Average cost for watch service?

🔥

In 2009 I sent an Omega 1611 to their HQ for a service, with a polish, and it was €400. I contacted them this week and the same is now a €1500 estimate.

Service price ranges between $500-1000 which depends on the model and complications. You also get to choose what needs to be done when you send the watch for service. Any extra request like change of crystal, crown etc will be charged extra. The regular service will involve movement overhaul, new gasket and case refinishing (optional).

Service interval depends on your use case scenario and the movements. A watch that has been in continuous i.e., constantly in rotation and keeps ticking will probably need service in the recommended time frame. And if you are exposing your watch to water often especially salt water then it needs to be checked every 3 years to keep a tab on the gasket life to be on the safer side. Hi-beat movement like the 36000bph GS if used continuously will have a shorter interval than an equivalent Rolex or Omega movement. You should be good in terms of cost of ownership whether you send it to the official service center or choose to do it outside which usually is cheaper but the service times will vary. GS you will end up only sending back to Seiko if you do go for a hi-beat or spring drive.

Typically set aside $100-$150 a year per automatic watch to cater for servicing at an AD/manufacturer and half that amount for servicing at your local watchmaker. If you don’t do anything extreme with your watches and have a few watches in your rotation, you can probably get away with servicing once every 10 years. YMMV.

My SM300 cost £490ish & 3-4 months, got it back in March. Its basically brand new again & worth every penny.

You should be able to find the price of services on their website. Last I checked, GS started at $600 and Rolex at $900. It's a lot.

Love the 3 watch box

A service starts between $350-450 in my neck of the woods (San Francisco). Moonswatch probably can't be serviced though.

It's a good idea to look at service intervals aswell. Some range anything from 4 to 10 years for automatics, industry rule of thumb is every 7 years.

Secondly have a read up on movement reliability, movement cost.

some movements the like the eta2824 is relatively cheap and easily serviceable but have a few known issues and I have personally had 2 fail. It was cheaper to replace than repair/service.