Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Well after seven years my faithful Tag is finally giving me the battery end of life signal so it's time for a new one. Battery that is. I'm new to this and I'm pretty much resigned to having to send it off so was looking at a crowd called The Watch Lab. Any experience of this firm or can anyone recommend anyone else? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 The people in Manchester are the ones to send it to, not sure what they are called? they have done mine twice. Be prepared for a long wait if it goes anywhere decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Just took mine to the jewellers yesterday for the same thing. Tag do a week turnaround (sealed and g'tee) for £30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I should have been more specific sorry, if you just want the battery done any jeweller will do that, if you want the battery and seal you can get that done pretty quickly as mark has stated, if you want the battery and it serviced at the same time you are looking at over a month. Pay your money and take your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I suppose after seven years a service wouldn't go amiss. By Manchester it looks like you're recommending the watch lab then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I will see if I can dig out the card they gave me, servicing isn't cheap BTW :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo999123 Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 hi as a watch repairer I personally wouldnt bother with a service on a quartz watch unless it is starting to give trouble ie wont go with a new battery or is loosing time. generally with quartz watches (especially ones that use movements made by ETA such as TAG amoung many others) it is cheaper to replace the entire mechanism rather than service the existing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 If I remember right, there's a place in North Bristol called WatchWorks - run by old guys who know their stuff etc. I was going to have my Tag verified and serviced there, but decided not to bother in the end! So, I didn't actually use them, but they have a good reputation I think, and allegedly the high street jewellers just send stuff to them and add a margin on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Cheers I'll check them out. I'm in Bristol at least once a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3vert Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Listen to Jimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Cheers I'll check them out. I'm in Bristol at least once a week. Goldsmiths in Cirencester mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ste eibar Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 I just put battery's in my two tag F1 watches and it cost me £3.60. They are both quite old mind. I watched a vidio on u tube it's easy , they are still waterproof. Maybe not to 200m but iv'e been swimming with them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuC Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 My Tag got sent for a new battery under warranty, 8week turnaround!!!! I have no idea what time it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 Thanks. Can't find it anywhere I am afraid :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 (especially ones that use movements made by ETA such as TAG amoung many others) it is cheaper to replace the entire mechanism rather than service the existing. And what's the cost of a service? And I thought only Swatches were into the disposable market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo999123 Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 (edited) A service would probably cost twice as much as a movement exchange although which ever option they choose service or movement exchange you will just be told that your watch is being serviced. Generally speaking swatches are the only disposable watches. As far as I'm aware they are the only brand that has a completely sealed back that cannot be removed although saying this they are now producing automatic watches ( which use ETA automatic movements) which can be opened and serviced. Alot of top watches like TAG use movements made by ETA. Generally a basic quartz movement made by ETA ie something with just a date and month and no chronograph will have a movement that would cost between £10-£35 individually with discounts on bulk orders. So rather than paying someone wages for approx 4 hours work to completely disassemble the movement identify and source any new parts required which includes doing alot of electrical testing on the circuit board and then re assembling and oiling the movement plus then having to test the watch for at least 2 days to check its working correctly. Where as a movement swap will take 10 mins and only needs to be tested until the date has changed over. ETA are the leading manufacturer of watch movements and are used in many top brand name watches including Breitling and Omega although they both generally use more expensive automatic movements some of the cheaper quartz models will have the exact same movement as is in a £100 Tissot Edited March 27, 2012 by Jimbo999123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Next question, if you strip out the £35 movement from a Tag, what's the cost of the strap, case and glass? I would guess that these use really expensive materials or have a very high cost of production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petethegeek Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Next question, if you strip out the £35 movement from a Tag, what's the cost of the strap, case and glass? I would guess that these use really expensive materials or have a very high cost of production. And not forgetting the intangibles, of course... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 I suppose it probably doesn't need a service, just a new battery. It's funny really, for the last few years it's intrigued me quite how long the battery would last. It's actually still keeping perfect time too, apart from the signal. I reckon I got lucky and it came with a nice fresh battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Beards in the Promenade, Cheltenham. Won't take them long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Next question, if you strip out the £35 movement from a Tag, what's the cost of the strap, case and glass? I would guess that these use really expensive materials or have a very high cost of production. I am only guessing here :yp: its probably in the name, thats the expensive bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Goldsmiths in Cirencester mate. I did think about Goldsmiths but then thought they would just send it away anyway..? You're The Watch Man though Mike, I'll check... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo999123 Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 (edited) I am only guessing here :yp: its probably in the name, thats the expensive bit correct although the case isnt cheap to produce most of the value is in the branding yeah goldsmiths will just send it back to TAG and add a charge ontop the cheapest and quickest place to have this done will be a local jewellers with a proper watchmaker who can change the battery and re preasure test the watch which should take a day or two at the most and cost between £20-£30 Edited March 28, 2012 by Jimbo999123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo999123 Posted March 28, 2012 Report Share Posted March 28, 2012 Next question, if you strip out the £35 movement from a Tag, what's the cost of the strap, case and glass? I would guess that these use really expensive materials or have a very high cost of production. unfortunatly not ive never bought a case from TAG but when a coustomer brought in a Longines watch that had cost him over £1000 and had bent a case lug I bought a new case glass and leather strap which cost a total of £97 inc postage and vat. this two had an ETA quartz movement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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