I've been to Globus (the guy in the corner who does watch repairs) and a couple more, but either they say they don't do "small repairs" and their estimate is higher than the price of the watch itself!
Anyone knows a good address in Geneva for "small repairs at reasonable cost"?
Odile, is your dad still alive? He'd do it with his eyes shut, no doubt!
Which brand is it? I have a friend here who has a watch making school and would probably happy to look at it. Do you have any idea what the problem is? I do know lots of other watch makers here.
It's a "Fossil", nothing fancy but it was a 30th birthday present from my wife...back quite a few years ago! I'm going to try again in Geneva and if unsuccessful, I might call on your contacts.
The winding button is partly damaged and the hands are no longer working, despite brand new battery.
It is a simple Lorus watch. The front screen is cracked and the dials are not turning. I contacted Lorus service, and they told me it cannot be repaired. Is there any hope?
It might be worth a punt contacting them (after the school holidays, bien sur) and asking if they can help, or point you towards someone who can?
I would not put my watch at the top end of the scale, far from it. But huge sentimental value. Still sitting at the bottom of a drawer two years on.
Most Swiss watchmakers won't deal with a watch unless they know they can get the correct replacement parts and stand by their work. It's a bit easier to find a watchmaker in the UK or Germany who will "removement" a watch, you can even get spacer rings which allow you to fit a smaller caliber in a case, which means you need a new winding stem and refit the old crown, but few people are willing to pay the money it costs to do that.
If the original maker of the watch says that they won't service it then that probably means that there are no parts available.
I got myself another nice watch this year and I had an issue finding somebody who would manage to size the bloody strap for me on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. The brand boutique does not have a watchmaker on staff. The boutique next door neither. Both recommend Bucherer. Bucherer has a watchmaker, but he does not have tools at work as they are rebuilding the shop... not sure what a watchmaker does all day without tools but in my case he looked at it and said "sure, no problem, I can measure your wrist and send it to our workshop"... for a five minute job! Finally got some help at Meister. But given the price the watch costs is that nothing short of bizarre.
Even quartz watches have a caliber, and no, anyone who has put the time in to learn to work on high mech really isn't interested in fixing quartz watches.
If you want I can replace the movement in the swatch that you bought on Gran Canaria in '97 and put through the washing machine a decade ago. Only cost about 200 parts and labour. Say another 200 for punishment because you've not understood the meaning of "throwaway". Nothing to it really.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_(clockwork )
There are some very expensive quartz watches out there and any decent service provider offers to repair whatever watch you bring him. The guy he mentioned at Globus will work 90% plus of the times on quartz watches alone, but he probably only changes batteries and straps. I am sure there are shops willing to fix a button or switch the module to something fitting if the OP is willing to pay. Since its a memory he will and I don't see any point to get snobbish about it.
I ask you again: have you repaired many watches?
My Casio appreciated in price. Can you say the same about your Glashütte on which you spent your bonus on?
can you find the same watch on ebay/online, secondhand and working?
Then you can bring both to a repair shop, and ask them to swap the movement out. Anyone who's changed a battery should be able to do that for you...
It does raise a Ship of Theseus dilemma, but heyho...
M.