Help Support Your Local Watchmaker.

[padi56]

Help Your Local Watchmaker.

From The British Watch and Clock Makers' Guild,


As you are probably aware the independent watch repairer in this country
(and the rest of the world) is unable to obtain parts to repair most
brands of luxury Swiss watches, and this restrictive supply of parts
appears to be affecting more brands each year.

The result is that the customer (you) is forced to go back to the Brand
itself (through an official agent) to get the watch repaired, paying
their prices without the possibility of any other competition.

The British Watch and Clock Makers Guild and other European trade
organisations are against this situation.

CEAHR the European Confederation of Watch & Clock Repairer's
Associations (Confederation Européenne des Associations d'Horlogers
Réparateurs) are currently taking action through The Competition
Directorate of the EC.

In order that the Directorate understands the strength of feeling,
please log onto

www.ceahr.org

and sign the petition.

The choice you have is stark; either influence the EU officials by
supporting the CEAHR petition,

or risk losing the supply of any parts for any watches, this will result
in almost all watch repairs being carried out by official agents who
will charge as they please.

Please circulate this email to anyone who wears a watch.

[dman]

There seems to be a shortage here in the States, but I do all my work that is not under warranty through my local guy.

[JIM-]

I always support my local business.

[JJ Irani]

I have never had a watch serviced - never kept it long enough....trying very hard to change all that now!!

[dman]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I have never had a watch serviced - never kept it long enough....trying very hard to change all that now!!

Yeah, uh huh, right.

[G Shearing]

I doubt if they can clam up the supply of parts. I know of at least two sites that sell original rolex dials in their original packing.
I agree its in Rolex's interest to keep the mystique and exclusivity but it does not serve the vast majority of owners who after buying no longer have brand new watches and are no longer under warranty.
Saw recently on another forum a really trashed Sub that someone got for nothing. Owner is going to go through Rolex and maybe pay $1500.00 for restoration.
A competent watchmaker could do the whole thing for a third of that. Rolex knows it has its buyers by the B**ls.

[dman]

Originally Posted by G Shearing

Rolex knows it has its buyers by the B**ls.

The problem is, my local watchmaker is an a-hole......

Oh well.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Avalon

The problem is, my local watchmaker is an a-hole......

Oh well.

Well thats a shame if you ever find a good one,treat him like your best mate and he will do likewise.Yes I would agree that
Rolex got you by the short and curlies.IMO you should be able to have your watch serviced where you want,Rolex movements
are not rocket science,and they should be able to source parts

Originally Posted by Avalon

The problem is, my local watchmaker is an a-hole......

Oh well.

I have two ADs in Ottawa and one independant watch maker. The watchmaker himself is a relic of a guy (in the literal sense, and the CBC sense) but he knows his stuff. However, his daughter is a loud-mouthed A-hole who thinks she is a WIS but the crap that comes out of her mouth makes my skin crawl.

I was trying on a vintage Navitimer last spring and asked if they ever get any vintage Rolex in, and she said point blank that Rolex are crappy watches, as I carefully placed my ExpII on the padded suede mat. Then she started to backpedal.

What a tw@t!