As to why I started putting this together...

I just received a 1971 blue face Accutron 214 from my mother that belonged to either my father or grandfather. Obviously that comes with a lot of meaning, but I had no idea the cool history behind the piece. I wanted to get it serviced and running (but not restored, as I want to maintain the patina and dings and scratches put on it by family in the past), and want to make sure I choose the right place.

As of now, I'm leaning toward Rob in Thailand based on the testimonial here, but am hoping others can chime in on the pros and cons of any of these and others they may have found around the world.

I will update the OP as new info comes in, so if something is wrong or needs to be added, just reply to the thread!

Thanks!

 

I can highly recommend mybob...he worked on my Spaceview several years back.

B

 

I can highly recommend mybob...he worked on my Spaceview several years back. B

This guy is a ripoff artist. He does nothing and reuses defective parts. Stole hundreds of dollars from my brother. We took 3 watches in and his repairs were horrible. None of the watches were working within a few weeks. This was after he had them for 6 months. My brother then sent his to Rob in Thailand and had them back 40 days later and the watch works flawlessly. Did I mention Rob was much cheaper as well.

 

I've used Rob B successfully for 3 restorations, one warrantee repair, and he currently assessing a 218 Rail Road, with the option of exchanging the Bulova replacement movement back to a 218 and proper hand set. I've had no problem.


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I've had no problem.

I recently had MyBob service a 214 railroad watch. Experience went fine and I was happy to pay an American to do the work here in the states. Nothing against folks elsewhere - I just want to support US businesses where it's doable.

 

You will pay at Old Father Time.

 

Great info. Thanks for this! I have an astronaut that I would like to get serviced eventually.

 

"Notes: Name may be Rob Berkavicius"

Definitely is Rob Berkavicius, an Aussie living in Thailand.

Just had an Accutron serviced by Rob a few weeks ago. No problems shipping back and forth, although it does take time. 10-12 days from the US. He gave me a very detailed quote, quickly serviced the watch and answered my few questions in a very timely manner. The watch has been keeping great time since. Very communicative and I'll be using him for my only other Accutron.

Mike

 

As mentioned before in a post, I only use Rob B. (that was from trial and error with others through the years). I have used several well known guys in the States and even though they brag about their service on their websites, they just don't stack up to Rob B and his attention to detail, great communication and speedy service. He has a passion about accutrons and pocket watches I haven't seen in a repair person in along time. All of my accutrons that were serviced stateside have now gone through Rob B for a complete restoration. Boy, did I waste my money with some US vendors. So being patient with shipping to him is the only thing. Here's are a few of his latest creations.

This is a M1 movement on a 1961 Gold Spaceview I had him meticulously restore. Stripped the plating, replated the movement pillar plate and restored the rest. Unreal attention to detail.

 

I wholeheartedly concur with the sentiments expressed above. Rob is without peer in his abilities and passion for Accutrons. These just came back from service on 2/27.

 

I've heard good things about Ludmil Balevski in Bulgaria, and have one tuning fork watch with him now for service. He was very good with providing estimate information before sending it, and a quote once he received it.

This is my first tuning fork watch I'm having serviced, so I have no results information yet.


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I've heard good things about Ludmil Balevski in Bulgaria, and have one tuning fork watch with him now for service. He was very good with providing estimate information before sending it, and a quote once he received it.

This is my first tuning fork watch I'm having serviced, so I have no results information yet.

Well, not so good.
I received my Accuquartz back from Ludmil. He may be fine working on Accutrons, that's possible.
He or his people removed the quartz chip and related parts from my Accuquartz and replaced them with other parts, presumably Accutron parts.
He did not ask if this would be OK, and did not mention it in any way.

He wrote that he has sent the removed parts, as I requested.
With mail coming from Bulgaria, I imagine it will take a couple weeks, maybe more.

I'm working on making arrangements with another person to service this watch properly.

Before service:

After service:

 

Thanks for all the responses. I appear to have lost the ability to edit my original post...once I figure that out, I'll update with the info everyone's shared.

 

Follow up:
I sent my blue dial Accuquartz to Rob B, and he did a superb job getting it to run properly. That's the one that I had first sent to Ludmil in Bulgaria.

That watch is now one of the most accurate pieces in my collection.

 

Just wanted to resurrect this thread with an addition. I bought a fully serviced 2192 Accutron from Ludmil (Ebay ID: anticvarius) off ebay. I bought this watch for the movement to replace in my Accutron that needed a good movement. My watch guy, I won't mention here unless he says ok, found I Quote:

My apology for sending you to Ludmil. I had not seen his work for quite some time. The servicing with respect to the train and index section on this watch is acceptable (although it was timed +4 s/d). The dial side was unacceptably substandard. The gunk on the case & mangled gasket were the first clues. Based on this piece, I would not buy from Ludmil or have him service a watch

Just a heads up!

 

...
The servicing with respect to the train and index section on this watch is acceptable (although it was timed +4 s/d). The dial side was unacceptably substandard. The gunk on the case & mangled gasket were the first clues...

Can someone say what is "dial side work"?

 

+1 for Electric-Watches.co.uk

If you can get in. There is a reason he is fully booked.
Excellent communications and faultless servicing.

 

I regret to offer that I can no longer recommend Ludmil for service. A client recently acquired a 2193 from Ludmil (anticvarius on eBay) and sent it to me to extract the movement and install with another dial/hands/case/bracelet combination.

The watch purchased from Ludmil was represented as serviced, ultrasonically cleaned, etc. Buyer's intent was that the Ludmil movement would not have to be serviced...so that he would only be paying for fitting up the movement to the other watch.

Upon receipt, it was clear that the case/bracelet had not been cleaned (or not sufficiently). Dirty twist bracelet, plenty of WABI under the hooded type case lugs (these are admittedly more difficult to clean and may actually require a brush in addition to ultrasound). The case back nut surprisingly did not have a lot of WABI.

In the case: first note is that the gasket had been fitted off-center and was bunched up in places. On further examination, it appeared that a wider gasket had been used, then the inside diameter cut out...very crude. A few small hairs...some lint...and moderate number of dust/dirt particles...none apparently in critical places, though.

Train actually appeared to be reasonably clean. All visible pivots had oil...but at least one had a waxy lump of lube...and most had lube on the face of the jewel, as well as in the oil sink.

Movement runs and appeared to be phased correctly...although it may be picking up extra indexing with shock. On the Witschi, it was timed +4s/d...and when it arrived, it was set 26 s fast.

This exchange also involved stem @3 going into stem @4 casing...so the day/date indicators had to be changed as well. On the dial side, the date wheel was so gummy, that it wouldn't execute the "instant change"...but rather required 3 hours or so to complete the day/date change. The dial side had to be cleaned and lubed to correct this...it was simply nasty.

It is difficult to imagine that this movement made a trip through an ultrasonic cleaner...even with the reduced disassembly specified in the 219 service manual.

This was very disappointing...as I had suggested Ludmil might be a source for a movement for this piece.

Watchmakers are biological creatures...not machines. Those of us who strive for the highest standard, sometimes have bad days. But I don't see how on one's worst day, a piece in this condition could be sent out represented as a fully serviced. This may have been a "one off"...but gives the appearance of poor work habits.

In fairness to Ludmil...the conditions were not discussed with him, nor was he given an opportunity to warrant this work...(largely because it was more expedient to address the issues and go on).

Again, regret to report this...heretofore I have recommended Ludmil both for service and as a source for complete Accutrons.

Best regards,
BG

 

This thread was a big help in figuring out where to send my recently acquired Spaceview.
https://www.watchuseek.com/f705/my-new-spaceview-4749999.html

Before, it hummed but the hands wouldn't move, and the crystal was cracked. Here's how it worked out:

I sent it to Rob Berkavicius in Thailand, after seeing some good recommendations in this thread. It took about 6 days to get there from California. Rob sent it back after 10 days (he lets it run for several days to check the timing), and it took 32 days (!) to get back to me.

When it arrived, it didn't work. Rob gave me a few tests to check, then I sent it back again. It turns out one of the transistors was intermittent, working sometimes, then dropping out. He repaired that one, and sent it back again. This trip took 11 days to get to Thailand, 14 days for Rob to turn it around, and 17 days to get back to California.

It's working fine now, keeping good time and looking good.

Rob was very friendly and helpful, and I don't consider the second failure to be a problem with the first repair. If you're in a hurry for a turnaround, you might want to find someone closer than Thailand, but if not, I recommend his work.

The damages:
$169 for the initial repair and cleaning, new gasket set, tuning fork, new crystal, and return shipping.
$35 for the transistor repair, which I paid because I felt it wasn't a warranty item from the original repairs.

 

Hey. Resurrecting this thread. It seems kind of crazy sending a watch from the US to Thailand for service. So many places for the watch to get lost in transit, lost at customs, etc. Are there customs duties on the Thailand side?

Thanks!
J

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If you email Rob about it, he sends you the Thai customs slip via pdf with the correct wording in both English and Thai to prevent issues at customs. My understanding is that you should always put "For repair and return" on the slip so customs knows it's not a sale and is exempt from customs duties.

I've sent watches within my state, to England, to Russia, and now to Thailand for service. Knock on wood, no issues thus far.

 

To the OP,
Accutron214.com site has been down for the last couple days, unsure how long it's been down, not sure if you can update your original post, or if the site is just temporally or permanently offline.
I'm in the market for a Spaceview and I'm using this site for education.
I'm looking for a 214 similar to below.

 

I am new to the forums but finally joined for a few reasons, one being to finally get the three accutrons 214/218 watches I inherited from my grandfather a few years ago services/repaired. In doing research it seems Rob B in Thailand is well recommended. I apologize if ignorant, but does one only contact him via email or through the forums? I can’t find any online storefront.

Appreciate any help or advice.


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I am new to the forums but finally joined for a few reasons, one being to finally get the three accutrons 214/218 watches I inherited from my grandfather a few years ago services/repaired. In doing research it seems Rob B in Thailand is well recommended. I apologize if ignorant, but does one only contact him via email or through the forums? I can't find any online storefront.

Appreciate any help or advice.

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Contact Rob via his website below. His email info is on the website.

The Accutron Watch Page

 

My 218 got back from Rob B earlier this week. Timed at 0 sec/day dial up in the box over 24 hours and gained 2 sec on the wrist while wearing, so perfectly within specs.

If you can tolerate the speed of the mail between wherever you are and Thailand, highly recommended!

 

Wonderful

My 218 should get back from Rob B today.

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Just wanted to come here and also and leave a very positive review of Rob B incase someone stumbles upon this thread like I did looking for help. Just got my watch back, which needed a new crystal and full service which revealed the need for a new index wheel that couldn't be saved. This is one of three of my grandfather's Accutrons, so I was nervous to mail it so far away. But with great communication, directions and service I was never worried or stressed. I plan to get the other two serviced with Rob eventually.

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My 4 arrived and are awaiting inspection. Apparently there’s a post Christmas queue so it may be a while


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Here it is. It runs perfectly now, day and date are able to be changed, and he even filled in some of the scuffs and gouges in the gold. Oh, and the glued the band back together.

Wonderful service.

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I used Rob Berkavicius to repair my 218D. Watch had not worked for 30 years.

Timeline:
Dec 31 first contact
Dec 31 first response, estimate
Jan 08 mailed to Thailand from USA
Jan 16 delivered in Thailand
Jan 19 watch repaired
Jan 19 payment made, watch calibration for new battery
Jan 28 watch shipped to USA from Thailand
Feb 10 watch arrived

Service charge was is now $120. Added new gaskets and a new index wheel. Shipping back was $10.

Happy with how things went, as long as you have time.

 

I used Rob Berkavicius to repair my 218D. Watch had not worked for 30 years.

Timeline:
Dec 31 first contact
Dec 31 first response, estimate
Jan 08 mailed to Thailand from USA
Jan 16 delivered in Thailand
Jan 19 watch repaired
Jan 19 payment made, watch calibration for new battery
Jan 28 watch shipped to USA from Thailand
Feb 10 watch arrived

Service charge was is now $120. Added new gaskets and a new index wheel. Shipping back was $10.

Happy with how things went, as long as you have time.

Agreed, the service and shipping aren't lightning fast, but man he delivers great results.

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I just got the replay from Rob about service on 4 of my watches.
2 were previously serviced, and are covered under his warrantee. No charge.
Parts replace and rust removal for a Deep Sea A, and general service on a 2183.
4 watches under $350 service, insurance, and shipping. Of course, they’ll arrive in March, but worth it


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My mint 218 has suddenly started to act strangely. It works when on its side but not with the face upward. I thought that the battery might be loose or dying. I then searched for batteries and finally found a jeweler that is supposed to have 1.35V Accutron batteries. At $12.95 each and $8 for postage, I purchased two. I am waiting for the delivery of the batteries and hoping that is the problem. It's a beauty when running properly. They have truly sweeping second hands.