Seiko Watch Repair

ryanh1418

Hi all, just after some thoughts really.

My watch battery recently stopped and instead of doing what I have done before and taking it back to the local jewelers in town for it to be sent away to Seiko and replaced for £35 I just nipped into a little clock/watch repair shop I'd never even noticed before in a local parade of shops. The old chap in there replaced the battery for a mere £3. However, in hindsight, he obvioulsy didn't check, replace or even consider the seals, which is supposedly what Seiko charge £35 for. Obviously the watch started misting up and getting condensation inside, first after bath/shower but then just in general use when it was warm.

I did what I should have done in the first place and took it back to the dealer who sent it away for a "repair estimate". Just as I was leaving to go away on holiday for a week they called me back to tell me the estimate was £132 as they were recommending a complete overhaul - basically a whole new movement, re-sealed and tested.

£35 is enough of a sting let alone £132!! The watch was, and still is, £250 new and was bought for me by my wife a few years ago so I don't want to just concede defeat. I asked how much it would be just to replace the seals and was told they wouldn't do that as they've obviously found a problem.

So quite an open question really - what should I do?!! I can't afford to pay £132 but if I take it to an independant watch repairer am I just going to get the same outcome? Can I just insist that the seals are done - the watch still worked fine?! Can anyone recommend a person/company who might be able to do the repair? etc etc!! Any thoughts or advice will be helpful.

Thanks - Ryan

wealdroam

Why not go back to the bloke who broke it and ask him to fix it?

gordikin

wealdroam wrote: »

Why not go back to the bloke who broke it and ask him to fix it?

He didn't break it. He got it working by replacing the battery. The OP broke it by having a shower/bath without thinking £32 versus £3...why the difference?

KeithP

gordikin wrote: »

He didn't break it. He got it working by replacing the battery. The OP broke it by having a shower/bath without thinking £32 versus £3...why the difference?

The OP (effectively) said the £3 man didn't do the job properly, didn't he?

moonrakerz

The man did what he was paid to do - replace the battery for 3 quid.

The OP ruined the watch by not having it serviced iaw Seiko's requirements.

I just paid £60 to have the battery replaced in my Tag, the seals were replaced and the watch pressure tested to 200M - THAT is what I paid for !

ryanh1418

So aside from stating the bleedin' obvious and hindsight being a wonderful thing etc etc etc... no recommendations for a company who might be able to give an independant second opinion or who might just replace the seals given the watch still told me the time accurately? No one with knowledge of how likely it is that any damage could actually have been caused to warrant a whole new movement?

Wealdroam - your suggestion is one of my options. I hear what the others are saying but surely when your business is watches you should recognise a watch that needs re-sealing and one that doesn't. I didn't request he "replace the battery for 3 quid" I requested he "replace the battery". Yes I thought it would be marginally cheaper than the main dealer, much the same as car servicing is cheaper at independant garages, yes perhaps I should have questioned the job but who am I to question the expert?!

moonrakerz

Sorry, but you still seem to missing the "bleedin obvious" yourself.

You got a a "cheapo" job done on your watch, with the result that it now (apparently) lets moisture in.
I don't know a great deal about watches but I do know that moisture and electronics don't mix.
It is pointless getting the seals replaced if the electronics inside are "knackered".

Taking it back to the "£3 man" is a waste of time - he will undoubtedly say that he did exactly what you asked - "replace the battery" (your exact words) - you don't have a leg to stand on there.

Sorry, again, but you got exactly what you paid for !

ryanh1418 wrote: »

but who am I to question the expert?!

Firstly - you should have ascertained whether he was an "expert" or not ! which he clearly wasn't.

rsykes2000

ryanh1418 wrote: »

So aside from stating the bleedin' obvious and hindsight being a wonderful thing etc etc etc... no recommendations for a company who might be able to give an independant second opinion or who might just replace the seals given the watch still told me the time accurately? No one with knowledge of how likely it is that any damage could actually have been caused to warrant a whole new movement?

Wealdroam - your suggestion is one of my options. I hear what the others are saying but surely when your business is watches you should recognise a watch that needs re-sealing and one that doesn't. I didn't request he "replace the battery for 3 quid" I requested he "replace the battery". Yes I thought it would be marginally cheaper than the main dealer, much the same as car servicing is cheaper at independant garages, yes perhaps I should have questioned the job but who am I to question the expert?!

http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/ or http://www.chealwatch.com will likely be cheaper than your estimate.
However, first I would take it off, pull the crown out and leave it in a warmish dry place for a couple of days with the crown pulled out and see if that helps.

pimento

My mum and dad bought me a Seiko watch for my 21st birthday (almost 30 years ago). At the time it was expensive (£150).

When it stopped working, I called Seiko to find out about having it repaired and they said they no longer kept the parts and any Seiko watch over 5 years old was not considered worth repairing. I was a bit annoyed as it had been a 21st present. I should have chosen a Swiss watch rather than a Japanese one.

rsykes2000

pimento wrote: »

My mum and dad bought me a Seiko watch for my 21st birthday (almost 30 years ago). At the time it was expensive (£150).

When it stopped working, I called Seiko to find out about having it repaired and they said they no longer kept the parts and any Seiko watch over 5 years old was not considered worth repairing. I was a bit annoyed as it had been a 21st present. I should have chosen a Swiss watch rather than a Japanese one.

I suspect any good independent repair shop could have dealt with it far cheaper than Seiko UK. They still make the same calibre movements they made over 10 years ago in some cases eg the 7S26 movement has been around for 14 years so far. For them to say any watch over 5 years is not worth repairing is one of the more stupid statements I've ever heard.

pimento

It's a battery movement, not a wind-up mechanism. Would that make a difference? I'd be really pleased if I could get it fixed.