D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

My TAG Heuer LINK is due for it's first service after Christmas. I really don't want to trust a high street Jeweller with it as was wondering if anyone could recommend a specialist for me?

I found this place who seem to fit the bill, has anyone ever used or heard of them?

Freak

Cheal have a good reputation...know some people who have used them and been impressed.

Your link is a quartz isnt it? Not an intensive job so shouldnt take long.

Think yourself lucky... my heuer carrera (manual so needs a serious service every few years) has been away for 3.5 months now...not due back until end of jan
Just as well I have a couple of breitlings to wear in the mean time...

Simon 69

Has it gone to Duvals in Manchester? Ive always used/recommended them in the past for mine, but I will send my 4000 automatic to this firm next time, along with my other watches. As an aside Im only paying £55-£60 for a manual Omega service (its well over £200 from Omega which exceeds what Rolex want and they include a new crystal!)!

Simon

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

@Freak, it's a manual like yours (WJF5110 is the model).

Thank you both for the info, looking into it now...

Freak

Be aware that duvals is TAG uk... currently you are looking at around 3 months from them.
Mines taking so long because I had it serviced elsewhere which took 6 weeks, and then it was sent to duvals for something further...

They will do the job fine, just take ages doing it!

filfy

My TAG went to Duvals also,did a very good job cleaning it up but as said above did take a long time.

Simon 69

Duval are indeed the UK concessionary and their lead times are shocking (making it easy to guess where the watch had gone...)! Most good watchmakers will have a waiting time of four weeks though, it seems to be unavoidable.

Simon

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

As long as it is done right I am not worried about the time it takes (Within reason of course).

I know mechanical movements have an accuracy tolerance but when I bought it, it gained a bit so Watches of Switzerland (Manchester) slowed it down. A little too much though it turned out and now it loses about 4 seconds a day so I want that sorting which I assume will be checked as part of the service?

I also have a few light scratches on the "Satin" parts of the watch that I would like polishing out too (Nothing major at all, but I like to try and look after it as it was a present).

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

I had mine done here , it was turned around in 2 days and sent back special delivery next day , It cost about £20
Watchdoctors - About the Company

Simon 69

Ian: I doubt that that was for an automatic.

Cleaning; adjusting/regulating and polishing is all part of the service offered.

white scooby

Not sure where abouts you are, but I can recommend John Dysons in Leeds, serviced both my Carrera and Senna ltd edt.

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

That would be much closer, do they do everything those sites posted earlier list and what was the cost please?

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

Sorry didn't mention , I had a new battery fitted and resealed for about £20 ,

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

For those with automatic / manual movements, am I expecting too much for it not to loose 4 seconds a day (Surely, there is an adjustment on them?)?

NACRO

That 4 seconds is within tolerance for an ETA based movement that isn't COSC certified. In fact it might even qualify for COSC certification, I think it's something like -4 and +5.

Chances are you might get it to be more accurate with servicing and regulations but what difference does 4 seconds make. If you want ultimate accuracy then a mechanical watch isn't a good choice anyway.

As for people accepting 3 month turnaround on low end, badge engineered watches with generic movements that's a complete farce. Just take them to a reliable local watchsmith.

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

NACRO, thanks for the fast and concise reply m8y! Am I correct in saying for the watch to say "Chronometer" on the face it has some kind of certification? I seem to remember reading something along those lines when I first got it, but I could have just made that up I guess...

BTW: Cheal estimated about a two week turnaround on the phone this morning, John Dysons was more like six weeks...

Simon 69

As stated, four seconds is well within tolerance and its bloody good!

Simon 69

Also: before we go down the 'cheap watches with ****e ETA actions' route, Breitling, Omega and IWC use ETA ebauches (one in a £10,000+ piece!) and so do Rolex (in their Tudors).

Simon

D-an-W

iTrader: (1)

You have lost me now Simon?

Simon 69

I went off at a tangent, so dont worry. Threads like this usually end up with someone (not NACRO btw) stating, incorrectly, that ETA watch actions, that TAG Heuer use, are crap.

G00ner

My TAG is a Kirium, it's my second one in 10 years.

I'm not a watch snob, I like the watch, it's reasonably priced and both have been reliable.

Are these the badge engineered, mass produced junk that Nacro speaks of or should it be serviced properly by Duvals?

NACRO

I wasn't suggesting that TAG watchess (which I'd regard for the most part as badge engineered) are junk at all. They do however sell largely on name and reputation IMO without offering much in the way of innovative design or high quality compared to some other less well known brands. You could say that about Rolex , Breitling or a myriad other names though.

What I was suggesting is that because they use generic movements in their mechanical watches that any watchsmith worth their salt will be able to service the watch just as well as the TAG authorised repairer.

The ETA movement is the 'Rover V8' of the horlogical world. A bullet proof 'engine' that can be fixed by more or less any decent professional.

If the Kirium is a battery powered model then any reputable 'mall jeweller' will be able to replace the battery and reseal it for you.

G00ner

Thanks Nacro, so the ETA movement is used in various brands? interesting.

Time for a wiki on the subject.

G00ner

ETA SA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chip

My TAG was bought from a kid on a beach in Bali 12 years ago for £10 . It's never been serviced but had a few batteries. It has run faultlessly for all 12 years and doesnt lose or gain any time.

Chip

Simon 69

An ETA ebauche is used in many different brands. The are a many different calibres and even when the model number is the same, there are four different grades (from cheap to very not-cheap). This is why you might find the same number calibre in a better Swatch, as well as in a decent Omega/Breitling, or in a ridiculously priced IWC.

This is why I collect pre-nineteen eighty Omegas, as they had their own Omega manufactured calibres. IWC also made their own actions but Breitling and Heuer mainly used Valjoux ebauches (eg the 7750 now branded ETA too).

Simon

Freak

Venus 178, Lemania 1873, and valjoux 7730 here

Simon 69

Show off!

Simon 69

I assume that the Lemania is in an original Carrera?

Freak

Almost... mid 90s first reissue with just the heuer on the face. Its faithful to the original so close enough... I did buy an original one but it got 'lost' en route from the US
-7730 in my breitling top time (ref 2002 from late 60s - mint as a minty thing this one)
-178 in navitimer 806

Have another valjoux/venus in a breitling #815 but not sure which it is as havent had the back off yet and it could be either depending on whether its a really early one or not.