Got a quote today for servicing my vintage Omega. €450. The watch cost me €600 five years ago.
This is the hidden cost of mechanical watches that gets glossed over in every “value proposition” article.
A full service every 5-7 years. Gasket replacements. Crystal polishing. Parts that wear out. It adds up.
My Sinn will need servicing eventually too. Estimate around €300. The Perun Veles uses an SW200-1 - serviceable at any competent watchmaker for €150-200.
The romantic notion of “passing watches to grandchildren” rarely accounts for the €2,000+ in servicing costs over a watch’s lifetime.
None of this means mechanical watches are bad purchases. Just that the true cost of ownership extends beyond the sticker price.
Budget for maintenance. Or accept that some watches are disposable despite their mechanical movements.
I’ll probably service the Omega. But I’m annoyed about it.