What is your favorite bricks and mortar watch store?
I don't see this often as a topic. I'm embarrassed to admit I live in a real watch store desert, and I'm only about 30 minutes from a fairly large city (Cincinnati). When I was a child, downtown Cincinnati had jewelry, department, and specialty stores with all kind of watches. Gruen watches were actually made right in the city! That's all gone now, except for one store. And my local Walmart has downsized its Timex and Casio displays almost to the point of non-existence.
There is a watchmaker in the little town of Bellevue KY, about 25 minutes from my house at a shop called Cleves and Lonnemann. It's an old business, and now it's just the Cleves family. They are also an authorized dealer for Citizen. I have about 20 quartz watches, and there are a few where I can't open the case myself. These would include a few of my Seikos whose casebacks were put on by Hercules, and of course Mademoiselle Tissot whose mirror-polished caseback has no notch or tab that I can see. One of the many watchmakers there will change the battery in about two minutes for five dollars. They have also sized a few bracelets that I couldn't tackle - for free.
Do you have real life stores or watchmakers that you like to visit in your town? Or maybe interesting places you saw on vacation? Maybe you even have been to a Seiko outlet store? What do you have? Where have you been?
Catholic, father of two, born before the Quartz Crisis, worked in hospital for 37 years, retired, also was semi-pro drummer (drumset) in loud rock bands and hand drums drummer (African) in acoustic du...
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My favorite that is here in Phoenix is called AZ Fine Time. They are also a cigar shop so it is a really casual place. They have many Seikos including some of the limited edition ones. I can’t name all the brands, but I’ve bought a Hamilton and my Ball Engineer Marvelight from them as well as a beautiful Seiko for my wife. They aren’t really a repair shop or anything but have quite the selection.
If Bargain Booze only sold watches.
In the Beverly Hills area of LA, I have visited the vintage watch shop Second Time Around a few times and bought a really nice 60s-era Omega Seamaster Cosmic for a fair price. If you are in LA and dig vintage watches, I highly recommend a visit. https://secondtimearoundwatchco.com/
Sadly, there is not one where I live.
Isn't Richter Phillips in Cincinnati? I've heard decent by things from friends.
My favorite that is here in Phoenix is called AZ Fine Time. They are also a cigar shop so it is a really casual place. They have many Seikos including some of the limited edition ones. I can’t name all the brands, but I’ve bought a Hamilton and my Ball Engineer Marvelight from them as well as a beautiful Seiko for my wife. They aren’t really a repair shop or anything but have quite the selection.
Thank you for telling about your favorite store. Cigars and watches seem to be a good mix. I don't buy cigars but am annoyed at the secret wars against them that seem to be happening. Can't have anything that people might like, and spend their own money on!
That sounds like a great place. Too many brands to name. A big Seiko selection where you could also find one for your wife. And limited edition ones! Maybe I'm glad it's not in Cincinnati. Once inside, I might never leave!
If Bargain Booze only sold watches.
"Bargain Booze and Watches" After your trip there you wouldn't care, or indeed couldn't tell, if your new quartz watch hit all the markers.
I was recently referred to a repair/second hand watch shop in downtown San Francisco called Seregin’s’. It seems to be a family affair with a husband and wife team along with an adult son running the shop. They’ve some great prices on second hand watches of all price ranges. I dropped an old quartz watch to them for repair but next time I’m buying they’re the first people I’ll go see. He had a few GS and a few Tudor that really got me.
The shop is fairly hidden in a parking garage but if you want details just message me. I don’t think they work too much online.
Isn't Richter Phillips in Cincinnati? I've heard decent by things from friends.
It is indeed, right on Main Street, and that's the "one store" I was referencing. I have a Jules Jurgensen watch that my Dad got me at Richter and Phillips for Christmas in 1986. It's an iconic store. Your friends were right.
But there used to be good selections at every big downtown department store, as well as the import and specialty shops. That's all gone. Of course, everybody doesn't need a watch any more the way they did when I was a child in the 1960s. I'm glad R&P are still hanging in there, but by selling quality products and having excellent customer relationships, it's no surprise.
In the Beverly Hills area of LA, I have visited the vintage watch shop Second Time Around a few times and bought a really nice 60s-era Omega Seamaster Cosmic for a fair price. If you are in LA and dig vintage watches, I highly recommend a visit. https://secondtimearoundwatchco.com/
Thank you, that's really good. I'm glad there are vintage shops that are doing well. And a 60s Omega for a fair price - you don't see that just anywhere.
omegaman75 is a great WatchCrunch title btw.
It is indeed, right on Main Street, and that's the "one store" I was referencing. I have a Jules Jurgensen watch that my Dad got me at Richter and Phillips for Christmas in 1986. It's an iconic store. Your friends were right.
But there used to be good selections at every big downtown department store, as well as the import and specialty shops. That's all gone. Of course, everybody doesn't need a watch any more the way they did when I was a child in the 1960s. I'm glad R&P are still hanging in there, but by selling quality products and having excellent customer relationships, it's no surprise.
It's been that way with every city out there outside of very large national cultural centers like NYC or London which can support multiple ADs. The brands are opening boutiques and flagships in core cities and consolidating ADs outside of them. SF, as far as I can tell, has a two ADs of note across virtually all major watch brands and a bunch of brand specific boutiques.
I suspect the age of the department store jewelery counter (and even the age of the independent dealer) is sunsetting.
As for me, most boutique and AD experiences are pretty quick and transactional for me. There are a few really great places though. A Topper Jeweler where everyone is a watch nut for example.
I was recently referred to a repair/second hand watch shop in downtown San Francisco called Seregin’s’. It seems to be a family affair with a husband and wife team along with an adult son running the shop. They’ve some great prices on second hand watches of all price ranges. I dropped an old quartz watch to them for repair but next time I’m buying they’re the first people I’ll go see. He had a few GS and a few Tudor that really got me.
The shop is fairly hidden in a parking garage but if you want details just message me. I don’t think they work too much online.
Thank you so much for sending this, that seems like a really interesting place. Family business, vintage watches of all price ranges, parking garage location.
If you like one of their Grand Seikos or Tudors and buy it maybe you might want to post its photo here on WatchCrunch? It seems like most of us always buy our watches online, or don't mention the physical store if we buy it there.
There are dozens near me, all pretty terrible though. Chain store jewellers in the main, I tend to steer well clear. The big Swiss brands also have boutiques nearby, I shop used for all that stuff though. No mom and pop types anymore.
That's good that you still have them though, even if they are pretty terrible.
London has pretty much every store and brand you can think of. So I have no issues with brick and mortar options.
There’s Richter and Phillips in Cincinnati, AD for Rolex, Tudor, Breitling, GS, Seiko and more.
I buy all of my watches from B&M stores; never got into online watch shopping because I always need help with bracelet adjustments. Most of my watches are purchased from Sincere Watches, but I’ve also bought from HourGlass, Watches of Switzerland and G-Factory.
Myrtle Beach doesn't have any watch stores except a Fossil outlet store and a few things like Reeds Jewelers but no place to really go watch shopping like teddy and Kevin be doing.
You have a Bass Pro Shop.
Torneau 57th Street NYC of course, also in Caesars Las Vegas.
I remember when they looked like this. It’s been a few years.
In India there are maybe 4 large watch retailers (who also sell luxury brands): Ethos, Helios (owned by Titan), Zimson, Just in Time; is what I can recall over the top of my head. Then there’s regional players (Kapoor Watch Co, Ramesh Watch Co) etc. Every town has a small local mom & pop watch repair shop in almost every zip code who can do basic quartz servicing. The most famous Indian brands are Titan (owned by Tata group) and HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) — they have their own retail outlets (HMT has only 2 retail outlets in India I think, that too in Bangalore). Then there are multi-retail outlets who also sell watches (mainly fashion brands + casio). In my city (Bangalore), Ethos has a large presence and there are also standalone stores of Omega, Seiko, Casio. Given Bangalore’s traffic situation everything is at least 20-25 mins away. Hope this gives an insight into the Indian watch market 😊
My friend, I’m not far from you. James Free Jewelers is my AD. They’re amazing and have locations in Cincy and Dayton. I deal at the Dayton location. See Rachel on my recommendation.
They offer Rolex, Tudor, Omega, Oris, TAG and Frederique Constant. DM me if you want contact numbers. Richter & Phillips is also in Cincy and deals in many of those brands and more.
I was thinking when I read your post, that WatchCrunch should have a section for community vetted watchakers, dealers, etc.
If there was one place where we could post those businesses which we have successfully worked with and where others in the community could also share their experiences.
It would be nice for example to have a list of watchmakers and the cities they are located in to draw from for servicing vintage watches, for example.
It would be a real addition @Max to have something like this for the community.
Jack Mason or Bachendorf's in Dallas.
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance by Robert Pirsig talks about the slow dying of American innovators and family business skills way back …. I am 62 and an Australian and seen the same decline in our manufacturing and innovation. Treasure these establishments while they still operate:)
In the Chicago area I really like Burdeen's, they're in the Buffalo Grove suburb on the north side. They're AD's for (at least as of my last visit) Lange, JLC, Ulysse Nardin, Omega, Grand Seiko, Breitling, Panerai, Chopard, maybe a couple more, and their pre-owned selection is out of this world. The first, and so far only, solid platinum Royal Oak Offshore I've ever worn I tried on there, that was a fun day. They also run the Vacheron boutique downtown on Michigan Avenue, which has a small pre-owned area which is amazing.
Good to see so many UK guys on this post, and it looks like the brick and mortar watch store is doing at least pretty well there.
In the Chicago area I really like Burdeen's, they're in the Buffalo Grove suburb on the north side. They're AD's for (at least as of my last visit) Lange, JLC, Ulysse Nardin, Omega, Grand Seiko, Breitling, Panerai, Chopard, maybe a couple more, and their pre-owned selection is out of this world. The first, and so far only, solid platinum Royal Oak Offshore I've ever worn I tried on there, that was a fun day. They also run the Vacheron boutique downtown on Michigan Avenue, which has a small pre-owned area which is amazing.
Hello, and that is absolutely excellent. Those brands are out of my pay grade but I'm sure glad to hear of Burdeen's where a guy can see the $$$$ or $$$$$ watch before he buys it.
And I think most (all?) of us are always interested in a good used section in a store.
London has pretty much every store and brand you can think of. So I have no issues with brick and mortar options.
That's excellent, and that's the word I seem to be getting from other UK WatchCrunch guys.
Here's my diamond in the rough. The photo is from the last time the Google Street view car came along, which was well over a decade ago, so the sign is different now. Same people, same watches.
Feldmar Watch Company in LA by a long shot. It's Disneyland for watches staffed with people passionate about it all.
They are very cool there.Made a couple purchases from them.