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mcenroe7
·Advice needed. Just beside myself and not sure how to proceed:
Here is my story: I have a 1970 Monaco 1133B..it “was” in perfect working order. Two months ago, I was stupid unfortunately ..just decided to on vacation without thinking to hit a few tennis balls for about 1/2 hour. Soon after I realized that the back case had become separated ..and the watch was also no longer keeping time. I didn’t force anything to try and put back case in myself ..I have a very honest and reputable watchmaker back home ..he’s 95!..but still does great work . Showed him the Monaco, he opened it up and told me that a very important screw has come undone , and it’s simple to reattach it, but he could not access it himself though he could “see” it. So I took it to another place that had decent reviews and they told me they are knowledgeable to work on this watch. He opened up the back case and said “I don’t see the screw, I will have to completely disassemble to find it ..and it will be $1200. I figured I learned a hard lesson not to wear the watch while playing tennis , so left it there. They told me it would be done in one week. Two weeks went by, and was then told that though it was keeping good time , the chronograph was not working and they would have to order a part from Switzerland. They said that would take a extra week (ship to U.S).
I felt uncomfortable leaving the watch there so they told me I could still wear the watch “just don’t use the chronograph function until we put the new part in”. Had to pay them $1300 with tax for them to release the watch back to me..and they said they will contact me when the part arrives.
Was leaving next day on business trip and decided to wear the watch. Upon ANY movement , there was a noise like something was loose inside ! And also, though it was keeping good time..there was a noticeable “ticking” like this was some old manual watch (it’s a automatic).
Contacted them immediately and they said it’s still ok to wear it..just don’t use Chronograph. Three more weeks pass, and the part from Switzerland arrives. They told me to bring the watch in last Thursday and it would be a 15 minute job while I wait to install the chronograph part.
Then..they change their story ..they wanted me to leave the watch again with them because “they want to make sure it’s perfect before they give it to me” All the while , the man doing the repairs has been unresponsive ..I’ve been communicating with the ladies who answer the phone, and lately another watch repair man who works there. He in fact told me “I should never have worn the watch with the loose noise I was hearing “..so conflicting stories again. Today was the day the watch was supposed to be ready, so I called them, finally got to speak with the “master watchmaker” who is working on it.
He was VERY defensive ..said I have been RUSHING them when in fact even the ladies who answer the phone have said how polite and patient I’ve been !!
He also said he is having trouble “calibrating “ it, and basically admitting he is having trouble .
I just don’t know what to do??
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated ..knowing my situation ..
Here is my story: I have a 1970 Monaco 1133B..it “was” in perfect working order. Two months ago, I was stupid unfortunately ..just decided to on vacation without thinking to hit a few tennis balls for about 1/2 hour. Soon after I realized that the back case had become separated ..and the watch was also no longer keeping time. I didn’t force anything to try and put back case in myself ..I have a very honest and reputable watchmaker back home ..he’s 95!..but still does great work . Showed him the Monaco, he opened it up and told me that a very important screw has come undone , and it’s simple to reattach it, but he could not access it himself though he could “see” it. So I took it to another place that had decent reviews and they told me they are knowledgeable to work on this watch. He opened up the back case and said “I don’t see the screw, I will have to completely disassemble to find it ..and it will be $1200. I figured I learned a hard lesson not to wear the watch while playing tennis , so left it there. They told me it would be done in one week. Two weeks went by, and was then told that though it was keeping good time , the chronograph was not working and they would have to order a part from Switzerland. They said that would take a extra week (ship to U.S).
I felt uncomfortable leaving the watch there so they told me I could still wear the watch “just don’t use the chronograph function until we put the new part in”. Had to pay them $1300 with tax for them to release the watch back to me..and they said they will contact me when the part arrives.
Was leaving next day on business trip and decided to wear the watch. Upon ANY movement , there was a noise like something was loose inside ! And also, though it was keeping good time..there was a noticeable “ticking” like this was some old manual watch (it’s a automatic).
Contacted them immediately and they said it’s still ok to wear it..just don’t use Chronograph. Three more weeks pass, and the part from Switzerland arrives. They told me to bring the watch in last Thursday and it would be a 15 minute job while I wait to install the chronograph part.
Then..they change their story ..they wanted me to leave the watch again with them because “they want to make sure it’s perfect before they give it to me” All the while , the man doing the repairs has been unresponsive ..I’ve been communicating with the ladies who answer the phone, and lately another watch repair man who works there. He in fact told me “I should never have worn the watch with the loose noise I was hearing “..so conflicting stories again. Today was the day the watch was supposed to be ready, so I called them, finally got to speak with the “master watchmaker” who is working on it.
He was VERY defensive ..said I have been RUSHING them when in fact even the ladies who answer the phone have said how polite and patient I’ve been !!
He also said he is having trouble “calibrating “ it, and basically admitting he is having trouble .
I just don’t know what to do??
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated ..knowing my situation ..
