Watch Snobbery

I dont know if its snobbery or the fact they dont see the value of doing a $200 service on a $100 watch.  It would be much more cost effective to swap in an ebay movement.  If you did an nh36 you could add hacking and hand winding for like $60 in parts. You could probably find a modder willing to do it for $100-150. 

Hmm okay thanks that’s good to know. I  might take on the project myself if I get excited one day. It’s really just to change the crystal to sapphire for now, but  i will definitely consider those mods later on.

The crystal is even easier.  Get a cheap press, sapphire, a gasket, and put on some youtube tutorials.  That being said, Im kinda surprised they wouldnt pop a crystal in for you.  

I've had a movement swap done on my SNK. It cost a bit more than replacing the whole watch, and half as much as an actual full service. 

I'm not sure how you asked and what they said. If they say "it isn't worth it" they are sort of right and you have to push back a bit and explain why it might be to you. The big thing is that you have to make it clear that you are willing to pay before they dismiss you. 

Okay  thanks I’ll keep that in mind

Nothing further to add to the excellent advice that @southernwatch and @OscarKlosoff haven’t said. You can likely get a better movement and tools for less than $100 then head to YouTube for tutorials. You‘ll love the watch a whole lot more when you’re done.

Well, to answer the question, I would say that there is a general assumption that the owner of a <$300 watch is not going to want to pay what they charge for repairs. You have to dissuade them of this enough to at least get an estimate.

The follow up question if there is a absolute refusal should always be "Do you know anyone who can?"

I will agree with the comments made before me.  I don't think it's watch "snobbery" so much as simple economics.  At certain price points, services just don't make sense.  With $15-30 worth of tools, and another $50 or less for parts you should be able to replace the movement in your watch with a superior NH35.

Hope you get your watch fixed

Yeah man thanks for the support😎

I use my bench drill in the garage with a drift and rubber disk, works a treat!

I love the concept of the application of simple economics tantamount to being snobbery. 

I'm happy to service the watch, replace the crystal, etc for nothing. You'd just have to sort the return flights to/from the Cayman Islands 😁

There are some online offering servicing etc,where you send it off send they do the work. I've seen them on ebay(I'm in the UK) sure there will be somebody in your part of the world doing similar or reach out to the modding community, that should be right up their street. Good luck.

Its not economical to service. Seiko is a plug and play brand as the movement is $50.00 usd where the Swiss movements are over $200.00 which is worth the servicing. No one wants to charge you $150.00 to fix a $50 buck part.

I assume this is what will happen when I want to "service" the Seagull 1963 that I bought from A** E*press. Apparently, not too many watch makers service the ST1901 movement to begin with. Then, again, why would you spend $250 to $400 on servicing a movement when you can buy a brand new one for less than $200 from an online retailer?

I recently serviced my 10 year old Tissot Couturier (2834-2 movement) for $250. My wife paid $580 or something 10 years ago, but when I was getting the watch serviced, a brand new one with the updated movement (Powermatic 80) was selling for $300. The only reason why I serviced my old watch was because it was a gift from my wife. Unless there is a sentimental value to the watch, I think that $300 - $400 is about the break even point for whether to service the watch or throw it out and get another one.

This is true. But replacing the whole movement would be faster. Labor costs are going to dwarf the cost of the parts in either case, so I can understand not wanting to do the work 

Well, this has a day/date complication.

I hate to use automotive analogies so often, but if you have a lower end or higher mileage car, most mechanics will assume you just want the thing rigged to run as opposed to a proper full repair. Like they'll replace one spark plug or ignition coil when they should do them all because the rest will fail soon in short order.

I kind of wonder how much is really being done by the inexpensive watchmaker I've taken to using. Is he just dunking the things in solvent and re-oiling and possibly regulating, or is it a full disassembly service? 

I am not at all a "skilled" or trained watch maker.. but I managed to swap a NH36 into my SKX in about 20minutes (removing dial hands from 7s26 and swapping the spacer and then installing dial / setting hands... and recasing..   would have been less than 20minutes.. but I was having the devil's own time with the seconds hand..

sadly I am apparently REALLY good at breaking SKX's because I "get" to do this again .. because I dropped this watch 6mos after swapping the movement (after breaking the 7s26 in a similar manner)... now it runs hella fast..  probably cheaper / easier to just get another NH36 and swap it in honestly.. on upside crown is already sorted / cut.. so yeah...