Full mechanical service
The movement is taken apart, cleaned, oiled and rebuilt, then timed in several positions over a few days before the case is sealed.
Hand wound or automaticfrom $180
An estimate first, then the work
Tick and Tock services mechanical and quartz watches on its own bench, fits batteries and straps while you wait, and opens every watch before giving a written estimate. Nothing is repaired until you have read the price and said yes.
15 minutesfor most batteries and straps
In writingan estimate before any repair
12 monthsguarantee on a full service
- Batteries fitted while you wait
- Written estimate first
- Water resistance tested after opening
- All work on our own bench
What the bench takes on
Starting prices for the work we do most. Every watch is opened and inspected before the written estimate, so the figure you agree to is the figure you pay.
Quartz service
The circuit and the train of gears are cleaned and checked, the seals renewed and the current draw measured, not only the battery swapped.
Servicefrom $90
Battery replacement
The right cell fitted while you wait, the gasket checked and greased, and the watch run for a few minutes before it goes back.
At the counterfrom $12
Straps and bracelets
Leather, rubber and fabric straps fitted, and metal bracelets shortened or lengthened with links you keep in a small bag.
Fittingfrom $8
Glass and crystal
Scratched or cracked mineral and sapphire crystals replaced to size, with the seal renewed so moisture stays out.
Mineral glassfrom $45
Water resistance test
The case is pressure tested dry, and wet where it suits the watch, with the result written on your receipt.
Testfrom $20
Parts for older or rarer movements are priced on the estimate. Chronographs, pocket watches and vintage pieces are quoted after inspection.
From the counter to the timing machine
A full service takes three to five weeks, most of it spent cleaning, rebuilding and timing.
Check in
We note the condition, scratches and how the watch runs on a receipt you sign and keep.
Open and estimate
Within three working days the case is opened, the movement inspected and a written estimate sent to you.
Your decision
Say yes and the work is booked in. Say no and the watch is closed up as it arrived, with no charge.
Service and timing
The movement is rebuilt, then timed over several days in different positions until it runs within its tolerance.
Collect
The watch is handed back with the timing result and a 12 month guarantee on the service.
When a watch is asking for attention
General signs worth acting on. If water has got in, bring the watch in that day, because rust starts quickly.
| What you notice | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Gaining or losing over a minute a week | Old oil, a knock, or magnetism from a phone or speaker | Ask us to check for magnetism first; it is quick and often the whole fix |
| An automatic stops overnight | Too little wear to wind it, or a tired mainspring | Wind it by hand a few turns; if it still stops, book an inspection |
| Fog or droplets under the glass | Moisture inside the case | Bring it in the same day and do not wear it in water |
| Quartz second hand jumps every four seconds | The battery is near the end of its life | A battery change, usually while you wait |
| Crown feels gritty, loose or will not screw down | A worn stem, tube or seal | Stop using it in water and ask for an estimate |
One bench, and the same care for every dial
Every watch is worked on here, upstairs in the arcade, by the person who gives you the estimate. Nothing is posted away to an unknown workshop, so you can ask about progress and get a real answer.
We do not rank makers or name them. A watch handed down from a grandparent gets the same inspection and the same written estimate as one bought last year. Where a maker supplies parts only to its own service centres, the estimate says so plainly and suggests where to take it.
- The estimate comes from the person doing the work
- Old parts handed back in a bag if you want them
- Timing result written on every receipt
Watches we work on
Mechanical and quartz movements of most ages and kinds.
- Automatic
- Hand wound
- Quartz
- Chronographs
- Dive watches
- Dress watches
- Pocket watches
- Vintage pieces from the 1940s on
Smart watches and fitness trackers are electronics rather than movements, so we do not open them, and we say so before taking anything in.
Inside the workshop
From the counter (example reviews)
The estimate arrived in two days with a clear list of what was worn and what was not. The watch came back running within a few seconds a day, with the timing printout.
A battery and a new strap in under fifteen minutes, and the gasket was greased without being asked. Small things that matter.
An old pocket watch from the family that two shops had refused. Honest about what could be saved, and it ticks again.
Questions about repairs
Why open the watch before giving a price?
Two watches that look the same can need very different work. Opening the case shows whether a part is worn, rusted or missing, so the written estimate is a real price rather than a guess that grows later.
How long does a service take?
Three to five weeks for most mechanical watches, a week for most quartz services, and longer for chronographs or when a part has to be made or found. The estimate gives the expected date.
Is a watch insured while it is with you?
Yes, from the moment the receipt is signed until it is collected. Watches are kept in a safe overnight.
Will a battery change spoil water resistance?
It can if the seal is ignored, which is why the gasket is checked and greased each time. A pressure test afterwards is offered for watches worn in water.
How often should a mechanical watch be serviced?
Guidance varies by movement, but every five to eight years is common. Book sooner if it starts gaining, losing or stopping.
What happens if the estimate is declined?
The watch is closed up and returned as it arrived, and there is nothing to pay.
Ask for an estimate
Describe the watch and what it is doing in words. Expect a price range back within two working days and, where it helps, a time to bring it in. The firm price follows once the case has been opened.
- Range by message, firm price in writing after inspection
- Nothing is repaired until you agree
- Payment arranged directly with the workshop
Up the stairs in the arcade
Batteries and straps need no appointment. For a service, bring the watch in any time we are open.
The workshop
Workshop above the covered arcade in the old town, entrance by the clock
Bench hours
| Tuesday to Friday | 09:00 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Sunday and Monday | Closed |
Collecting a watch
Bring your receipt. Watches are kept for twelve months after we tell you they are ready, and we call before then if one is still waiting.