Armstrong Watch Repair

Just finished servicing this Seamaster Automatic Chronometer and the dial reminded me to clarify some terms often used incorrectly when describing watches.

- 'Analogue' refers the method used to display the time not the power source of the watch. An analogue watch has traditional hands as opposed to be a digital display. It can be mechanically or battery powered.

-'Digital' - A digital watch again refers to the method of display not the power source of the watch. i.e. using digits. These can be represented by a display in the form of an LED, LCD or even a mechanical rotating ring. Digital watches can be powered by batteries, or mechanical movements.

- 'Quartz' - A watch that uses a quartz crystal as it's primary means of regulating the timekeeping of the movement. It doesn't mean battery powered. There are a number of battery powered watches which don't use quartz regulation and conversely some quartz regulated watches which don't use a regular watch battery.

-'Automatic' - A mechanically powered watch that uses an eccentric weight mechanism to wind the mainspring using natural movement of the watch during wear. Also known as self-winding.

-'Chronograph'- A watch used to display elapsed time as well as the current time, activated and reset by pressing one or 'pushers' on the case of the watch. Not to be confused with 'Chronometer'.

- 'Chronometer' - A watch that has a movement that has been tested and certified to the timing standards dictated by The Contrôle officiel suisse des Chronomètres (COSC).

Panerai Radomir Black Seal. Lovely looking modern watch but prone to mainspring failure due to the screw down crown allowing the mainspring to be over wound and subsequent breakage. This one had bent some of the barrel teeth too. Now all fixed and ready to be returned to its owner.

It doesn't get much more 60s than this cal. 601 Omega Geneve, on its original and very rare Omega signed rolled gold Fixoflex bracelet. Service and new acrylic crystal for this one and almost ready to be returned to is owner after some testing.

Oris Pointer ladies just completed, in for case and bracelet refurb, and new acrylic crystal.

Girard Perregaux automatic. This one defeated both GP's own service department and another watchmaker as to the cause of its 'always fast running'. The problem was simple, a badly adjusted regulator pin causing the outer coil of the hairspring to dislocate. A full service, adjustment and case and bracelet refurb and it's back to its owner.

Believe it or not, this is the same watch. This 1961 Omega Constellation came to us in quite a state with a very UV damaged dial, missing crown and stem, and the movement not running. We sent the dial to our specialist dial restorer to work their magic and I refinished the case, cut and polished the crystal and serviced the movement including the fitment of a new stem and crown. Once the newly restored dial was fitted it was transformed and back in perfect working condition. Not bad for a 63 year old watch.

Beautiful 1961 Omega Seamaster cal.562 serviced today. One of the most robust vintage watches there is. Will last several lifetimes of wear if cared for.

That's the last two watch services of the year done. Omega 18K cal. 501 and Tag Heuer 2000 cal 5 auto. Thanks to everyone that sent their watches in for servicing or repair this year. We are back on the 2nd January.

Omega Dynamic Friday. Serviced and ready to wear for the weekend.

A little bit different from my normal work but this Mondaine Railway watch came in with a non running movement. It was found to have failed, with all the tell tale signs of a botched battery change which had been undertaken by a high street retailer. The only solution was a new movement but the customer also requested a full refurb to the case which I was happy to undertake. It came out rather well and looks like a new watch again.

Full service for this lovely Steinhart Ocean One.

Couple of Omega Speedmaster beauties in this week with various issues. Speedmaster Moonwatch vs Speedmaster Reduced Automatic. They look very similar but have very different movements.

This is the nicest Omega Seamaster 166.010 we've seen for a long time. Serviced and rotor issues sorted, and will be back on its way to its owner soon.

Don't see many of these anymore. 1968 Omega Chronostop 'Driver' Edition, with its 90 deg oriented dial. Just serviced and ready to return to its owner.

Just finished the service on this Seamaster 30 and really looks the part on this navy blue nato strap. Calibre 286 is one of the best ever Omega movements IMO.

Good result servicing this Universal Geneve cal. 64 today. Zero beat error, 300 deg of balance wheel amplitude and sits at 0 secs per day on the timer. Basically good as new despite being circa 50 years old.

Today's task, attempting to restore the overcoil on this Omega cal. 266 hairspring. Straightening damaged springs is one of the most challenging tasks in watchmaking. This is the view down one lens of the stereo microscope, terrible photo but the best I can get with my phone. For scale the entire spring is 5mm in diameter.

1960s cal. 483 Ladies watch serviced, case polished and new old stock vintage strap fitted. Ready to be returned the customer once we finish testing. The entire movement is smaller than a 5p piece.

Mid 1960s Omega Seamaster Deville just serviced.

Before and after on this Omega calibre 267 from 1960. Complete service, refurbish case in alternate polished and linear brushed sections and fit a new crystal and strap. The dial is left with its original patina consistent with the age of the watch. It's now ready for another 60 plus years use.

Last job before Xmas. Omega Seamaster professional with broken crown and needing a service. Thanks to everyone that has supported my business this year.

Full service and new acrylic crystal for this Omega Dynamic cal. 565 from the early 1970s.

Great to get this lovely looking Steinhart back up and running.

Steinhart Ocean One - Watch Servicing and Repair | Armstrong Watch Repair Steinhart Ocean One 26 October 2022 Last updated : 25 January 2023 awr-admin This Steinhart Ocean One diving watch came to us with the owner reporting misting issues under the sapphire crystal and poor performance. On inspection I found the rear seal was badly compressed through age and letting mois...

Check out our new review page. We have five, 5* reviews already. Please contact us if you'd like a quote for service or repair of your watch.

https://www.armstrongwatchrepair.co.uk/index.php/reviews/

Omega calibre 601 ready for its dial.

We've just updated our website. There's a watch archive showing our previous repairs plus some great articles on vintage watches. You can also now send a picture of your watch on the online form when you enquire about servicing and repairs.

HOME - Watch Servicing and Repair | Armstrong Watch Repair ..fast and efficient watch servicing and repair by post Independent watch servicing and repair for modern and vintage watches, without the high cost and extended timescales of authorised dealers. We specialise in the servicing and repair for vintage Omega watches but work on most quality watches...

TAG Heuer Formula 1 in for battery service which includes clean contacts, remove debris from inside case, bracelet and case clean...and of course new Silver Oxide battery.

Before and after bracelet clasp polishing.

Tuesday is Battery Service day apparently.

A modern classic. Omega Seamaster Professional quartz, with the very desirable englarged lume black dial, in recently for a battery service and crown replacement. Values of these have shot up in recent years so it's important to keep them well serviced.