Watch Repair in NYC

Louis Martin Jewelers no longer offers watch repair or servicing. After more than 40 years in the business, we’ve decided to focus entirely on buying, selling, appraising, and authenticating vintage watches and estate jewelry. For repairs and servicing, we recommend the trusted NYC watchmakers below, along with everything you need to know before handing your watch to anyone.

NYC Watch Repair Shops We Recommend

1:46 Watch Repair — Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Brooklyn's only full-service watch repair shop. They've been at 691 Lorimer Street since 2008, doing one thing. No jewelry cases, no battery kiosk, just tried and trusted watch repair. If you're in Brooklyn or want to stay out of Midtown, this may be the shop for you.

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TimePiece Watch and Jewelry Repair — Greenwich Village

Ruben Badalbayev has been servicing watches since he was 16, learning the craft from his father before coming to the US in 1993. He's run multiple locations across New York and Miami, and his shop at 115 Greenwich Avenue specializes in Rolex and Cartier overhauls, complete movement service, and vintage watch restoration. 4.9 stars across 631 reviews. Services include full movement overhauls, ultrasonic cleaning, stem and crown replacement, crystal replacement, and watch restoration. Not a production shop — they take the time the job requires.

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Does Your Watch Need Service?

Here are the signs that tell you it's time.

It's running more than +/- 30 seconds a day. A serviced mechanical movement holds close to accurate time. Significant drift means the movement needs cleaning or regulation.
It stopped for no clear reason. A fully wound watch that stops on its own usually has a dirty or dried-out movement.
It hasn't been serviced in 5 or more years. Lubricants inside a mechanical movement break down over time whether the watch gets worn or not. A watch sitting in a drawer still needs service.
You just bought it vintage. Service history on a pre-owned watch is rarely verifiable. Treat it as overdue until you know otherwise.
The crown feels stiff or hard to wind. That's usually dried lubricants or debris in the winding mechanism.
There's moisture or condensation behind the crystal. The seals have failed. Don't wear it until it's been looked at.

The same applies to modern watches. These signs hold whether your watch is from 1965 or 2005.

Service or Overhaul — Which One Do You Need?

These terms get used interchangeably, but they have their differences.

A service is routine maintenance. The movement gets cleaned, lubricated, regulated, and put back together. Worn parts get checked but aren't necessarily replaced. The watch leaves running accurately.

An overhaul goes further. Full disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, inspection under magnification, and reassembly with replacement parts where wear calls for it: mainspring, gaskets, crown and stem, worn gears. The case gets cleaned, and the crystal may be replaced. On a vintage watch, an overhaul brings the piece back to full working condition.

General price ranges for NYC:

Standard service on a vintage mechanical watch: $150 – $400
Full overhaul on a vintage Rolex or Omega: $400 – $900
Full overhaul on a complicated movement (chronograph, perpetual calendar): $800 – $2,000+

Price depends on movement complexity, the watch's condition, parts availability, and the skill the job requires. Servicing a 1960s Rolex Daytona is a different job than servicing a quartz dress watch. Always get a written estimate before authorizing any work.

What a Full Vintage Watch Service Should Cover

Use this as your baseline. A proper service on a vintage mechanical watch includes all of these.

Complete movement disassembly
Ultrasonic cleaning of all components
Inspection under magnification
Replacement of worn parts: mainspring, gaskets, jewels if needed
Fresh lubrication throughout
Reassembly and timing regulation
Pressure and water resistance testing where applicable
Case and bracelet cleaning
Written condition report before and after

If a watchmaker can't walk you through these steps or won't provide a condition report, ask more questions before leaving anything with them.

Questions to Ask Before You Leave Your Watch

Save these on your phone. Ask them at the counter.

Can I get a written estimate before you start any work? Any legitimate watchmaker will say yes. If they need to open the watch to assess it first, that's fine. Just make sure the estimate comes before you authorize anything.
Will you use original or period-correct parts? Aftermarket parts on a vintage watch can affect how it runs and what it's worth. State your preference before work starts.
Have you worked on this caliber before? A 1965 Omega cal. 321 is a different job than a modern ETA. It's a fair question.
Will the dial, hands, or case finish be touched? Polishing a vintage case or refinishing a dial hurts originality and value. If you want it left alone cosmetically, say so and get it in writing.
What's your turnaround and do you warranty the work? Two to six weeks is standard for a service. Any reputable shop stands behind their work for at least a year.

Before You Drop It Off

Tell your watchmaker these things before they touch anything.

Share the age and history of the movement. A 1950s or 1960s caliber has different tolerances, lubrication needs, and parts availability than a modern movement. A good watchmaker will ask. If they don't, bring it up before they open the case.

Be clear about originality. If the watch has collector value, or you want it kept cosmetically untouched, say it. Don't assume they'll default to preserving it.

Ask for a condition report before any work is authorized. A qualified watchmaker tells you what they're looking at before they touch anything. It sets clear expectations on scope and cost.