Watch servicing in Dorset?

[BlueHarp]

Hi Alain,

My friend in England has shown me a Longines watch which he would like to have cleaned (maybe even serviced). He had some doubts about the authenticity of the watch as a watch repairer told him that it was not worth a cleaning. I am far from beeing an expert, but when I opened it I found out that the movement is a 23ZS and the case could even be made of gold!

Could someone tell whether there is a reliable watch repairer in Dorset?

Here are a few pictures 

[tomh207]

For me definitely worth having service done. Nice looking longines movement and a 18k solid gold case.

 

Tom

[RichardHarris123]

Definitely gold, with the key of Geneva stamp and a genuine movement.  "Not worth cleaning " etc is code for they weren't interested or skilled enough.  It is definitely worth a  service but I can't recommend anyone. 

[oldhippy]

Who ever gave you that info is bloody stupid. As already pointed out it's 18k. Longines watches are high grade. Go here this is the  B H I site and download accredited watch repairers and look for Dorset. 

https://bhi.co.uk/repairer/

Edited June 23, 2024 by oldhippy

[agg221]

Can I suggest that your friend contacts a few places, within the distance range he is prepared to travel. There are various different types of good watch repairer, depending on what you need - it is a very different thing to offer a competent and thorough cleaning, lubrication and reassembly, replacing any damaged parts by buying and fitting new ones, to having the skills and experience to make replacement parts like balance staffs. Some repairers build up specialist stock of old and rare parts through donor movements, often specialising in a particular era or manufacturer, others only keep the minimum of parts and buy in when needed so can only help with something that still has good availability. There are also some very variable timeframes involved - ranging from a couple of weeks to several years.

I generally have my better watches serviced and repaired, rather than doing it myself, due to my lack of experience and the value involved if it goes wrong. I currently use four different companies, ranging from a near-retired semi-professional who cleans and services my Smiths watches for £50, to someone who has good stock of rare parts for early wristwatches and charges around £250, to someone who makes replacement balance staffs if needed (although he is about to stop so I will need to find someone else for this kind of work) to someone else who is prepared to weld extensions onto broken hairsprings for 1930s ladies' cocktail watches and get the timing within 3mins/day but they are more like £600. All of them are good, but they offer a different service.

Coincidentally, one of them is in Bath, but not on the BHI list, so happy to forward details if that would be useful?

Alec

 

 

Edited June 23, 2024 by agg221

[BlueHarp]

I really thank you all for your answers. My friend is very happy about that and he is determined to have it serviced.

As for me, it was a great joy to handle such a nice time piece and to help my friend.

[clockboy]

I have serviced a few Longines and they are top, quality. Certainly worth servicing. 

[oldhippy]

26 minutes ago, clockboy said:

I have serviced a few Longines and they are top, quality. Certainly worth servicing. 

I can second that. Where I worked we were agents for Longines I must have repaired hundreds. I had a large stock of spares as well, plus all their service manuals.     

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, agg221 said:

to someone else who is prepared to weld extensions onto broken hairsprings for 1930s ladies' cocktail watches 

 Whaa...  I'm amazed that is even possible 

[agg221]

3 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

 Whaa...  I'm amazed that is even possible 

So was I, but they did it. There are some extremely skilled people about, including some on this forum.

Alec

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 hours ago, agg221 said:

So was I, but they did it. There are some extremely skilled people about, including some on this forum.

Alec

are you sure he's not pulling your leg ? I cant think of a reason why someone would even attempt to do something like that instead of just vibrating another hairspring to suit from another movement . A mainspring yes but not a hairspring surely ?

[KarlvonKoln]

A Longines that is not worth servicing???  I concur with @oldhippy - bloody stupid advice.  I have a couple Longines and I love them both.  They are extremely accurate and look positively dashing; everything a fine watch needs to be.  And what you have certainly looks genuine from the pictures.  And it looks superb!  A service by a reliable professional should soon have it running in top form.

[Nucejoe]

 Where can one get hairspring for vintage Longines. One that vibrates with the old balance is not too hard to find, but the finished product is Likely to fall short of the original's quality, then you have a Longines which used to be a Longines.

Plus the fact that used ladies Longines are not worth much, our friend gets only  " imprecise timing "   sentimental  value.

 

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

 Whaa...  I'm amazed that is even possible 

Weld?    Longines hairspring ?      Timex maybe, but not a Longines.

A CLASSICAL BODGE JOB.

[oldhippy]

Second Hand Ladies Longines 18k any thing from £1,000 you have to take into account the weight of the gold so if its heavy the price will increase a lot.  

[Knebo]

On 6/23/2024 at 12:35 PM, oldhippy said:

Who ever gave you that info is bloody stupid. As already pointed out it's 18k. Longines watches are high grade.

100% this.

Keep a big distance to that "watch repairer" who said it wasn't worth cleaning. Just look at the "anglage" on the bridges of the movement. Gorgeous and most likely finished by hand! That's nicer a finish than that of pretty much any Rolex you'll find.

[BlueHarp]

Thank you all for your precious help!

Edited June 24, 2024 by BlueHarp