Looking for a watchmaker who can and does service vintage watches and is near you?
There are many independent watchmakers who eschew any affiliation, but failing a personal recommendation, the best way to start is to contact watchmakers who are members of trade or professional associations. There's no guarantee that you'll find the right person on your first attempt, but it's a start.
Always contact them first and explain what you have and ask them if they can repair that make. With vintage watches, many parts are now restricted by limited supply and, more recently, by the restrictive trade practices of most of the modern watch trade, so if your watch needs parts, they may need to hunt around to source NOS or used parts in acceptable condition. Not all watchmakers are willing to devote the time to this that it takes. Traditionally, watchmakers would have made new ones themselves, but this aspect of the trade has largely died out, due to rising costs.
In the USA, you can visit this site: National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) who maintain this search facility:
Search
Also is the USA is American Watchmaker-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI), who have this search feature to help you:
awci.memberclicks.net
In the United Kingdom, the British Horological Institute (BHI) has this search engine to help you:
How to find the right professional : British Horological Institute
The Watch and Clockmakers of Australia (WCA) have this:
WCA Australia - Need a Repair? | WCA
Watchmakers Institute of New Zealand have a search feature, too: Jewellers & Watchmakers of New Zealand
Sadly, Canada is one country that doesn't have a watchmaker's association.
I/we hope that the Forum finds this resource of use, especially newcomers struggling to find help maintaining their watches.
I/we invite contributions, particularly from and for those Forum members from non-English speaking countries.
There are many independent watchmakers who eschew any affiliation, but failing a personal recommendation, the best way to start is to contact watchmakers who are members of trade or professional associations. There's no guarantee that you'll find the right person on your first attempt, but it's a start.
Always contact them first and explain what you have and ask them if they can repair that make. With vintage watches, many parts are now restricted by limited supply and, more recently, by the restrictive trade practices of most of the modern watch trade, so if your watch needs parts, they may need to hunt around to source NOS or used parts in acceptable condition. Not all watchmakers are willing to devote the time to this that it takes. Traditionally, watchmakers would have made new ones themselves, but this aspect of the trade has largely died out, due to rising costs.
In the USA, you can visit this site: National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) who maintain this search facility:
Search
Also is the USA is American Watchmaker-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI), who have this search feature to help you:
Find a Professional
In the United Kingdom, the British Horological Institute (BHI) has this search engine to help you:
How to find the right professional : British Horological Institute
The Watch and Clockmakers of Australia (WCA) have this:
WCA Australia - Need a Repair? | WCA
Watchmakers Institute of New Zealand have a search feature, too: Jewellers & Watchmakers of New Zealand
Sadly, Canada is one country that doesn't have a watchmaker's association.
I/we hope that the Forum finds this resource of use, especially newcomers struggling to find help maintaining their watches.
I/we invite contributions, particularly from and for those Forum members from non-English speaking countries.
