Sent my watch in for service, got quite the shock...

This highlights why "birth year" watches can be a minefield.

I'm 41, and I'm starting to have things wear out. I can't imagine a mechanical device with no ability to regenerate is any less worn out.

If you love the watch, $900 is pretty cheap to keep a vintage watch running for another decade or more.

Sorry to read that, sadly that is the risk of buying vintage. Perhaps ask for it back and let a local watchmaker service?

Yeah I'm not new to vintage watches, and was prepared to pay for a service when I bought it, but I wasn't expecting to pay a slight premium for a good example to find out I'd have to pay another premium to replace half of the watch... I'll probably go through with it, just in shock lol.

Wow. Sorry you had to deal with all that. I will say it’s a great looking Longines, though!

Sorry to hear you are going through this. Hopefully this will be a great watch for you after it's all fixed. I'd love to see a picture of what they mean by "foreign objects" in the movement. Squirrels? 🙂

Well, looking at this objectively, you've bought a 30yo old watch that needs some TLC. Longines, like any big name watchmaker, is telling you what it can do to bring the watch back to like-new. Do you want that? Or did you just want some old watch, for whatever price you got it for, and didn't really want to do much to it? I see this all the time in the vintage car game. There's a difference between buying a 67 Mustang that looks OK and get you around town, but needs work, and actually having a 67 Mustang that drives like new. The watch is no different. So what's your mindset? What do you want? Longines has done nothing wrong here. It's 100% what you want. So choose what you want to do.

If it hasnt been serviced in 30 years i'd guess the gaskets keeping the watch watertight have all been worn out and water damage seems logical. Foreign objects could be debris or dried up lubricants? If 900 can return it back to its original prestine condition, it is a small price to pay.

I myself stay away from vintage because i lack the experience or attraction for it. Vintage inspired modern reissues are a Godsend. 🥰

Expensive but not unreasonable from a brand service centre. I suspect the results will please you. Good luck.

Yup, this is why I just don't understand the obsession with factory service unless there is some extenuating circumstance such that an independent, preferably local, watchmaker cannot perform it.

@complication has a more charitable view, that they want like-new perfection. The truth is somewhere in the middle, I assume. Basically, if one is super-exacting and nit-picky, or cost is no option, factory service is for you. Otherwise I would encourage avoiding and seeking better value for normal expectations.

It is THE very common and repairable 2824 movement, take it to a local watchmaker for a ... Second opinion!

As for the watch, it looks great, nice pick!

Might sound worse than it is.

> Foreign objects detected in the movement.

Means there is a dust particle inside.

> The movement shows signs of moisture.

Means there is a bit of rust on one component.

> The bezel is detached from the case.

Means it must be reattached.

> The bracelet shows signs of wear.

Means someone wore it at least once.

> Moisture damage evident on the hands.

Means there is at least one speck of oxidation on at least one hand.

> The crystal is marked and/or scratched.

Means it needs a new crystal (should come with any service).

> The case is damaged.

Means there is a scratch.

Most of that probably sounds more dramatic than it is. Better to describe it as being in horrible condition than run the risk to return a watch that appears to be in worse condition after the service than it was described before.

Edit: those aged hands are nice. Have them return the watch. They will replace them. Give it to a good watchmaker that can service the movement. Save hundred of dollars.

You really don't need to have all that done. If you like the case as is, if the hands look fine to you, you don't need to have them replaced. Crystals are cheap. Have it done by a reputable local expert. Keep what you want.

The OEM wants to make it perfect. Rolex is known to just replace original dials and hands to freshen the watch. This is no different.

Does seem a little steep. I was expecting maybe around $500, but it sounds like they're doing a complete overhaul. You'd be getting a watch that would look like it was new.

Wow. This happens unfortunately. It helps to have a go to person for repairs but I know that you were going for OEM specs and maintenance.

As stated before ask for the watch back. Most of what they are quoting will bring the watch up to date. Loosing most of the carteristics of a vintage watch. Find a local reputable watchmaker and bring them the estimate you recived and ask their opinion.

Nice watch. Well done fixing that up! I once had to service an old Omega which had to go to Switzerland. I was told in the boutique that if the watch can be serviced by their standard technicians with available spare parts (old parts are only in Switzerland) it will be standard pricing but if the watch needs to go to the restauration department it will be MUCH more expensive. I believe the same is true for Rolex (although their atelier only accepts special watches) who charge insane amounts for restauration jobs. Perhaps Longines does similar stuff?

OP's watch however seems to be a standard movement job ... they just want to replace the case it seems, probably pitting and they fear it can't be waterproofed but it's "policy".

Agreed

I'm glad my birth year (and month even!) watch is a Seiko, easy to keep maintained.

Well, if I could afford a Patek, I could probably afford the 9,000 😂

Something similar happened to me recently as I sent in an old 70s Constellation to Omega for service. I knew the watch was in bad shape (not running, stuck crown, etc.) but Omega insisted in renovating the dial and replacing the hands and I was met with a very very hefty price tag. Although I loved the aged charm and vintage look of the warxh I ultimately decided to go for the renovation, as the watch has sentimental value but hasn’t great value in the vintage market and I figured it might make it one of a kind. I just hope they do a good job.

But I came to the conclusion ion that I do not think it’s the best idea to send a vintage piece back to the manufacturer for service. They do not care about the vintage charm and value of a timepiece. Their interest is to make it look as new as possible again and they seem to be quite inflexible about that. So you’re probably better off finding a good local watchmaker that is actually willing to work with your wishes and concerns.

Secondly, when buying vintage and neo-vintage I resolved to always buy from a reputable vintage seller that has conducted a full-service on the watch and offers one to two years warranty. I think buying from private sellers only makes sense for fairly new watches and, for older watch, if you operate under the assumption that the watch will need to be serviced no matter the description.

The Longines is a beauty though and I hope you wear it in good health for a long time :)

Thank you!

Yeah I did anticipate that it would need a service and was prepared to have that servicing done, but I didn't anticipate that apparently half of the watch would need to be replaced...

I've already contacted Longines and if they can't give me some kind of guarantee that they'll preserve the dial, hands, and bezel insert, I'll very likely take it to someone independent instead and bite the bullet on all the shipping costs.

Best of luck with your constellation 🙂 I hope you're happy with the result you receive.

This 👍

This reminds me of automotive 3rd-party pre-purchase inspections. They're merciless, and fault everything that isn't factory fresh, as they're covering their ass. Worse if it's the manufacturer doing the inspection.

'Case damaged' - how? a nick? It's an old watch.

I'd take it to a reputable independent who can sort it all out for far less.

I’m 62 so there is no chance I am ever going there ! sorry to hear this story for you mate .

I’d ask for it to be sent back and let a local watchmaker service it. My fear would be that Longines would replace the hands and maybe even the bezel and dial, which in my opinion, would remove value and joy of the watch being a genuine Birth Year piece. I had my 2 BY Seikos sympathetically serviced by a local watchmaker, and he did a wonderful job (they are both now in much better condition than me!)

Thats a cheap quote for repair given the issues. I buy a lot of vintage watches and I'd be ecstatic if all my service bills were this cheap.

Ops my bad meant to say it’s a good thing it’s not a Patek

Ouch, that's Omega and Rolex level of service cost. Thank GOODNESS it's a nice common ETA 2824, if it was a pre swatch Longines caliber it would be more expensive or possibly irreparable. That cost estimate is pretty close to my local (really good) watchmaker. I'd say bite the bullet and get that handsome Longines Admiral in tip top shape.

I honestly wouldn't mind nice new hands and a dial with brand new SuperLuminova

Obviously the violence of you taking the watch home basically destroyed the steel of the watch 😂🤣😅