Question on wife's Hamilton

[samson66]

I purchased a Hamilton Jazzmaster 34mm for my wife almost exactly 4 years ago for our anniversary. Looks like the picture below.

She still loves the watch and wears it all the time. Perfect size for her.

Unfortunately about a year ago it started running fast, like >1 min per day fast. I took it to a local watch guy thinking it had maybe been magnetized. He took a look at and said the oils have started drying out and it needs an overhaul.

Quoted me around $350 to do it. The watch brand new was ~$500 so I said no. My question is #1 should I get it serviced or just scrap it and either live with it or buy a replacement? And #2 could anyone recommend an alternative for service that would cost me less? I am more than willing to ship it out for a couple weeks to get it done. Not sure whether to ship to Hamilton directly or if anyone can recommend another source?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[tommy91]

If its sentimental to your wife and she wants the watch for life then get it serviced if she wouldnt mind a replacement then i would go that option as i wouldnt service a watch for nearly its retail price unless it had a special meaning to me. Ask your wife what she would prefer and if the watch is sentimental etc to her. I have no experience with the brand but the service quote seems silly.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by tommy91

If its sentimental to your wife and she wants the watch for life then get it serviced if she wouldnt mind a replacement then i would go that option as i wouldnt service a watch for nearly its retail price unless it had a special meaning to me. Ask your wife what she would prefer and if the watch is sentimental etc to her. I have no experience with the brand but the service quote seems silly.

I'm glad you brought this up because I failed to mention her point of view in all this. I have talked to her about the watch and about it running fast, and I looked into servicing it and offered to pay for it. Her response is basically that she doesn't mind that it runs fast and said just to leave it as it is, not worth the cost, etc.

So I'm the one that is bothered by this, not here. Guess it's the ADHD WIS in me is so annoyed by this. She would be content just adjusting the time every so often, but it drives me crazy LOL

[CoveWatch]

Originally Posted by samson66

I'm glad you brought this up because I failed to mention her point of view in all this. I have talked to her about the watch and about it running fast, and I looked into servicing it and offered to pay for it. Her response is basically that she doesn't mind that it runs fast and said just to leave it as it is, not worth the cost, etc.

So I'm the one that is bothered by this, not here. Guess it's the ADHD WIS in me is so annoyed by this. She would be content just adjusting the time every so often, but it drives me crazy LOL

If she does not mind it as is, then I would just leave it as the sentimental value is worth much more... however, if it was bothering you that much, perhaps one day bring it in for the service. Either way, shes happy

[samson66]

Originally Posted by CoveWatch

If she does not mind it as is, then I would just leave it as the sentimental value is worth much more... however, if it was bothering you that much, perhaps one day bring it in for the service. Either way, shes happy

Thank you and you are correct

It's this forum that does it - I expect perfection from all mechanical watches. It's a disease I tell you

Also just hard to believe it costs nearly 50% of the cost of the watch new to service it. Maybe that's done to gently encourage us to buy a new one rather than servicing the old (sort of like the guy at the car dealer pushing you the same way when you need a $500 repair). Hmmm

[puppet]

We actually have the same problem with the same watch. Bought it for my wife a couple years back, and it runs very fast. Had it regulated once at my normal AD, but it started again running fast soon thereafter.

She’s lucky and that she has a few others to choose from. But it doesn’t seem to be worth the service cost compared to the value of the watch. So at this point she just sets it and wears it when she wants the look of that particular piece.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by samson66

Also just hard to believe it costs nearly 50% of the cost of the watch new to service it. Maybe that's done to gently encourage us to buy a new one rather than servicing the old (sort of like the guy at the car dealer pushing you the same way when you need a $500 repair). Hmmm

Service cost aren't based on the price of the watch. It is based on time/parts/equipment needed.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by puppet

We actually have the same problem with the same watch. Bought it for my wife a couple years back, and it runs very fast. Had it regulated once at my normal AD, but it started again running fast soon thereafter.

She’s lucky and that she has a few others to choose from. But it doesn’t seem to be worth the service cost compared to the value of the watch. So at this point she just sets it and wears it when she wants the look of that particular piece.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info - sounds like no point in having it regulated. Full service or live with it I guess. This is my wife's only regular watch (by regular I mean not counting her fitbit) so she wears it all the time. She loves the look of it and I do too. It's the perfect size for ladies I think. I am surprised a Swiss watch like this does not keep better time though. Kind of disappointed in that.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Service cost aren't based on the price of the watch. It is based on time/parts/equipment needed.

OK I see your point. Just because a watch is cheaper doesn't necessarily mean it takes less time to service. Is there anything to the "oil is drying up" story the watch guy told me? Seems to me after less than four years this shouldn't be an issue?

[JR16]

$350 sounds reasonable to me. Maybe if you check around your local watchmakers you can have it done for a few $ cheaper but maybe not . If it’s your wife’s regular watch and she likes it and it has any bit of sentimental value , and she is annoyed by having it run a minute faster per day, then personally I would pay for the service. After 4-5 years it is not unusual to get a watch serviced . Oils may dry out, gaskets may get worn, etc etc .


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[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by samson66

OK I see your point. Just because a watch is cheaper doesn't necessarily mean it takes less time to service. Is there anything to the "oil is drying up" story the watch guy told me? Seems to me after less than four years this shouldn't be an issue?

Honestly it isn't super common but if a watch or movement has had a long shelf life before you got that could be the case. No way to tell without opening it up unfortunately.

The other thing is they might not want to work on it without a full service. The reason for that is if they did work on it and it still had issues then they would be on the hook for it. But if they did a full service then they could warranty their work and know that is it good to go instead of taking that risk.