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Call Us When You Run Out Of Time!™

Ken Kotoski - Certified Master Horologist

Expert Pocket Watch Repair and Wrist Watch Repair

Specializing in Pocket Watch Repair and Wrist Watch Repair

Full Service Mechanical Watch Repair and Quartz Watch Repair.

Rolex Watches, Breitling Watches, Tag Heuer Watches,

Omega Watches, Seiko Watches and American Pocket Watches

ARE A SPECIALTY!

MECHANICAL WATCHES

MECHANICAL WATCH REPAIR:

Mechanical watches have a lot of pressure that is applied by the mainspring to the tiny surfaces of the moving parts. If you don't have your watch cleaned and oiled regularly dirt gets inside and mixes with the oil and acts like sandpaper. Over time the oils can dry out and when that happens the parts start to wear and eventually if left operating in this condition the watch will eventually stop working and parts will have to be replaced.

It is recommended that a mechanical watch be cleaned and oiled every 2-7 years depending on the type and quality. It is better to have your watch serviced before it stops running. It's like the old Fram oil filter commercials - "You can pay me a little $, now. Or a lot $$$, later."

Stops and Starts

If your mechanical watch runs erratically or stops and starts after it is fully wound or doesn't keep good time, it most likely needs to be cleaned and oiled.

If your watch is not an auto-wind watch and you can't fully wind the watch until it stops, the most likely problem is that the mainspring is broken.

Water and Watches

Water and watches don't mix. Even the smallest amount of water inside your watch can cause major damage. If you see any sign of moisture or water inside your watch send it in immediately.

Don't think it will just dry out and be fine. It will take a very long time to dry out and while it is drying out it will be causing rust and damage to your watch.

If your watch got wet or you see any sign of moisture or water inside the watch, send it in immediately.

If your watch has gotten wet, even water resistant watches, and stops running, the problem more than likely is water damage and rust.

It is very difficult to estimate rust damage and I will work on it at an hourly rate. The final cost depends on how bad the water damage is. In some cases it may be less expensive to replace the movement.

What I Do

Each watch is disassembled and then ultrasonicaly cleaned, re-assembled, oiled and the movement is timed using a digital electronic timing machine (a Witchi Watch Expert II). Then the watch is observed for 1-2 days to make sure it is operating properly.

I don't do swish and lube jobs. If you take your watch to a jewelry store chances are it is sent to a trade shop that does this type of job. The problem with this is there is no way to get the watch cleaned adequately.

Prices listed below are labor only. Parts, shipping and insurance are extra. Rolex Watches, Tag Heuer Watches, Omega Watches, Ebel Watches, Breitling Watches and other high grade watches are more.

The following are performed on your mechanical watch when doing an overhaul:

Check winding and setting mechanism freedom

Check barrel arbor and endshake

Jewels inspected for chips or cracks

Balance is checked for proper end play and trueness

Amplitude of balance is checked

Pivots are checked

Time keeping is checked by state of the art digital timing machine (Witchi Watch Expert II)

And many other checks are made

Cleaning of your mechanical watch:

Your mechanical watch will be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner except for the hairspring which needs special care and cleaning.

Hairsprings are cleaned using a special hairspring cleaner. Any oily residue left on a hairspring if cleaned in the ultrasonic will make the watch impossible to time.

Timing of your mechanical watch:

Your mechanical watch will be timed using a state of the art Witschi Watch Expert II digital timing machine.

Other Mechanical Watch Repairs:

Balance staffs replaced starting at $25.

Jewel replacement starts at $25 per jewel + labor.

Crystal Replacement (plastic, rock glass, mineral glass and sapphire).

Why not have your watch's crystal replaced while your watch is in for service?

A new crystal makes a big difference in how your watch will look and makes it much easier to see the time!

My prices for crystals are very reasonable, and most are far below my competitors.

If your wrist watch has a round "mineral glass" crystal now it may be able to be fitted with a sapphire crystal which will give you a virtually scratch resistant crystal for a long time to come.

Watch Bands.

Genune Factory or Generic watch bands. Generic bands in Suede, Calf, Oilskin, Leather, Lizard, Crocodile, Aligator, Metal Expandable and Clasp, PVC Sport, Nylon Sport Bands and Swiss Army.

Crown, Stem, Pushers and Case Tube Replacement.

Genuine and Generic - Dress, Dustproof, Lever Back, Pocket Watch, Waterproof, Screwdown, Divers and Colored Stone Crowns. For when you want to improve the look of your watch or when your crown is worn down.

I use Genuine factory stems, pushers and case tubes. Or Generic ones if the Genuine is not available.

Dial Refinishing.

If the paint is coming off your dial

Or the luminosity is no longer working

Or if you just want a different color(s) on the dial

Dial refinishing will make it look just like new.

Hand Replacement.

Need new hands?

Maybe they are bent

Is the luminosity no longer working on your watch hands?

Maybe you just want a different style.

I use the finest quality hands available, both genuine and generic.

Custom Part Replacement.

Such as balance staffs, stems, dials, and more are available for your watch.

Restoration.

Do you have a watch that's in a bad way? I can completely restore it to like new condition.

STANDARD Grade Mechanical Watch Overhaul Prices (Labor only, Parts Are Extra):

Standard Grade Mechanical Watch Overhaul Includes:

Dis-assemble, Clean Movement, Inspect, Replace Mainspring and bad parts, Clean Case and Band, New Case Gaskets, New Spring Bars (if applicable), Re-assemble, Lubricate, Set Timing and Water Resistance Testing (if applicable).

Pricing starts at $105 + parts.

The rate of $105 covers 3 hours of work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the current labor rate of $40 per hour and that amount will be added to your final invoice.

This is only a starting price to give you an idea of the cost. An Estimate will be provided once the watch is inspected.

NO corners will be cut. We will NOT do rush jobs.

Our reputation is on the work We do. We will do the job right or We won't do it at all.

NO estimates of any kind will be given unless We have the oportunity to examine the watch.

NO exceptions.

HIGH Grade Mechanical Watch Overhaul Prices (Labor only, Parts Are Extra):

High Grade Watches Include:
Corum	Concord	Piaget	Cartier
Patek Philippe	Vacheron Constantin	Audmars Piguet	Le Coulter
Baume and Mercier	Ebel	Breitling	Blancpain

There are many more as well. If you are unsure if your watch is a high grade watch contact me and I'll let you know.

High Grade Mechanical Watch Overhaul Includes:

Dis-assemble, Clean Movement, Inspect, Replace Mainspring and bad parts, Clean Case and Band, Polish Case and Band, New Case Gaskets, New Spring Bars (if applicable), Re-assemble, Lubricate, Set Timing and Water Resistance Testing.

Pricing starts at $280 + parts.

The rate of $280 covers 8 hours of work. If additional time is needed to repair or time your watch it will be charged at the current labor rate of $40 per hour and that amount will be added to your final invoice.

This is only a starting price to give you an idea of the cost. An Estimate will be provided once the watch is inspected.

NO corners will be cut. We will NOT do rush jobs.

Our reputation is on the work We do. We will do the job right or We won't do it at all.

NO estimates of any kind will be given unless We have the oportunity to examine the watch.

NO exceptions.

Warranty:

Standard, Medium and High Grade Mechanical watches are warranted from the date the repair was completed for 12 months.

This warranty covers only the parts Yellowstone Watch, Inc. furnished.

Damage from abuse or water damage is not covered.

Watch bands, chains, crowns and stems are not covered.

Balance staffs will break if you drop your watch and are not covered even if Yellowstone Watch, Inc. furnished it.

Crystals are not covered.

Water Resistance is not covered in this warranty.

Repairs done by someone else are not covered and void any previous warranty from Yellowstone Watch, Inc.

A written copy of our warranty is sent with your watch when it is repaired.

NOTE 1:

I do my best to ensure your watch will run properly and keep time.

Sometimes it may not be possible to get a watch to keep time properly.

This is true of low grade watches or old watches that have been neglected and those which have been damaged by someone that does not know what they are doing.

I'm telling you this up front rather than give you a false impression of the outcome.

Sometimes even though everything has been fixed properly a watch will not run properly or keep time. When this happens I will do what I can for you and your watch.

NOTE 2:

Warranties will be stated on the invoice and if appropriate will be in writing on a seperate page.

Estimates:

Standard Grade Mechanical Wrist Watches

Estimates are $30 to cover time and return shipping by priority mail.

If you decide to have the watch repaired the entire estimate fee will be credited toward the final invoice.

Be sure to insure it properly and be sure to state the amount of insurance you want for return shipping.

High Grade Wrist Watches

Estimates are $60 to cover time and return shipping by priority mail.

If you decide to have the watch repaired the entire estimate fee will be credited toward the final invoice.

Be sure to insure it properly and be sure to state the amount of insurance you want for return shipping.