Honest Words From People Who Left Their Watch With Us

SITUATION

Diver's watch after a Thailand liveaboard

A visiting diver brought in an automatic dive watch following a two-week trip. The crown felt slightly stiff, and the watch had lost roughly three minutes over the final few days. Salt deposits were visible around the crown tube.

WHAT WE DID

Automatic Service with extended gasket work

Full movement service including disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, and regulation. Crown tube cleaned of salt deposits; stem and crown seal replaced. Pressure tested to 20 bar on completion. Movement regulated to +3/-2 seconds per day.

OUTCOME

Returned to full function, pressure-certified

Completed in seven working days. Client collected before their return flight. Timing machine printout and pressure test certificate included. Rate loss eliminated; crown action smooth.

"I didn't expect the documentation — having the pressure cert is actually useful for the logbook."

SITUATION

1971 dress watch from a Phuket estate

A local client inherited a 1971 Longines dress watch in mixed condition — movement not running, case with years of uneven polishing across the lugs, and a dial with some surface oxidation. The client wanted to know what was salvageable before deciding on scope.

WHAT WE DID

Full assessment, then phased Collector Restoration

Initial assessment produced a full condition report with photographs and a clear scope proposal. Client approved phased work: movement overhaul first, then case restoration using brushed finishing to restore rather than alter the original character. Dial cleaned but not re-lacquered — client preferred authenticity.

OUTCOME

Running accurately; original character preserved

Work completed over six weeks, with updates at each phase. Movement running to specification. Case refinished without losing the original proportions. Complete dossier provided — condition photography, lubricant notes, and timing records.

"They asked about the dial before touching it. That showed they understood what I cared about."

SITUATION

Tourist's Seiko — battery swap on day two of a holiday

A visitor from Singapore arrived at the studio without an appointment on a Tuesday morning. The watch had stopped the evening before. No particular urgency beyond wanting it working for the trip.

WHAT WE DID

Quick Care Visit — battery, seal check, light polish

Assessed on arrival. Battery dead; crown seal in acceptable condition with no replacement needed. Battery replaced with Swiss-spec cell; case given a light buff. No additional work was warranted or suggested.

OUTCOME

Ready by mid-morning; rest of the holiday uninterrupted

Client collected the watch by 11am and continued their day. Work took under two hours from drop-off. No unnecessary additions; just the scope that was needed. Client returned the following year for an Automatic Service.

"Fast, simple, and they didn't try to make it into something bigger than it was."