Watch Repair and Despair final update

Argyll Andy said:
ronk said:
Start the search for a trusted watchsmith now!
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..

and when you find one let us know :D
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Both of our watches need a service now, so once allowed out I’m taking mine to a local fella in Durham City who comes recommended. He is a watch enthusiast and I’m told a member of the British Horological Society - I don’t know what weight that carries but I have heard nothing but good reports of him and I know he has all the proper pressure test and electronic timing kit.
 
TitanTim said:
Hi all,
Bit of an update.

After 2 weeks of not hearing anything back from LWR I chased them up twice this week by email as they are not taking phone calls due to Covid :?

They said they had been in touch with Tag who said they were unable to repair the watch case with polishing etc as it is too badly damaged but we're happy to give a quotation to replace the watch case, cheeky feckers.

I had it out with LWR saying Tag should be doing it for free so LWR said they would send photos of the watch they took when they first received it from me, why they didn't send the photos to Tag anyways I don't know :headbang:

Half hour later another email from LWR to say Tag have agreed to cover the repair cost and replace the watch case, so in other words they've held their hands up and admitted they damaged the watch.

So hopefully its a result, I just hope it won't be the same chimpanzee who did the first repair :cry:

Tim.
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Sounds like a good result Tim, but what a cockup by Tag themselves. I won’t be sending mine to Tag when it inevitably fails!
 
-Tom- said:
....,. I won’t be sending mine to Tag when it inevitably fails!
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I’ve still got a Tag 1000 series in the doc safe and it’s about 30 years old - other than the odd battery if or when I remember, it just keeps on ticking.
Failure isn’t inevitable :thumbsup:
(That’s probably the kiss of death)
 
Thanks everyone for the replies :thumbsup:

Lesson learnt me thinks, I just never gave anything like this a second thought as I just took it that something like a watch, and a fairly expensive one at that would be cared for, how wrong was I. I could expect a mionor scratch etc but the damage was disgraceful really, I was quite stunned that someone could be so ham fisted and working for a premium watch company.

Still slightly worried, will they put the movement in upside down :lol: or scratch the crystal to death :|

Will just have to wait and see.

I did search on the internet a while back to find the exact same watch in mint condition and only came across one as hardly worn up for sale at a jewellers and they are still fetching around the 4k mark which is what I paid 6 years ago so still keeping their value.

Whether a new case will devalue the watch I'm not sure.

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
Thanks everyone for the replies :thumbsup:

Lesson learnt me thinks, I just never gave anything like this a second thought as I just took it that something like a watch, and a fairly expensive one at that would be cared for, how wrong was I. I could expect a mionor scratch etc but the damage was disgraceful really, I was quite stunned that someone could be so ham fisted and working for a premium watch company.

Still slightly worried, will they put the movement in upside down :lol: or scratch the crystal to death :|

Will just have to wait and see.

I did search on the internet a while back to find the exact same watch in mint condition and only came across one as hardly worn up for sale at a jewellers and they are still fetching around the 4k mark which is what I paid 6 years ago so still keeping their value.

Whether a new case will devalue the watch I'm not sure.

Tim.
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If the case itself doesn’t carry the serial number then no one would know it’s had a replacement would they? :?
Rob
 
Glad you see you eventually got a result here Tim :thumbsup:

I was following this with interest as my own watch was away for repair and there'd been an 'issue'
However my experience was totally different to yours.

In November I noticed a bad scratch on the glass of Citizen Eco-drive watch I have (Not a clue how I did it)
Got a few quotes and went with In-Time watch repairs, they were cheaper than Citizen but still using an OEM glass.

They rang in December to say on pressure test after fitting, the new glass cracked and had damaged the watch face and one of the hands, and not sure what else :(
However I was not to worry as they were sending it back to Citizen for them repair at their cost.

I got the watch back yesterday. Its' like new! (it was about 10 year old)
They've fitted a new back, face and hands, new glass and bezel and serviced it as well
My wife said it's a bit like Triggers broom :rofl:
It took a while (with Xmas and Covid) but for £65 I'm well chuffed
 
A very harrowing story indeed, there are lessons to be learned here for people thinking of getting their watches serviced.
I'm sure we are all keeping our fingers crossed for the best possible outcome for you Tim...
On a side note I watch a channel on you tube called the watch repair channel, its well worth a look....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbN9ee8L7qA
 
Thanks again for the replies and kind words everyone, really appreciate it :thumbsup:

I'll report back once the watch is returned.

I think next time join some watch forums and get some recommendations on good watch service centres, how on earth someone working for Tag can get away with what they are doing to customers watches is beyond me.

Alternatively wear a cheap watch :oops:

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
Alternatively wear a cheap watch
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Tim, this is the way I’m starting to lean, it’s getting bl00dy expensive maintaining something I very rarely wear whereas an £80 Pagini Daytona, wear, get bashed about then replace
 
Argyll Andy said:
TitanTim said:
Alternatively wear a cheap watch
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Tim, this is the way I’m starting to lean, it’s getting bl00dy expensive maintaining something I very rarely wear whereas an £80 Pagini Daytona, wear, get bashed about then replace
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I was thinking a fiver cheap :lol:

I will just have to do my research in future and as Ronk says use someone on recommendation where possible.

Whats got me about all of this is it cost me £550 to basically have a watch ruined aesthetically and they had the gall at Tag to quote me to replace the watch case they ruined in the first place. I don't how these people stay in business, yes I do, they charge a fortune to muggs like me :cry:

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
I was thinking a fiver cheap
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And they say us Scots tight :rofl:

I agree recommendations are the way to go.

They stay in business because they have returning business and charge accordingly
 
Hi all,

Received watch back today and all is now good :)

Case has been replaced so it looks completely as new. London Watch Repairs included a letter of apology so kudos to them for that.

All I would say is be wary sending a watch to Tag themselves and take plenty of photographs of the watch before sending to any repairers. To be fair to LWR they didn't actually work on the watch although they should really have checked it's condition against photos they had taken before sending it back to me after the service.

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Thanks for all your comments and support :thumbsup:

Tim.
 
Good outcome to a stressful episode.Makes you wonder why we put such faith in these big name companies when it comes to service. :thumbsup:
 
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