Thread: Watch repair advice

Good day to you fine sirs,

I figured I would try this forum to see what you all think about a little dilemma of mine. It has to do with one of my watches that has recently spent more time in the shop than on my wrist.

*** Optional background ***

First of all, let me tell you a bit about the watch. A bit more than a year ago I decided to purchase this Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic. I believe I paid in the area of $350 for it. Here is a review of it:

Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic 42mm

At first, I wasn't sure I liked how it looked on my wrist, but it grew on me. It became my 'everywhere' watch, eventually outshining my Tissot. With a nylon strap it was much more casual, yet the beautiful convex crystal and sharp numerals lent it a classic look. I really got addicted to the convex crystal that wouldn't blind me on sunny days. Also, a key point is that it is water resistant to a static 100 meters.

When my girlfriend and I were moving to DC last year, I had an accident with my Hamilton. I intended to take it off and put it in my pocket for safety, but instead dropped it onto concrete. Minus a scuff it looked fine, so I thought nothing of it and made a mental note to send it in for a checkup after we had settled down again.

Months passed... a new state, a new job, wannabe muggers... long story.

One morning after coming in from the cold I saw the crystal was fogging, so I hurried to find a reputable local watch repair shop. I took it in within days and explained the fogging and the drop a few months ago. A week later I get it back with a bill totalling around $250 to replace a bent stem and new seals for the crown. Fine, my mistake for dropping it. Thank you sir, good day.

Resting easy with my newly sealed and pressure tested watch I lounged by the pool in sunny yet depressing Rancho Cucamonga on a business trip, I decided to go for a dip. I like being able to see how long I've been afloat for, shoot me.

*** The meat of the post, questions ***

You may be able to guess where this is going by now as the next cool morning I find my crystal foggy again.

When I come back to DC I immediately took it back to the shop to have them dry it out and reseal it. The guy gave me a friendly talking-to about rapid temperature changes between the jacuzzi and pool, which I sheepishly accepted since this follow up visit was on them. Except for the fogging, the watch looked fine at this point. Holidays came and went along with a week or two before I was able to go back to the shop and pick up my watch. When I went back and my heart sank. Not only had the numbering on the face bled, but the crystal had an overall fuzzy look to it. The rep couldn't give me a solid answer as to why my watch had changed since I dropped it off. I asked to inspect it closer and ended up stepping outside for a minute. Luckily for me, it was a cold day and I was able to see that my crystal was forming not a gentle fogging, but actual droplets inside. My first thought was 'Did these guys even open it or did it sit wet in the safe for 3 weeks?'

The rep and I spent the better part of an hour discussing the subtle differences between water droplets and preexisting water spots. During this time he kept reassuring me that "the watch expert pressure tested it on the same machine they test Rolexes on." At first he wouldn't accept that there were droplets inside, but after inspecting with his loupe he conceded that there might be trapped moisture. I am to hear back from them within a week.


To try and reign in this rambling post, where would you say this leaves me? I stayed civil with the rep and didn't make any accusations, but I almost felt like pointing at a similar Hamilton in the display case and saying "I'll take that one as a replacement". Am I out of line in thinking that what happened to my watch while in their care is their responsibility? Should I demand that they fix it like new? What would be the best way to push back on them and not let them wash their hands of it? I guess I feel they owe me a certain confidence that if they pressure tested it, it should be water resistant.

Thanks for reading, I eagerly await your thoughts
Rob

Just to play devil's advocate (as the guys at the shop probably would if it came to it), cane you prove the difference in how the watch looked between when you dropped it off and when you came back for it 3 weeks later?

Trust me, I believe you at your word, but if they place the burden of proof on you, I think you'll be in a tough spot.

Since you have remained civil thus far, I think you'll be able to remain civil and work things out to your satisfaction. That said, I would probably go to a different shop in the future.

A skilled watchmaker could probably repair it...

First off let me agree with holli4pirating and ask can you prove the condition it was in when you took it in for the follow up after wearing it in the pool? Again not a judgement of you simply how the watch repair world works. I think remaining civil is the way to get your watch back in as good a condition as you can and then take it for a look see at a FACTORY Authorized service provider and see what they say as to condition and the repairs done in the past. If it was not done properly they will know if it was A) factory parts B) done to factory standard.

To find the one of three authorized factory service centers go to:
Hamilton Watch | The American Brand Since 1892#

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I have collected, not a huge collection but all nice pieces, military style watches for some time. I buy from only a select few places because I know they get their watches from the factory and they either service themselves or will actually send it in to a factory repair center if someting goes wrong. You might pay a few dollars more up front but avoid these types of issues in the long run.

$250 for seals and a new crown? head for the hills. That's the problem with mechanical watches. Finding a competent repairer who charges an honest price but don't get me started.

First a 100m watch I would never ever wear in a jacuzzi. The water agitation and temp can play havoc. I'm not even sure I would treat a 200m watch like that. You can get condensation in a watch but it usually presents itself as a very fine fogging inside the xtl and it disappears quickly with no ill effects. What you have there is water leakage and the watch should have been checked for rust and should have had a complete overhaul at that point.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

$250 for seals and a new crown? head for the hills. That's the problem with mechanical watches. Finding a competent repairer who charges an honest price but don't get me started.

First a 100m watch I would never ever wear in a jacuzzi. The water agitation and temp can play havoc. I'm not even sure I would treat a 200m watch like that. You can get condensation in a watch but it usually presents itself as a very fine fogging inside the xtl and it disappears quickly with no ill effects. What you have there is water leakage and the watch should have been checked for rust and should have had a complete overhaul at that point.

Yep I would not take anything in a hot tub, Nothing marked water resistant like the Hamiltons are goes under water, only the dive watches. This after discussion with a dealer I trust who has been in the busines 30 years and sold some of the finest military type watches ever made. I mean the good old days of hand winding.

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm really glad to get your thoughts.

Oh believe me I know that I have no ground to stand on when it comes to previous condition. The guy tried to pretend not to see the water droplets with a loupe that I could see with my naked eye, so I would not bet much on his recollection of how my watch looked when I brought it in. That's why I pretty much gave up on trying to get them to clean up the face. I just want it dry and sealed at this point.

What ****es me off is that they probably left it fogged up over Christmas and are now covering their ass by pushing the angle of "How odd, it looks the same to me". At this point I'm definitely not going back there.

I also have faith that it can be repaired, but the cost worries me. I doubt that it's worth the money for what I spent on it originally. On that note I would frickin' love a manual wind military watch. Can you put me in touch with that dealer?

What about cleaning up the water damage myself? I've seen instructions for assembling automatics and I used to be big into painting miniatures, so hard could it be? Famous last words, I know.

Hamilton makes in their Kaki line manual wind watches as a matter of fact I have one myself. Zeno watch makes military styles and manuals too.

I dont think I or anyone said they didnt make their own.. I was just stating that for a watch to wear under water or in a hot tub. You really need something designed for that purpose. Hamiltong makes some fine watches, the kaki is one of them, its just not what I would wear in water. Just like I would not wear my Russian 24hr dial in water, its water resistant not water proof and that is the key. Does not make a watch bad just different.

I sent saskusch a pm with dealer information so as not to promote a busines here. Enjoy your timepieces men.

+1 on the adive proffered in the previous posts. It sounds to me that you've had a combination of bad luck with your watch (ie. dropping it on concrete) and the misfortune of wearing it in environments (ie. a jacuzzi) that it was never designed for.

I hope that a factory authorized repair shop can fix it for you.