How do I get into this f'ing watch?

JG · Post by JG » Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:54 pm

Watch repairers.

Probably the richest people in the world. They charge £100 to service a Rolex.

Or £15 to take one minute blowing dust off the straps. Christ, that's more money than Ronaldo earns in a day (It's clearly not, but let's pretend it is to add credibility the posting).

Right I've got a Seiko watch that sits around my wrist all day long telling the time. Pretty normal watch like behaviour. I could look at it AT any time and there was the time. Time and time again. Sorry, I'll put the red fez down.

Anyway, there is a bezel around the bit that goes 27 MON. This has fallen off and currently obstructs the hands from moving around.
There are no obvious ways to open the fecker up. No little indentations around the rim to prise it open. Nothing. Yet these secretive bloody watch repairers seem to hold the answer.

Any clues? Any tips? Sensible tips that will leave the watch intact. I may have to post a macro picture (if anyone puts up a big picture of a stupid rip off 'cash 'n carry that sells branded goods for the same price as ASDA but without adding the VAT then I shall have to kill them). Actually macro are ok for buying those big perspex boxes full of disco discs (like chocolate buttons sprinkled with thundreds and housands).

Anyway, whatever you've got Rolex, Casio, Timex, Bloopex, Animal, Tag Heure or if you tie a grand father clock to your wrist, just talk to me about watches and how to fix 'em. Talk to me.

It has already slipped away again after hitting some Stop 'n Steps on my Flashback to get into practice for errr what's it called? Yeah Cluedo.

Rip off. Will take it back time permitting and moan. I reckon they just opened it up, wedged it back in and didn't apply special jewellery adhesive. Shocking.

£15 just to cough over the watch practically.

Any anecdotes, antedotes or doting grand parents?

Talk to me.

harry2 · Post by **harry2** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:26 am

If it's a divers watch then the unit is waterproof and sealed. You can buy case openers on e-bay for about a fiver.

JG · Post by JG » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:56 am

Cheers Harry, I will investigate that line of repair.

It wasn't billed as a 'diver's watch' but it is water resistant to xxx metres, so probably a sealed unit then.

gambogaz1 · Post by **gambogaz1** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:33 am

It's a very simple contraption that they use for most Watches. A bloke on the stall next to me does batterie fittings for watches. It's a small adjustable clamp type thing with 2 fine pine head type claws that grips the back so you can twist it off. Then he's got a mini plunger thing to fit the back on without damaging the screen (Although there's usually 1 or 2 casulties a week)

harry2 · Post by **harry2** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:13 am

Any decent independent jeweller would do the job for next to nothing.

There are some here (especially like the description Swiss tools from Hong Kong)

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/_W0QQ_nkwZ ... mZQQ_sopZ1

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:35 am

Theres actually a hairdressers in Leicester where the owner fixes watches and the money goes to charity, its on Beatrice road, take it in if and when you come to Leicester, its a 10 minute walk from the centre.

JG · Post by JG » Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:33 am

Nice one Eddie, I didn't actually go to Leicester today, although will probably pop over in September some time just to check out the old stomping grounds and see if any p2 wiybs recently chipped to p3 wiybs are floating around next to a Cash Attack.

I was charged £8 by Timpsons for the repair, I'll take it back in, probably Thursday when I'm passing by there again.