It has become clear that watch manufacturers have a firm grip on the market for timepiece repairs . This is strange to those of us who have walked down 47th Street in New York City, passing by the shop windows of the truly gifted watchmakers that reside there.
The issue is, while the big companies often give independent dealers and service centers significant discounts on whole timepieces, they do not typically offer such deals on spare parts. Plus, if you do service a watch at a standalone shop, and later bring that watch to
Sometimes, manufacturers will tell their customers that, if they get a timepiece fixed somewhere else, they risk damaging it, and could end up having to pay double to get the job done right afterwards.
This is not entirely true. We know several local watchmakers who have worked in repairs for ages, having restored Jaeger-LeCoultres, Patek Philippes, Rolexes, and all the rest.
So what sets these independent watchmakers apart from the authorized dealers? They simply like running their own businesses. Yet they struggle every day to get their hands on authentic spare parts — sometimes harvesting the necessary components from other, used timepieces, or even making their own.
The truth is, some of these watchmakers are even more skilled than those working for the companies themselves, and they will get the job done for about one-third of the price.
Like Mercedes and BMW in the automobile industry, companies like Cartier and Chopard have reputations for bringing a certain level of style and quality. There is no denying that. But just as you might employ a local repair shop for a discounted oil change, there are watchmakers everywhere just waiting to prove that you don't always have to shell out hundreds of dollars to get your watch working.
That's not to say there aren't benefits to working directly with the companies — their warranties, for starters. And enthusiasts who treasure their perpetual calendars, tourbillons, and minute repeaters should probably bring their pieces straight to the manufacturer for repair. Mending such a complex instrument can be an especially delicate undertaking, and it makes sense to have the company's backing in case something does go wrong.
But if you have a Chopard Happy Sport, and you need to make a routine switch of the gasket or battery for your quartz movement, why pay hundreds when you could pay $60?
Don't let them convince you that our friends in the veteran watch shops down the street aren't masters of their craft. I suppose, from the manufacturer's perspective, it's just a matter of trust — or, perhaps, confidence.Bekijk meer replica Zwitserse en chopard gran turismo xl replica
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