References for a watchmaker/tech in Miami, FL?

[dp7]

I would like to ask if anyone can point me out any reliable watchmaker/watch technician in the Miami area (33180/33160) to inspect and certify the originality of a watch.

Thank you in advance.

[DESH]

Mayors

www.mayors.com

[Risley]

You sure about Mayors? I know I wouldn't buy a watch from Mayors let alone have it serviced there. And DEFINITELY steer clear of JR Dunn, they trashed my mothers gold dj, Rolex was kind enough to make it right though.

[dp7]

TY for the answers. To be more specific, I am looking to buy a vintage Rolex/Tudor and would need a qualified opinion and examination of the watch.

[miamiman]

Try gables watch and pawn they have a large selection

[George Ab]

There is a thread on independent watchmaker in reference section. You may check there: http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ht=independent

[Chris B]

Kirks (an AD) on Flagler are really nice people, I'm sure they would help if you can't get assistance nearer

[dp7]

TY everyone for the input. Much appreciated!

[Justso]

Originally Posted by Risley

You sure about Mayors? I know I wouldn't buy a watch from Mayors let alone have it serviced there. And DEFINITELY steer clear of JR Dunn, they trashed my mothers gold dj, Rolex was kind enough to make it right though.

on Mayor's. If Mayor's was the last place on earth to have my watch serviced, I'd just admire it broken and not working anymore.

So many things wrong with that place. Last time I had my 16800 overhauled, they did it and I couldn't have been more disappointed. When I got the watch back, I noticed 4 deep gouges in my lugs - one equidistant gouge on each lug (same pattern). When I insisted that this wasn't that way when I brought it in, they insisted that it was. When I questioned the watchmaker about it, he too told me that the watch was that way when he got it. When I asked why it wasn't polished out during the service if I brought it in that way, he was quiet for a second and then told me that "you don't want to polish too hard on the case because you will damage the watch."

It was explained to me ten years later by Rikki that the story I was told was utter bullsh-t and that the gouges came when the guy rotated the case back without protecting the lugs and he put the gouges in there. He told me he noticed the shoddy workmanship when he opened the case.

On top of that, I paid for a new set of super luminova hands and when I got the watch back, I got it home and only the second hand illuminated. The bezel insert was placed incorrectly where the "12's" on the bezel insert & dial didn't line up with one another. When I took the watch back (promptly) to them, I was told I only paid for a second hand, not an entire set. I asked the manager why, if on the service order form, the complaint was "hands don't illuminate - please replace," was just A hand replaced? Why did my estimate AND my invoice say the part # of the hand set, and only the second hand was replaced? He simply said I was misinformed and that things "should have been explained to me better." When I told them I was unhappy with the bezel insert positioning, I was told I was being picky. I looked at him and said "you're damn right I'm being picky! I want this perfect. And it's not perfect. And I've paid you people to fix this watch and it's far from fixed!"

I was asked if I'd like a cappucino to relax. They refused to replace the hour and minute hands. They did fix the bezel placement to my liking. The gouges stayed 10 more years until Rikki took them out. The hands stayed 10 more years until Rikki replaced them.

I'm looking at my receipt from 5/04/2003 for $1018.08 and it still infuriates me to this day.

Moral to the story - find yourselves a trustworthy watchmaker or send your watch back to RSC. Stay out of Mayor's.