SERVICING, REPAIRS & RESTORATION
Let us pamper your watch
We have built a great team of expert watchmakers, watch case restorers and watch dial restorers who are guaranteed to do exceptional work. Whether your watch needs a service, a repair or a restoration – you could not be in better hands.
Servicing and repairs
A full service includes fully dismantling the watch to all its component parts, cleaning and close examination, checking for signs of wear and replacement where necessary (only with original parts), reassembly, adjustment, testing and calibration. Includes a 12-month warranty on the movement.
Servicing Price List:
| Hand-wound watch: | £395.00 |
| Automatic watch: | £495.00 |
| Chronograph: | £695.00 |
We are happy to service premium vintage watches, especially the brands we specialise in: Patek Philippe, Vacheron & Constantin, Rolex, Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, IWC, Zenith, Universal Geneve Girard Perregaux and Heuer. Our watchmakers can also service other quality brands. However, please check in advance.
For costs related to repairs, please contact us for an individual quotation. For more details about the repairs and restoration processes used, see the restoration section below. You can also use the form at the bottom of this page to send us all the relevant information.
Restorations
Restorations always involve dismantling a watch down to each of its component parts before cleaning and close examination. We then replace parts with genuine originals, rebuilding and oiling to the manufacturer’s specifications before the testing and calibration phase. Nearly always, the dial and watch case will also require professional restoration.
A beautifully restored vintage watch is a joy to behold, and minor miracles can be often achieved at the hands of our expert craftsmen, bringing wonderful high-quality vintage watches back to life.
The repairs and restoration process
We are happy to do as much or as little restoration work to your watch as you wish. The repairs and restoration process may involve any or all of the following:
The Movement
It is often surprising just how long a high-quality Swiss watch movement will last. In reality, with proper care and regular servicing, it is almost indefinitely. This is not only because Swiss watches are supremely well made, but there is usually a good supply of the original manufacturer’s replacement parts available. Where not available, a good watchmaker can almost always make a replacement part.
We recommend keeping your watch regularly serviced as this will prevent the lubrication from drying out on critical parts of the watch, preventing unnecessary wear and prolonging the life of these parts. Most problems, apart from corrosion caused by exposure to water, can be resolved quite cost-effectively. Most manufacturers recommend this every three to four years, depending on the age of the watch.
The Watch Case
Surface scratches occur with use and are no problem as these can usually be removed without any loss of definition to the case. Deep scratches and engravings are more difficult to repair/restore but can be undertaken by a specialist wristwatch case-maker. If the case is in very good original condition and has never been polished, we may advise that the case is simply cleaned and given a very gentle hand polish to retain the original look and feel of the watch.
The Case-back
Unwanted engravings can often be successfully removed by a specialist wristwatch case-maker. The results can be dramatic with no loss of thickness of the case-back. However, this is highly skilled work, and an estimate can only be provided once the case-back has been inspected. As a guideline, prices vary for this work between £300 and £500
The Lugs
These attach the strap or bracelet to the watch case. Particularly on gold watches, these can become damaged, bent or even break entirely. However, with the help of a skilled watch case maker, these can be repaired.
The Dial
Scratched, pitted, stained or otherwise damaged dials can be restored or ‘refinished’ to an incredibly high standard. This is an art and craft which employs the same processes as the watch manufacturer – and the results are truly spectacular, usually undetectable from a new equivalent. However, this is time-consuming and, therefore, relatively expensive. If the dial is in very good condition, it may be better to leave it alone to retain its originality. Please see our FAQ page or call us for further advice.
The Winding Crown
After many years of use, a watch’s original winding crown may have been replaced with a generic one. We can usually source and fit a correct replacement crown. However, these can sometimes be scarce.
The Watch Hands
Watch hands often become damaged through ageing or mishandling during servicing and the removal of a movement from the watch. We can often source correct replacement hands or restore them, although this can sometimes be difficult.
The Lens
While acrylic lenses can be polished to remove light scratches, we prefer to replace these with the original replacement part. This is a little more expensive, but in our opinion, very worthwhile.
In summary, the restoration of a vintage watch can be expensive, but it is almost always worthwhile. The cost is usually less than the added value to the watch, but perhaps more importantly, you will bring back to life something beautiful to wear that can be treasured and enjoyed for many decades to come.
Please call and ask for Alan or Brian on 0207 727 7095 (or +44 207 727 7095 from overseas), and we will be pleased to give you advice and approximate prices by telephone. Alternatively, via email: [email protected]
Restoration price list:
| Dial Restoration: | £495 | Restoring to the original specification by the U.K.’s top dial restorer. |
| Case Restoration: | £395 | Cleaning & polishing by one of the U.K.’s top case-makers, repair light damage. |
| Replacement Lens: | £85 | With a manufacturer’s original part. Typical price. Certain Omega and Rolex lenses may cost more. |
| Replace strap: | £195 | A good quality padded alligator leather strap in your choice of colour. |
| Valuation: | £75 | |
| Written valuation with photographs: | £85 | A written valuation useful for insurance purposes. This will be for the replacement value, including three photographs. |
Please note these prices are estimates and do not include parts, which may be exceeded on rare occasions. However, in practice, 95% of watch servicing charges come in at the estimate.
In order to proceed with a restoration or repair, please call or email us prior to sending your watch so that we can discuss and schedule the work.
Sending Your Watch To Us
We recommend you keep all original presentation boxes and paperwork and only send us the watch you want us to work on. To send it safely, use plenty of bubble wrap to protect the watch before placing it into a stiff cardboard box or a plastic-type container with a lid.
If you are posting from within the UK, we recommend using Royal Mail Special Delivery postal service, using the Next Day by 1 pm service and maximum insurance. If your watch is worth more than £2,500, simply let us know the postal tracking number, this will automatically include cover on our blanket insurance policy to the value of up to £10,000. This method of delivery is very safe, as in over 15 years we have never lost a parcel or needed to make a claim.
For overseas deliveries, we recommend DHL or FedEx International. If you wish, we will arrange collection of your watch, provided you agree to pack it carefully, using the method described above. Shipping charges are approximately £50. The cost of shipping your watch back to you will be included on your invoice.
For all deliveries, please use the following safe address:
VGWL – Kirsty O’Brien
PO Box 6553
Milton Keynes
MK1 9ND
U.K.
When shipping your watch to us, please include your full contact details and details of the work you would like us to do to your watch. Ideally, this can be a printout of our email discussion, including some photographs.
Finally, please let us know when we should expect your watch with a quick call to Alan or Kirsty on 0207 727 7095. Alternatively, please email us at: [email protected] We will confirm when we have received your watch and agree on the work to be carried out, including confirming our estimate.
