Preferred AD-based watchmaker, Chicago area?

[Poodlopogus]

Need to have a warranty repair done on a 32xx and, based on my other thread (confirming my instinct of going local), any experiences with the watchmakers in the Chicago area authorized to do warranty work?

Looks like there are about 5-6 of them within ~100mi but not sure if some are better than others?

Don't have a relationship with any as far as purchasing watches, and that would be secondary anyhow as this is warranty work and all I care about is the skill of the watchmaker.

[zfrank]

The Nigerian guy at CD Peacock in Oak Brook is highly skilled. Best of the best.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Poodlopogus

Need to have a warranty repair done on a 32xx and, based on my other thread (confirming my instinct of going local), any experiences with the watchmakers in the Chicago area authorized to do warranty work?

Looks like there are about 5-6 of them within ~100mi but not sure if some are better than others?

Don't have a relationship with any as far as purchasing watches, and that would be secondary anyhow as this is warranty work and all I care about is the skill of the watchmaker.

Is this the same warranty work because your watch is running 4 seconds slow ?.

[padi56]

Dont worry over a few seconds in 24 hours, the escapement of a mechanical watch pushes the gears 432,000 times a day, so even a watch that runs -4 seconds is very high precision, given the fact that the movement is constantly affected by the earth's gravity, metal expansion and contraction, mainspring power reserve,temperature variations, subtle changes in lubrication and friction, shocks, and so on.The fact is that no mechanical watch made will keep perfect time, very close yes but perfect no.And if any mechanical watch performs consistently inside the COSC spec of -4+6 seconds a day don't think anyone could ask anymore from any purely mechanical watch

And any modern day wristwatch chronometers are, by the almost 300 year old 18th century navigational standards imposed on John Harrison,H4 watch,quite laughably inaccurate even by todays standards.How about just 5 seconds slow after 63 days at sea,in one of the toughest environments known to man, not bad for a almost 300 year old watch.Now in those days no modern machinery no computer designs no robots,just his bare hands and crude tools.So next time when you look at your watch and only a few seconds out it wont feel so bad.Your watch is fine just wear it and enjoy it whats in a few seconds a day.

[brandrea]

You’d want to use RSC no?

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by padi56

Dont worry over a few seconds in 24 hours, the escapement of a mechanical watch pushes the gears 432,000 times a day, so even a watch that runs -4 seconds is very high precision, given the fact that the movement is constantly affected by the earth's gravity, metal expansion and contraction, mainspring power reserve,temperature variations, subtle changes in lubrication and friction, shocks, and so on.The fact is that no mechanical watch made will keep perfect time, very close yes but perfect no.And if any mechanical watch performs consistently inside the COSC spec of -4+6 seconds a day don't think anyone could ask anymore from any purely mechanical watch

And any modern day wristwatch chronometers are, by the almost 300 year old 18th century navigational standards imposed on John Harrison,H4 watch,quite laughably inaccurate even by todays standards.How about just 5 seconds slow after 63 days at sea,in one of the toughest environments known to man, not bad for a almost 300 year old watch.Now in those days no modern machinery no computer designs no robots,just his bare hands and crude tools.So next time when you look at your watch and only a few seconds out it wont feel so bad.Your watch is fine just wear it and enjoy it whats in a few seconds a day.

Your point is very well taken. In reality, the -4, in and of itself, would be no cause for concern. However, what I experienced was a watch that went from being very, very consistently +1(ish) to all of a sudden around -4(ish).

Amplitude, in and of itself, is also irrelevant to me. In fact, I think it's great if a watch can maintain accuracy despite dropping amplitude. But, if amplitude drop (which may or may not be the case here) combined with time loss indicates some other issue, I'd want to have it looked at. I recall reading some posts here from a watchmaker who said there are now some parts he routinely replaces when a watch comes in exhibiting these characteristics.

All that is to say, this is a question of ensuring reliability, not the four seconds per day.

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You’d want to use RSC no?

I'm talking about the AD-based workshops that do work as a "satellite" RSC. When looking up service centers on the website, it lists five IL ADs as also being service centers (along with two in Milwaukee and one in IN that are within about 90min).

Apparently, they are allowed to do any/all warranty work for most models (depending on watchmaker's qualification level) aside from perhaps those requiring special pressure testing equipment.

[dublrnutn1]

Had service done at Razny Jewelers ( in-house watchmaker ) in Addison recently. Completely satisfied with work done.

[Ftech1]

Originally Posted by zfrank

The Nigerian guy at CD Peacock in Oak Brook is highly skilled. Best of the best.

He is great. I also recommend CDP Oak Brook.

[Daytona king]

It may be how you are laying the watch. I think if you put it facedown it will gain/ lose a few seconds and vice versa if face up. I would try that first as I wouldn’t want anyone even skilled open my watch for such a little issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by Daytona king

It may be how you are laying the watch. I think if you put it facedown it will gain/ lose a few seconds and vice versa if face up. I would try that first as I wouldn’t want anyone even skilled open my watch for such a little issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea, funny enough, absent a timegrapher I decided to give that a try. Let the watch rest, fully wound each time, in each of four positions for 24-36hrs. Was anywhere from -2 DU to -10 3U.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Poodlopogus

Yea, funny enough, absent a timegrapher I decided to give that a try. Let the watch rest, fully wound each time, in each of four positions for 24-36hrs. Was anywhere from -2 DU to -10 3U.

Just forget about worrying over a few seconds just wear your watch on your wrist for the ten plus years in good health. Now that's far more important than worring over a few seconds I can assure you. Not worth getting the back off for such a tiny variation now if gets a very lot worse then have it regulated.

[garyk]

Of the dozen or so Rolex watches I’ve owned over 40 plus years, I could not tell you if one ran slow or fast or anything else. I simply set them and wore them and enjoyed the heck out of them. Sometimes I traded up for newer ones and no one ever asked how they were running. Head scratcher to me

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just forget about worrying over a few seconds just wear your watch on your wrist for the ten plus years in good health. Now that's far more important than worring over a few seconds I can assure you. Not worth getting the back off for such a tiny variation now if gets a very lot worse then have it regulated.

Were it any other movement family, that would be my exact attitude. What I'm hoping to prevent, though, is the (seemingly) inevitable degradation where it goes to -10 or -20/day. I agree that 4 or 5 is nothing to be concerned over, but a couple minutes a week will be noticeable in a fairly short amount of time.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Poodlopogus

Were it any other movement family, that would be my exact attitude. What I'm hoping to prevent, though, is the (seemingly) inevitable degradation where it goes to -10 or -20/day. I agree that 4 or 5 is nothing to be concerned over, but a couple minutes a week will be noticeable in a fairly short amount of time.

I thought so you have been reading the so called 32 movement faults that had been blown out of all proportion by those with watches that spent more time on timegrapher machines.And even a few minutes out over a week or so if that happens hardly life threating,been wearing Rolex watches for well over 50 years never been anal about checking to the exact second.Have one with the 32 movement checked it once was running to COSC spec thank god my long life was never ran to the exact second.Bet if your watch was gaining+4 seconds you would not even worry or bother about it.

[ArtNouveau]

Although this was around 3 years ago, my BLRO got a bit erratic at around 2 1/2 years. My AD/Boutique has a watchmaker but since under warranty he sent it to Dallas. Don’t know if that has changed.
They didn’t say what they did to it but has been accurate ever since, now out of warranty.

[Tools]

Sutter's in the Chicago area is an authorized Rolex service shop.

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by Tools

Sutter's in the Chicago area is an authorized Rolex service shop.

Don't think they've been "authorized" in about 5 years. Heard that they lost that designation around the time they started allowing AD watchmakers to serve as "authorized" repair shops.

[RX0]

Originally Posted by dublrnutn1

Had service done at Razny Jewelers ( in-house watchmaker ) in Addison recently. Completely satisfied with work done.

Agreed. The watchmaker in Addison is great.

[Poodlopogus]

Originally Posted by ArtNouveau

Although this was around 3 years ago, my BLRO got a bit erratic at around 2 1/2 years. My AD/Boutique has a watchmaker but since under warranty he sent it to Dallas. Don’t know if that has changed.
They didn’t say what they did to it but has been accurate ever since, now out of warranty.

I do also wonder whether it's because it was a BLRO, and the bezel inserts were known to be fragile. Nothing like getting the movement sorted but cracking a customer's bezel without a replacement on hand.