost more than what i payed for the watch originally.

so i thought why not give this guy a try! explained to him that the watch has a lot of sentimental value to me and that i would only be happy to let him change the battery if he could assure me that he really knew what he was doing.he said to me "take a look around!

i have had this place for years, do i look like i dont know what im doing" fair enough.

left it with him, went back about 4 hours later and he charged me 800baht for a new battery and a clean.

havent had a problem with the watch since.

Thats a good lead. Will pay him a visit.

Thanks.

[Loz]

12000 bhat!!! Cheaper to box it and send it to Geneva.

[skippybangkok]

Lol. I am getting good at critical reading. At central world instead of mbk for some un explainable reason

[skippybangkok]

Found it. 2500 baht ready in 2 days

[damaja]

If I'm not mistaken, the place on 2nd flr at MBK is called something like "Expert" and there's another branch of the same at the Silom Complex/Centre shopping arcade (where Central Silom dept. store is) near to Sala Daeng BTS on Silom Rd. I've had a couple of simple things done over the years with a CK diver's watch (nothing special I know) - battery, strap - and they've always been quick, good and cheap.

I've found a website for the same company and it seems they have several more branches in Bangkok:

http://www.expert-watch.com/index.php?lay=...mp;Id=538686124

Big C Saphan Khwai.

Central Pinklao.

Central Ladprao.

Silom Complex.

Future Rangsit.

Mabuycrag (MBK).

Central Bangna.

Fashion Island.

Central World.

Lotus Salaya.

Expert-Watch Headquarters:

60 ซอย ลาดพร้าว 34 แขวง สามเสนนอก เขต ห้วยขวาง กทม 10310

60 Soi Ladprao 34 Samsen Road, Huay Kwang Bangkok 10310

Tel 02-9380866 Fax 02-9383625.เ

ปิดบริการ จ - ศ 9.30-18.30

Open Mon - Fri 9.30-18.30.เส

Edited January 18, 2010 by damaja

[simcity]

Found it. 2500 baht ready in 2 days

Skippybangkok, where did you find it ?

From the post of Tigerfish? MBK 2 floor

Just ask it because i have some work to do with mine TAG serie 6000

[goldfinger]

theres a guy in mbk 2nd floor in the gold section who specialises in buying, selling and repairs tags, rolex and omegas.

i have a tag f1 chronograph, had it for 12 years now. .................................................left it with him, went back about 4 hours later and he charged me 800baht for a new battery and a clean.

havent had a problem with the watch since.

Thats a good lead. Will pay him a visit.

Thanks.

what kind of "clean" do you think was done at 800 baht including battery???

(movement???

Edited January 18, 2010 by goldfinger

[skippybangkok]

what kind of "clean" do you think was done at 800 baht including battery???

(movement???

Err Yes,

He said he would pull it apart, clean ( including band ) and re-adjust. Seemed a very nice guy and definitely knowledgeable. Had a discussion how he repairs antiques for some expats who like to buy them up.

will see the results, but for 2,500 versus 12,000 ++, its a risk i will take.

Seems like a different place than the one above.

SIMCITY - wait till mine is done, will let you know. 2nd floor MBK, if coming in from car park, first one on north side of car park

Edited January 18, 2010 by skippybangkok

[simcity]

SIMCITY - wait till mine is done, will let you know. 2nd floor MBK, if coming in from car park, first one on north side of car park

I am in the same situation, i stupidly bought a TAG series 6000 many years ago, and every time I need to change the battery + service the price charge by Tag service centre are arsonist.

I do not where this watch anymore, and will not service it anymore by Tag

Bought a recto verso automatic Jaeger Lecoutre instead

In MBK, I remember a shop having some second hand watches and a sign if my memory is good saying: Farang customers do not tell me the price of my watches is expensive, keep in mind the tax here are higher

Just wonder if it is the same shop as the one you went.

[skippybangkok]

Seemed to be a 2 part shop, the part facing the walking public was a guy there, obviously on sales, and when i asked him about repairs, he pointed me to the back of the shop more in the exit to the car part ( corner shop ).

The guy in the pic seemed humbly confident, and was telling me about how he repaired antique watches a falang customer buys up in the region, and gives him to repair. The way he said it ( very modestly ) gave me confidence my watch is good hands, but i guess i will see this weekend when i have time to pick it up. The self winding mechanism was scratching / touching something , so thats an obvious yes/no answer i can check, and will ask him to open it so i can have a peek inside to see its clean ( and will check its adjustment.

Like i said, for that price, dont expect all the seals to be replaced, and will not dive with it any more anyway ( used to ), so i dont see a need for it being 600m or what ever water tight. ( by the way, has anyone on TV or in thailand for that fact every done a 600m dive? )

[Loz]

I dived more than 600metres... but it was out of a plane

[alyx]

I have got an excellent address If interested PM me

The guy has his shop on Ratchada. I have had some high end watches taken care by him at a fraction of the price from the brand's shop.

Actually my friend's watch had some problems and I took it to the shop where we had bought it thinking it was still under guarantee. Unfortunately it was not anymore: Baht 20.000 (a fith of the value of the steel watch) were asked. I took it to that guy who did it for Baht 3,500 (including the piece to be changed which was 3,000 baht). He used to work for that very same world renowned brand name company

[skippybangkok]

I dived more than 600metres... but it was out of a plane

Not quite sure but i believe the pressure differential is some what different

[skippybangkok]

Conclusion:-

ended up asking for 3000 baht vs 2500 for what ever reason (had to buy some stuff). Fine. Works fine, repaired the problems i had - happy camper. Saved about 9,000 to 10,000 baht

gives service for 6 months if anything.