What owners say after collecting their watches.

The Situation

Vintage Rolex 1501 — running unreliably after years of storage

An owner in his fifties had received his father's Datejust, last serviced sometime in the late 1990s. It ran intermittently and lost around three minutes a day on days it ran at all. He wanted it working correctly and to understand its condition, but was not prepared to have it heavily polished.

What Was Done

The watch was booked for a Heirloom Rebuild. Full movement strip confirmed a heavily worn mainspring and dried lubricants across the entire train. Parts were sourced; the owner was updated by phone before any replacement work was authorised. Cosmetic work was limited to a light clean of the bracelet at the owner's specific request — no polishing.

The Outcome

Returned at +5 seconds per day — within tolerance for this calibre. Turnaround was eleven weeks. The owner received a folder containing thirty-one photographs and four pages of written notes. Quote: "I'd been putting this off for years. Knowing exactly what was done and having the photographs changes how I feel about passing it on."

The Situation

Casio Marlin — planned dive trip, uncertain water resistance

An active diver brought in a Marlin purchased two years prior, never resealed, with an upcoming trip to a depth that matched the watch's stated 200m rating. She wanted to be confident in the seals rather than assume they were holding.

What Was Done

All three gaskets replaced — crown, case-back, and the original pushers. Staged pressure test confirmed the case held to its stated rating under dry test conditions. Test completed in nine working days. She collected it three days before her trip.

The Outcome

Watch returned with the result sheet in hand. The dive trip completed without incident. She came back four months later for the same service ahead of a second trip. Quote: "I just want a piece of paper that tells me the test was done. That's all. And they provide it."

The Situation

Hamilton Khaki — recently inherited, basic service needed

A young professional had recently received a Khaki Field Mechanical from an uncle who had worn it daily for over a decade. It ran well but was dirty and slightly slow. She wanted it cleaned and checked without the cost or wait of a full service.

What Was Done

Booked for a Cleaning & Lubrication Tune-Up. External clean of case and steel bracelet, lubrication of accessible movement points, timing read before and after. The inspection note flagged the mainspring as something worth watching — no action recommended for now, just noted for future reference.

The Outcome

Returned on day two, running at +6 seconds per day against an incoming read of −15. She was told to come back if it deteriorates, but no further work was pushed. Quote: "It felt like they cared about the watch more than the sale. That's unusual."