Baume & Mercier Watch Repair... How Much?!!?

[Snax]

OK, my dad has stopped using his Baume et Mercier Formula S automatic watch because it just stopped working and needed a service.

He didnt want to do it, so he said I could have it. I have just got this as a quote back from Baume et Mercier to make this watch as new (it is about 10 years old):

Complete Service: £195
Dial £112.55
Crystal £19.57
Bezel £112.55 (optional)
Postage £11.50

Total £451

I'm shocked at this cost for a watch repair. It is half the price of a new watch. The watch hasnt been treated badly or anything, but are you meant to pay half again every 5 years (he had it serviced once). They also quoted £50 on the phone for a new strap

Watch gurus; does this sound normal to you? Are their any independent people who might be able to restore the watch cheaper? Or is it a B&M only thing?

 

[G|mp]

It only needs a service though so just pay for that, Shirley.

 

[Andr3w]

As G|mp says, does it really need a new dial/crystal/bezel etc?

 

[Feek]

I'd get it serviced and nothing more. It probably looks worn, I'd rather have a piece that looks as though it's been worn and used rather than one that looks brand spanking new. It has a history and if you get all those parts swapped, it will lose that history.

 

[Rich1988]

not only that but if you spend that much on getting it done I would be scared to really wear it for fear of damaging it!

 

[G|mp]

The thing is as well you say it would be like paying for a half a watch but that exactly what it would be.

 

[Snax]

the guy reckoned allofthe above would be needed.

it may be half a watch but I assumed that a large up front cost would result in parts that were not so expensive. £100 for a ring of metal, but £11 for the crystal

more to the point my omega was much cheaper to have stuff done on it.

 

[Yas786]

Sounds about right, last Feb i had my Breitling serviced ie new battery, cleaned and polished as it was looking a tad battered...titanium dents easily...all in all cost me around £500 and was without the watch for 6 weeks.

Then my dad proceeded to tell me that he could have got all that done in Dubai, where he often travels to for around £200 from a proper Breitling service centre...

 

[NickK]

They will be expensive to service.. but that's part of having a watch in my view just like a car.

 

[tres]

Well my Casio is a calculator, and a TV remote built in.

 

[mjt]

Well my Casio is a calculator, and a TV remote built in.

haha my mate had one of those at school, used to fiddle with the aircon

 

[2StepSteve]

Sounds about right, last Feb i had my Breitling serviced ie new battery, cleaned and polished as it was looking a tad battered...titanium dents easily...all in all cost me around £500 and was without the watch for 6 weeks.

Then my dad proceeded to tell me that he could have got all that done in Dubai, where he often travels to for around £200 from a proper Breitling service centre...

£500 to replace a battery and clean the watch? They saw you coming.

 

[Greenlizard0]

Ouch £500. I remember getting a quote for a Tissot watch a few years ago, it needed a new strap = £65.

:/

 

[NickK]

Didn't realise it was a battery job - yup that's expensive.

My strap will last a bit longer - it'll set me back £350.. ouch (although a nice strap).

 

[Will Gill]

watch repairs as already mentioned are v costly, one of my breitlings recently cost me £580 for replacement dials/hands after it got moisture in it

 

[matt_fsr]

Sounds like the 30 year old hammer to me. Only 5 new heads and 7 new handles

Don't think I could ever be a watch afficionado - got too many other things to spend my money on with higher priority!

 

[Bubo]

So is 10 years the average life span of these "proper" watches? I thought they were supposed to be built to last? What bits do they service?