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I saw my Dad the other day for the first time in over a year and he mentioned he needs his watch servicing. It's a 1969ish Rotary 21 Jewel watch that self powers through movement (or something like that).
He's emailed Rotary who said they no longer have agents to service their watches and all watches are now done at their HQ. He was asked to email a photo to them, which he did. They came back and told him the watch was too old for them to service as they no longer have parts for watches of that age. They said it would be better to seek an independent watch expert that could do the service as they would possibly have any parts it might need.
I told him there are several watch connoisseurs on here and did he want me to ask for advice? So here we are. The watch was his 21st birthday present from his parents in 1969 so has obvious sentimental value. Can anyone recommend a reputable agent/shop/independent that he could contact to discuss having the watch serviced? And yes, this will be the first service it will have had.
Thanks
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You have answered your own question...
They said it would be better to seek an independent watch expert that could do the service as they would possibly have any parts it might need
Best option is likely to be an independent jeweller - in his or your area - who sells watches; they usually have some in-house capability and always have contacts.
Google is your friend on this one.
Where are you? There’s a very good jewellers and watch specialist here in Wiltshire, with branches in Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon, and they have watch makers on site, who go to Switzerland for training. They serviced and replaced the mainspring on my 1969/70 Yema Rallygraf, but they aren’t cheap! That work cost me £460, on a watch I paid £50 for, from new.
It had great sentimental value to me, because it was the first watch I bought with my own earnings, and it was a lot of money at the time, I was getting around £8 a week!
I’ve seen one for sale recently going for £4100, so worth the repair.
https://www.deacons-jewellers.com/
I can recommend a decent independent down in Kent if you're local - he restored a Tudor 7928 that others wouldn't touch.
Gnusmas lives in South Wales I think, not sure about his dad.
I live in Carmarthen and my dad lives near Aberystwyth. He's happy to send the watch to someone that's good and able to do it, not sure if there is anyone near us apart from the likes of timpsons. I think after what Rotary have said he's worrying a bit because of the parts issue they mentioned.
I think after what Rotary have said he’s worrying a bit because of the parts issue they mentioned.
The chap I used can make parts - he mills them himself. He gets a lot of referrals from high-end London dealers and watchsmiths to make obscure watch and clock bits. This is why he did the Tudor - there was only one London repair workshop who would have gone near it - and they wanted silly money just to open it up and check it out. This chap in Tonbridge works out of his flat and said that any parts he couldn't buy, he'd just make.
I don't think he'd be particularly cheap though. My service on the Tudor was £400.
Drop me a PM and I'll send you through his details.
The wife's father and grandad both worked in the rotary service department. Grandad has passed on but Dad Still has all his kit and watchmakers lathe etc. I have sent a pic to see if he recognises it. He has boxes of bits still.
Another possibility would be to get a new movement fitted - e.g. a Sellita SW220 is £170 from Cousins. The case, face and hands would be original and he'd have a brand new movement that wouldn't need touching for years.
Spoke to my Dad yesterday about it and he asked me to say thankyou for all your suggestions and help so far. He really appreciates it all and is pleased there might be a way to get it sorted.
@porter_jamie that is pretty amazing, thankyou for doing that.
@woffle sounds promising, thankyou
@murray honestly didn't know that could be done. Will put that to him too, hadn't seen your reply before I spoke to him.
@countzero thankyou for the link and info, sounds like an option to consider too
Thanks again for all your suggestions and help so far
Pretty sure there'll be an A Schild movement of some description inside that and parts availability shouldn't be an issue, so any decent independent will have no problem servicing it.
Someone mentioned above that they know a guy who can make parts if they're nla and that's proper watchmaking with the hourly rate to reflect that. What you need is someone who services and repairs watches, a watch technician if you like, but they all call themselves watchmakers regardless. I'd be happy to take it on but I'm pre-booked until September at the earliest, so Joe at Anglesey Watch and Clock repairs or Rick Askham are the first two that spring to mind. Both have a great rep within the industry and don't take the piss on pricing.