Good Watch Repair Needed In Bangkok

[jsgatse]

Hello, I have an Omega Seamaster watch and it just stopped working. I brought it to the authorized Omega repairman at All Seasons Place on Wireless this afternoon. After looking at it, they told me that the oil had dried up and the master spring was broken. They quoted my 10,500 THB + 1 month to fix it. OUCH. It's a wonderful watch, and worth quite a bit, but 10,500 THB is steep on my BKK income.

Does anyone have any first hand experience with a good/reputable watch repair shop here in BKK that could work on a higher end watch? I'd really appreciate any and all feedback.

Thanks!!!!

[kwonitoy]

If you have a high end mechanical watch I wouldn't take it anywhere in this country except an authorized dealer.

Expensive maintainence is just one of the joys of owning a watch like this. If you take it to someone "reputable" you have no idea what they will do to it.

Best stick with the dealer and protect your investment.

My last service on my Rolex would have bought me a very nice watch in itself, but at least I know it's still a real Rolex

[Banzai99]

I have a couple of Omega Watches, one is an old Seamaster, belonged to my Grandfather, 56 - 57 years old now.

It stopped working and I took it to various places and was quoted all sorts of prices, it would have to go to Bangkok etc etc, eventually got it repaired a few years ago from a watch repair guy in Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya for 2000 Baht. Still works fine.

I also have a Speedmaster reduced, it has the hesalite crystal which easily scratches, the chronograph button was sticking and the chrono hand would not return to Zero, I asked a guy in a watch booth in Tesco Lotus , North Pattaya Road if he could buff out the scratches on watch face, as he was doing this with a paste called ' PolyWatch' I mentioned that the watch had been battered by me and that the button was sticking and the hand did not return to zero after a reset, he said if it was sent to Omega repair in Bangkok it would be circa 8000 - 10000 Baht to repair and take a month, he asked if he could take the back off and take a look himself, I said sure I'll be back in 45 mins.

Came back the watch was clean like new and totally repaired, he didn't have to use any spare parts and the total cost was ZERO !!!

I offered him 500 baht as I was so pleased, he refused payment.

All I had purchased from him was a battery for a Tissot watch that I use for work.

Maybe you will be lucky too, plenty of good places around, good luck.

Edited February 1, 2012 by Banzai99

[bendix]

Yeap, expensive maintenance is part of the joy of ownership. I had my Mont Blanc repaired at the Central Department Store in that mall attached to the Sala Daeng BTS station - they have a specialist watch repair outfit there. I'd done something to the master spring also, and it needed an extensive repair job. From memory - this was 4 years ago - the cost was pretty much the same as you were quoted. They did a good job though and it's still working fine.

The place on Phrom Pong BTS station is fine for cheaper watches. They've serviced my Longines there a couple of times over the last five years or so.

[ravip]

I have a couple of Omega Watches, one is an old Seamaster, belonged to my Grandfather, 56 - 57 years old now.

It stopped working and I took it to various places and was quoted all sorts of prices, it would have to go to Bangkok etc etc, eventually got it repaired a few years ago from a watch repair guy in Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya for 2000 Baht. Still works fine.

I also have a Speedmaster reduced, it has the hesalite crystal which easily scratches, the chronograph button was sticking and the chrono hand would not return to Zero, I asked a guy in a watch booth in Tesco Lotus , North Pattaya Road if he could buff out the scratches on watch face, as he was doing this with a paste called ' PolyWatch' I mentioned that the watch had been battered by me and that the button was sticking and the hand did not return to zero after a reset, he said if it was sent to Omega repair in Bangkok it would be circa 8000 - 10000 Baht to repair and take a month, he asked if he could take the back off and take a look himself, I said sure I'll be back in 45 mins.

Came back the watch was clean like new and totally repaired, he didn't have to use any spare parts and the total cost was ZERO !!!

I offered him 500 baht as I was so pleased, he refused payment.

All I had purchased from him was a battery for a Tissot watch that I use for work.

Maybe you will be lucky too, plenty of good places around, good luck.

A very rare character indeed! He should be rewarded at least by word-of-mouth publicity.

[ravip]

If you have a high end mechanical watch I wouldn't take it anywhere in this country except an authorized dealer.

Expensive maintainence is just one of the joys of owning a watch like this. If you take it to someone "reputable" you have no idea what they will do to it.

Best stick with the dealer and protect your investment.

My last service on my Rolex would have bought me a very nice watch in itself, but at least I know it's still a real Rolex

I agree...

[AdamBangkok]

I took my Constellation to All Seasons place and was charged the same - I think it's pretty much standard for an overhaul there. Same problem as yours - the master spring. It hadnt actually stopped working, but the movement would stop around an hour after I'd taken it off.

Admittedly it's not cheap, but at least they're authorised, and they guarantee that the problem won't recur within a year. I'd rather do that than hand it to somebody who might screw it up or put generic replacement parts into it.

[jsgatse]

I took my Constellation to All Seasons place and was charged the same - I think it's pretty much standard for an overhaul there. Same problem as yours - the master spring. It hadnt actually stopped working, but the movement would stop around an hour after I'd taken it off.

Admittedly it's not cheap, but at least they're authorised, and they guarantee that the problem won't recur within a year. I'd rather do that than hand it to somebody who might screw it up or put generic replacement parts into it.

Hi Adam,

Yeah....I know what you are saying. Actually, they told me that it's a 2 year warranty.

Thanks.

[jsgatse]

Just to offer an update/follow-up.

I went to the Central Department store near my house (Rama II) to their in-house watch guy. He told me basically the same thing as the Omega authorized repair place at All Seasons. His price was 1,000 THB cheaper - or, 9,500 THB. But, he only would give a 6 month warranty, while the Omega repair place offers 2 years. For the 1,000 THB extra, I think I'll stick with the Omega place.

On the way out of the mall, there was a kiosk watch guy (with, of course, Tag, Rolex, Omega icons). My wife stopped and asked him. He said he wanted 100 THB to look at it, and it would take 3 days. He would then give me an estimate and he said he would use all genuine parts. I didn't want to risk it, so thanked him for his time and left.

I guess I'll bite the bullet and bring it to the authorized repair shop at All Seasons.

Thanks.

[John Seymour]

Expert Watch Repair, Bangkok, at Gateway Mall

 

I took 2 expensive watches to the gateway store. The first a Tag 2000, with a broken bracelet, needed to be welded. They did it, but charged me more than I could have had it repaired for in San Diego California (USA).

 

The second watch was a 18K Jules Jurgensen  watch (1950 vintage) I wanted cleaned and a new spring put in. It was my father's watch, who recently passed away, and I wanted to give it to my father in law as a gift. The watch worked prior to me bringing it to Expert Watch Repair at the Gateway Mall. I wanted it cleaned and a new spring put in. The watch had to be sent in the the main repair shop and I received a call from the owner or manager (who spoke to me in English) and he guaranteed they could do what I asked, plus additional suggestions they made, for about $150 USD.

 

These guys screwed me. Intentionally cheated me. Didn't do anything to the watch, yet charged me the full price. They didn't even clean the watch, I had to send it back. I don't live in Bangkok anymore, but they should not be surprised if I post a website stating this fraud. I bet they make allot of money screwing foreigners. I would strongly advise you to use the watch repair at the Emporium. I have 6 expensive watches and a ton of gold and diamond jewelry. I would not recommend their services.