1 /5 Garrett Bryant: I am in no way a watch snob; I simply wanted maintenance. I dropped off my 50-year-old Seiko 6105 (a $1,500 watch with family history) after seeing the positive reviews for water intrusion repair and maintenance.
The shop said they would send it to their trusted watchmaker. After one month, they called for payment, then radio silence for another month. A short text later said it was “almost done,” and after another month, I called only to be told immediately it was ready.
When I went to pick it up, the owner claimed everything was fixed. Upon inspection, multiple droplets of water were inside the watch on the dial before I had even left the shop. They promised to fix it, but when I asked to see the old parts, I was told they had been thrown away. Reviewing my own photos, I realized they had also polished the case (due to "damage from the vise jaws"), work I never requested, and ruining the original finish, something no quality watchmaker does. The shop admitted to polishing the case, and that water was still able to get in.
This service cost $500 and took three months. My watch was returned in worse condition than when I dropped it off, without the original problem solved. Given the missing parts and ongoing water intrusion, I seriously doubt any meaningful mechanical work was done. Now I have to take it to another shop.
The owner issued a full refund and apologized, claiming this “had never happened before.” My experience was a complete waste of time. If you value your watch, avoid this shop entirely; do not trust them.
