I had my first car 1990 BMW 318iSA, I had encountered a couple
of incidents, while it was running on highway
it stopped everything, no engine, no brake, no power steering… it shocked me!
I went to BMW repair they told me, Oh it is the Computer problem,
changed it as a whole new module with HKD$30,000 will do… Man, in 1996 HK$30,000
can buy a Daytona Watch! Finally I went
to a garage shop friend told me to… the chap told me…” buy me a coffee and give
me two minutes!”… he took out a hand held tool with BMW logo on it and pushed
into somewhere on the microprocessor “reset” he told me… DONE!
That problem happened no more that Crazy problem before the
car was stolen at Wilson Car park….!
Have you ever been sending watches for servicing in Hong
Kong?
These are some of the episode about watch repair in HK:-
Long queue on the line at the Service Centre of XXX, no one comes to talk to you, just wait for your turn… and they close early.
Battery Changes of a XXX Watch HK$850.
(I changed it myself HK$20)
Inspection of a XXX Watch HK$1,000, movement Cleaning $8,000 for 3-4 months. If Complicated watch must be
done in Switzerland!
XXX Manual Wind Watch overall HK$8,000, take 2 months.
XXX Perpetual Watch Overall HK$40,000, 5 months in Switzerland as they are having Summer holidays.
XXX perpetual Calendar Watch repair HK$50,000 and it takes more than 1 year. The Chinese Customer
went into the shop and yelled! You know
the Richer customer is usually the more aggressive one!
Quartz Battery Change, supposed to be Free but they will ask
you for changing the O-ring, or the crown as it seems there is water resistance
issues, and end up you have to pay HK$4,000 and three weeks.
A Friend of mine send his Quartz yellow gold to service
centre for Inspection, check, and part replacement and requesting to add two
more links as his wrist is large, Quotation
came out asking changes on the Crystal, Crown, Overhaul, and two sections of
the bracelet, total Charges is HK$55,000… Amazingly!
I just sent a 1970’s first generation yellow gold watch to XXX
Boutique for a cleaning of the movement as it is not running smoothly after 6 years…last week.
They told me that is a watch over 25 years, has to be
shipped to Switzerland for the repair and cleaning, basic cleaning cost is
HK$8,000 …Oh, since I am the good friend of the shop manager I got less 20% discount! Good Mercy.
Excluding parts, they would like to say the final price could be
something that would make me stretch my tongue long to touch my nose!
This is just a few examples of Watch repair experience over
the past 5 years!l
For most of the Cases I will send to some HK renowned repair
Centres, expert …. As I know them Well, I understand where they are from, and
they have the part, patience and Skill. and Most of all, I get my Watch Return with Satisfaction.
The story is totally different…
For Rolex Oyster Quartz Battery Changes, God… HKD$20,
workmanship Free!
For the Perpetual Calendar Cleaning HK$7,000 may be in two
weeks only.
For the 1970 watch cleaning … man…. HK$2,400 only.
Of course if you had money and patience to wait for 6 to
14 months for waiting your watch
repaired… please do so sending to the original
factory…
HK Snob
PS
XXX stands for DIFFERENT HI End Watch Brands in HK.
