If you own a fine watch, you’ll want to keep it in good working order. Even if you get your watch serviced regularly, you’ll probably eventually need to have repairs performed at some time to keep it running properly. In this short guide, we will walk through some of the basic types of watch repairs. At Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry, we want you to feel comfortable leaving your new or vintage luxury timepiece in our care.
Regardless of what problem your watch experiences, our master jewelers will do their best to restore functionality and beauty to your watch.
If you are shipping your watch to our Littleton, CO, store, make sure to package it properly and purchase insurance before sending it on its way. This will help ensure that it gets to us in good condition and give you peace of mind that your most valued accessory arrives safely. You can also put a card inside the packaging letting us know what you would like us to fix. If you would simply like us to diagnose any potential problems with the watch, we will be happy to take an in-depth look.
Watch Repairs vs. Service
We have found that customers sometimes get confused between watch repair and watch servicing. These are two different things, and we think it’s important that you know the difference. Just like any mechanical object, watches require regular maintenance to run at their best. You wouldn’t leave your car going for years without getting the engine tuned up, and your watch also needs occasional maintenance to keep it running precisely.
On the other hand, if you scratch the watch crystal or drop your watch and damage the inner workings, you’ll probably need watch repair services to restore it.
It’s important to bring your watch in for regular maintenance as suggested by the manufacturer. However, in the event that you need watch repairs, you can trust our experienced jewelers to repair or replace any non-working parts.
Common Watch Repair Tasks
There are many common problems that can cause your watch to wear out prematurely. In most cases, there are easy fixes for those who know what to look for. At the same time, we don’t recommend trying to make repairs on your watch yourself. This could lead to irreparable damage and may void any warranty that you still have on your timepiece.
Replacing Batteries or Mainsprings
Watch batteries often run for a long time. However, they don’t last forever. If you need a new battery installed in your timepiece, you can trust our jewelers to do it quickly and precisely. We remove the back of the watch and replace the battery and also look for potential damage to surrounding mechanisms. While batteries are located in easy to access locations in most cases, it’s important to let a professional jeweler perform this service with the required equipment to avoid unintentional damage.
Vintage watches are mechanically driven and do not have batteries. Instead, they have a part called a mainspring that keeps the watch running. Eventually, the mainspring loses elasticity and tension and your watch may begin to lose time. In that case, you may need a new mainspring to restore the functionality of the watch so that it can create the required mechanical energy. At our Littleton, CO, store, our jewelers can replace batteries in more modern watches and mainsprings in your heritage timepieces. If you have a vintage watch, we use delicate tools and patience to preserve the original parts whenever possible.
Lubrication
When we receive your timepiece, we will check all moving parts to make sure that they are properly lubricated. This is an important step no matter whether we are servicing or repairing your luxury watch. We now use synthetic lubricants instead of animal-based oils used in the past. This sustainable and more effective process can help your watch keep running smoothly. If your watch stops ticking or seems to get stuck, it may need additional lubrication.
When you bring your watch in for servicing, we will make sure that we handle your timepiece delicately so that the gears and other parts are not disturbed.
Cleaning Your New or Vintage Watch
Dirt and debris can accumulate in your watch, causing mechanical issues and other problems. Therefore, it’s important to have your watch properly cleaned when you get it serviced. Additionally, if you find that your watch isn’t keeping time or appears grimy, it may be time to bring it in for our jewelers to give it a thorough cleaning. For mechanical timepieces that rely on oil-based lubricant, the lubricant eventually becomes sticky. So, before re-lubricating the timepiece, we will remove any old oil that is stuck to the watch parts as part of any routine watch repair.
Movement Repairs
Movement repairs require a delicate touch and, in some cases, years of training. However, you can trust our team of well-trained jewelers to keep your watch ticking. Every watch has its own unique movement and the mechanics involved are sometimes complex. If your timepiece is having trouble ticking or has stopped running, our diagnosis will determine whether it needs movement repairs. It’s important to get this type of issue handled as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage.
Work with a Qualified Watch Repair Shop
Finding the right team to help you with your watch repairs in Littleton, CO, can mean the difference between having a broken watch and having a heritage timepiece to hand down through the generations. At Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry, we have assembled a team of craftsmen who will treat your watch with the respect it deserves.
Contact us today for repairs to your Rolex and other luxury timepieces.
