The Best Watch Repair Shops in America, Chosen by You (2023)

FAQs

How do I choose a watchmaker? ›

Watchmakers tend to work on multiple watches at a time. Look carefully at the watches that the watchmaker is working on – a fine watchmaker will be working on similar pieces. To find a reputable watchmaker, look for a quiet introvert sitting in a small room away from the public eye, and they will be your watchmaker.

A full-service appointment at your retailer, like the purchase price of your timepiece, will vary. A simple luxury mechanical watch service can cost between $150 - $250, while a multi-complication luxury service can cost between $1500 and $2500.

Alternative titles for this job include Horologist, clock maker. Watch and clock repairers mend, service and restore items that tell the time.

Repairing a watch depends on what is faulty with the watch and what is its value to you. If you are adept at watch repairs then it can be worth trying to repair it yourself, but if the watch has high value to you, or is worth a lot of money, or has a difficult-to-repair watch I would go to a watch repairer.

Also known as the 'Big Three', the holy trinity of watches includes Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin.

Patek Philippe consistently tops the list of best watch brands in the world and is a status symbol like no other. Founded in 1839, the Swiss company is the last family-owned independent watch manufacturer in Geneva.

The Luminox Navy SEAL watch is the timepiece that made Luminox famous. In 1992, the Assistant RDT&E Officer for the Navy SEALs, Nick North, was asked to seek a more dependable watch for night missions and found the solution when he discovered Luminox.

Generally, we suggest that new watches be serviced at least every five to seven years. Similarly, if you have a watch you bought more than a decade ago, it should also be serviced every five years at minimum to keep it running smoothly.

A full watch service

Which generally means the watch being entirely dismantled and cleaned. If parts are broken or need replacing, these parts will be replaced and the movement will be re-assembled and lubricated. If you watch is waterproof the gasket will need to be resealed and pressure tested.

How much do Rolex repairmen make? ›

The estimated base pay is $68,128 per year. The estimated additional pay is $23,961 per year. Additional pay could include bonus, stock, commission, profit sharing or tips.

A horologist designs, builds and repairs watches. Becoming a horologist requires patience, dedication and the completion of watchmaking school or an apprenticeship.

Mechanical watches are designed to last a lifetime, and if taken care of they can last multiple lifetimes. Normal wear and tear from everyday wear is expected with watches, which is why it is recommended to service them every 3-5 years.

Whether they're working or not, it's worth the time to keep those old, vintage timepieces. There are many watch collectors who have their eyes set on vintage watches. And, you can be one of them. Really, there's no harm to place them inside your treasure box.

Just like any luxury item, luxury watches must be of a certain build quality to command their hefty 'luxury' price tag. As such, brands and watchmakers cannot skimp on their materials. When they use precious metals, they can't use plating or capping; they have to use solid gold or platinum.

Movado has slowly moved more into the fashion watch side of the market. Starting as a high end Swiss watch brand, Movado has evolved to put more focus on their affordable timepieces and acquiring fashion watch brands in the U.S. Today, Movado owns 11 fashion watch brands and is the second largest American watch group.

Patek Philippe arguably owns the top-tier of high-horology. Once, the most expensive watch ever sold was a Patek Philippe with many complications and sold for over 11 million dollars, second only to a Rolex that was worn by Paul Newman.

Casio G-Shock

We have the DW-6600, the 5600, the 6900, and the 9052. These are rugged digital watches designed specifically to take a beating. Several have NSN numbers, and they have been issued in small numbers via unit purchases. However, for the modern military, the G-Shock is the watch of choice.

What watch do most soldiers wear? ›

Military Watches: Big Brands. Today, there are many options in the market, differing in design and price. The bigger, named brands that are chosen by many service members are G-Shock, Seiko, Luminox, Suunto, Marathon, and Garmin.

Rolex Submariner watches were the choice and standard issue for NAVY SEALs from their inception in 1962 up until 1983, when they switched over to Casio G-Shock watches. Navy SEAL's specialize more than anything in amphibious operations which include underwater demolition, as well as other aquatic operations.

Even if you only own one nice watch, you shouldn't wear it every day for several reasons. First, if the watch is a piece that you love, giving the watch a break will make it last longer. Second, one watch is rarely suited to the variety of outfits that a man will wear in a given week.

Avoid setting the date when the watch is between 9PM and 3AM. The watch's date mechanism has begun to automatically change the date and could become damaged during this time if the date is manually set.

If you wear your watch every day, give it a deep clean once a month. The most meticulous watch wearers will wipe down their timepieces daily. Just like washing your face and brushing your teeth before bed, your watch can benefit from a quick clean.

Everyday watches are just that. They are watches you can wear in your daily life. Oftentimes these watches are made watches with less precious metals like stainless steel or titanium, but they cover a variety of styles and can be worn with just about anything.

The cost to service a Rolex ranges between $800 – $1,200 for most watches at a Rolex service center. When you submit your Rolex to a RSC, you'll receive an estimate and that will vary depending on the condition of the watch, movement, age of the watch, and if any parts needs to be replaced.

You could go years without ever going to a watchmaker even though the pivots in your watch are running dry, sheering, and causing build up of debris and dirt. The sheering (from the pivots running dry) thins out the pivots until it eventually snaps altogether. This could happen in several months or several years.

How much does a Sales Professional make at Rolex in the United States? Average Rolex Sales Professional hourly pay in the United States is approximately $20.26, which is 40% above the national average.

Yet 68-years-old is a significant milestone nonetheless, because according to the Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends survey, this specific birthday is widely perceived to signal the beginning of old age.

How much does a Watchmaker make at Patek Philippe? ›

Significantly, Luxury Watchmaker jobs pay 21.2% ($11,540) more than the average Patek Philippe salary of $54,537.

As a general rule, steel Rolex sports watches reliably hold or appreciate in value. This includes, in particular, the GMT-Master II with its famous two-coloured bezel, the Cosmograph Daytona, and the ever-popular Submariner 16610.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $130,000 and as low as $20,000, the majority of Luxury Watchmaker salaries currently range between $41,500 (25th percentile) to $81,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $120,000 annually across the United States.

The average Watchmaker salary in the United States is $38,153 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $35,951 and $44,410.

Blancpain - 1735

The oldest watch brand is Blancpain, founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain.

Also, a watchmaker needs good manual dexterity, including a well-developed sense of touch, and keen eyesight to manipulate dozens of extremely small components with jewel-like precision.

An average man needs at least three types of watches because not only does a watch tell time, but it is a valuable piece of accessories too. A man should have a dress, diving, and casual everyday watch. It is also good to have a tool watch for hobbyists, aside from the casual watch that is good for daily wear.

One of the most amazing things about an automatic watch is its longevity. Unlike a battery powered or quartz watch, with the right craftsmanship, an automatic watch has an indefinite lifespan, pausing only when the wearer ceases to wind or move the internal mechanisms of the timepiece.

The top two — Rolex and Patek Philippe are considered to be, by far, the most collectable luxury watch brands, and the most likely to hold and even appreciate in value over time. This is due to brand recognition, exclusivity, popularity, quality, etc.

How old must a watch be to be considered vintage? ›

Antique watches are at least 100 years-old. Vintage watches are at least 20 years-old. Any watch under 20 years is likely to be classified as simply “old”—neither modern nor quite yet vintage.

What exactly is vintage? The definition of what makes a watch vintage can vary widely, but it's generally said to be anything 25-30 years old, or older.

The No. 1 most expensive watch brand in the world is Patek Philippe, originally named Patek, Czapek & Cie back upon its establishment in 1839. There are a few reasons why this brand is so incredibly expensive — its priciest timepiece and the most expensive watch to ever sell, to date — sold for $31.9 million.

OMEGA Speedmaster, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso are each icons of well established brands. This stability of a model within a stable brand brings more attention to the watch and the more people know a model the more it will retain the value.

Some of the main reasons include the fact that they are super complex, and the cost of labor to produce them is often insanely high because there are so few watchmakers able to make them in the first place. But on top of that, luxury brands are able to pay a premium price simply because of the name of the brand.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $130,000 and as low as $20,000, the majority of Luxury Watchmaker salaries currently range between $41,500 (25th percentile) to $81,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $120,000 annually across the United States.

Patek Philippe arguably owns the top-tier of high-horology. Once, the most expensive watch ever sold was a Patek Philippe with many complications and sold for over 11 million dollars, second only to a Rolex that was worn by Paul Newman.

What time of year is best to buy watches? ›

When you buy watches in January – they can cost a lot less than they do the rest of the year! While many people make pretty irrational decisions when the sales are on (what do you mean it's an ugly dress, it was 70% off!) If you shop wisely you can get some fantastic bargains in January.

Evaluating Your Watch's Condition

While brand, age, and rarity are all factors that can impact how much your watch is worth, none are more important than the condition. Timepieces are delicate and when neglected, it can cause damage to the numerous mechanics within.

How much do Rolex Watch Repair Technician employees make? Employees as Rolex Watch Repair Technician earn an average of $43k, mostly ranging from $43k per year to $43k per year based on 1 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $43k per year.

The estimated total pay for a Watchmaker at Rolex is $92,089 per year.