When do you draw the line?

It's not cheap to service an automatic chronograph.

You get what you pay for with watch repairs.

There might be those who say they can do the work for less, but it may cost more in the long run.

If you've owned the watch for a long time and enjoy wearing it then you've spent your money well.

I'm thinking ~US$200 for a 3 hander and ~US$500 for a Valjoux based movement. Though I'm sure prices vary depending on where you get it done, which movement is in the watch, and what shape the watch is in.

Not in the uk I’m afraid. Many things here have an effective exchange rate of 1:1 with USD

A good service (and a little luck) will add 20 years to a watch.  If you measure it against its future value versus its current value then a repair/service is almost always the right call. A $300 service on a $100 watch is a different proposition.  Watches sit in drawers because the future benefits are not obvious to the owner.

That service works out to about $13.60 CAD a month, or less than a HD Netflix subscription. 

If you enjoy the watch, it sounds like it's money well spent. 

Also if a watch means alot to you you will probably be more willing to give it some love. It is only money at the end of the day and it's nice to keep your watch working like it should. 

Plus if you know that it has had a great service by a professional company then definitely money well spent.

I don’t think I would service my Seiko 5, unless I tried to do it myself. However for anything else, if it gets worn, it would get serviced if needed (though my definition of if needed varies on the watch, from completely stopped to slightly out of spec)

How did you find Luxury Watch Repairs? Have they done a good job on the watch, and how was their customer service?

 I see they are in a Hatton Garden, which is near where I work; but I’ve had some bad experiences from a service place there. I’m currently testing out Tic Toc Man, also in the area, on recommendation of a friend. 

Beautiful TAG. I’d agree that if this gets you 10-20 more years of life on an interesting one like this, I’d go for it. Depends on what the watch means to you. 

Having serviced a watch movement it’s one of the more difficult tasks I’ve done. If I were paying for it I would definitely not go with the cheapest quote and if I liked it enough I would pay for maintenance regardless of the market value.

I read good things about them online and then i Used them for a vintage Movado (a family piece).

The all round experience was fine and there was more in the way if updates than an AD service 

Agreed but this particular TAG seems to demand services too frequently. The last one was less than 5 years ago. I’m hoping that the job done by these guys gets it sorted out for a reasonable time 

Likewise I doubt I’d get my seagull or my Vostok serviced. It would be cheap to replace them 

I will stick with replacing batteries or using Solar, 500 pounds for a service that's a hell of a lot of batteries, or you could purchase a few watches. I had Seiko Diver back in 80's and also needed a service, 8 weeks later and $184 AUD (1987) to service the watch as it was losing time, ended up selling it for $50.. I said back then I would never own another Automatic due to the servicing fees. 

IF I cant do it myself and I love the watch or it was my dads or his dads watch that are now part of my collection then I would go pretty deep to keep them moving. 

It is a beautiful watch, sounds like you will be enjoying it for many more years. 

I draw the line at serviceable or not. For example, I passed on buying a 1950s Omega Seamaster in a"fat lug" case, because these pieces were powered by 49X and 50X-series movements. I asked Omega-certified watchmakers about servicing them, and they told me they won't even touch any of these movements - they've got a flaw in the design of the rotor assembly, causing parts in it to wear out rather fast. Omega has turned the parts tap off even for independent watchmakers certified by them. Except the ones in Switzerland, and their authorized service centres.

Some watchmakers also just won't touch vintage Pierce watches with in-house movements, especially chronographs. No parts, and supposedly a menace to work on. Similarly, a lot of them won't touch an El Primero movement. 

Bottom line, even if a coveted piece would be within my reach price-wise, I would buy it only if I haven't heard of it as being unserviceable.

The availability of spare parts is becoming more and more of a problem. Even once-common generic movements tend to have that issue. A mainspring can often be replaced by a generic one, but stuff like a balance complete can be at times impossible to replace, unless you're in luck and a donor movement shows up.

Usually a full movement replacement on Seiko 5s

I'm thinking of sending my Tag quart in it needs a new crown and winder stem and a battery. I haven't got a clue how much it will cost, or even where to send it to.

Either to your AD or there may be good (TAG approved) independents. Your profile doesn't say where you are. Always ensure that the service is warrantied. It won't be as bad as mine as mechanical chronographs are expensive services. Quartz is generally not too bad.

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