At Your Service: How We Service Your Watch
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About Us
3 minute read
The Watches of Switzerland Group
Owning a luxury timepiece is one of life’s great pleasures, so it’s important to have it serviced every three to five years to keep it in tip-top condition. Even a simple time only watch is made up of around 100 tiny parts and as our Head Watchmaker Lee Garlick explains, ‘Over time lubricants that prevent friction and damage to fragile components break down and will need replacing.’ Read on to discover the intricate checks your watch will undergo in the hands of our experts before being returned it to you in perfect working order.
A mechanical or automatic watch has a myriad moving parts and it’s our job to ensure they’re all working in harmony with each other. Our experts perform the following checks:
1. Examine the case and the bracelet or strap.
2. Detach the bracelet or strap, open the case and remove the stem, crown, seals and movement.
3. Reset the stem and crown, and check the winding mechanism.
4. Examine the working of the hands, calendar functions and rotor, if fitted.
5. Inspect and adjust the escapement.
6. Fully disassemble the case and inspect the movement and parts.
7. Replace any worn or damaged parts.
8. Clean all the parts in specialist chemical baths, using automated cleaning machines.
9. Reassemble the movement, fine-tuning it in line with brand specifications.
10. Lubricate the movement, if using fine oils and greases, and check the escapement.
11. De-magnetise, regulate and check the timing of the movement to brand standards, using specialist Swiss timing equipment.
12. Refit the dial and hands, and clean the case and bracelet using ultrasound technology.
13. Replace the case seals, if necessary, and refit the movement and bracelet or strap.
14. Check the timekeeping and adjust it, where required, using timing equipment.
The last part of the process is the final inspection. This is really important because after that, your timepiece will be guaranteed for 12 or 24 months, depending on the brand. So, we test it on a wrist simulator for three to four-and-a-half hours to check that its automatic winding system is running smoothly. Then we test its power reserve for 24 hours with the dial downwards, before repeating the process in the dial-upward position. Only when we’re satisfied that all is in order will we return the watch to you.
Though a quartz watch has fewer components than a mechanical or automatic model, it still needs routine maintenance. Our experts perform the following checks:
1. Examine the case and bracelet or strap.
2. Detach the bracelet or strap, open the case, remove the stem and crown, and check the setting mechanism.
3. Inspect the working of the hands and calendar mechanism, if fitted.
4. Disassemble the movement and check the mechanical components and the electronic module.
5. Replace any worn or malfunctioning mechanical or electronic parts.
6. Clean all the mechanical parts in specialist chemical baths, using automated cleaning machines.
7. Reassemble the movement, fine-tuning it in line with brand specifications.
8. Lubricate the setting and the calendar mechanism, if fitted.
9. Make sure the timing of the movement is in working order, using specialist Swiss electronic testing equipment.
10. Refit the dial and hands, and clean the case and bracelet, using ultrasound technology.
11. Replace the case seals, if necessary, and return the movement to the case.
12. Refit the bracelet or strap.
13. Check the water resistance is in line with brand specifications.
14. Check the correct functioning of the hands and calendar mechanism, if fitted.
The last step we carry out is a final inspection. This part of the process is crucial because, after that, your watch will be guaranteed for 12 or 24 months, depending on the brand. To ensure it’s functioning accurately, we test it statically for 48 hours. Once we’re satisfied all is in order, we’ll return it to you to enjoy, trouble-free, until the next service.
To find our more about our Aftercare service, click here .
To book your watch service or to find out more, please visit one of our showrooms .
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