[Technology] Tissot Specialist Watch Repairers?

[Gilliver's Travels]

I have a 60-year old Tissot watch that needs fixing. Apparently needs parts not stocked by Tissot (according to TH Baker)

Any recommended specialist, Tissot-certified watch repairers in the Brighton area?

 

[swd40]

Have you contacted Tissot directly in the UK to find out for sure?
They offer free postal service, then sent an estimate for repairing, (nowhere near the age of yours though).

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Have you contacted Tissot directly in the UK to find out for sure?
They offer free postal service, then sent an estimate for repairing, (nowhere near the age of yours though).

The watch was sent to Tissot via TH Baker, who told me the part required was no longer available from Tissot! Incredible....

 

[Happy Exile]

Have a look at the BHI (British Horological Institute) and they have a list of accredited repairers. Might not be Tissot certified but will likely be good and if Tissot no longer have the parts there's possibly not much benefit in going somewhere Tissot certified anyway. I used to take my Dad's old watch into a small watch repair shop in Hove, sadly now closed, where they'd make replacement parts that were no longer available. It's a real skill, but one which decent watch repair places will be able to do and I'm sure you'll find one fairly local that has the skills. I've tinkered with watches a bit and built my own and repaired some movements where spares are available (and the value low in case it goes wrong!), and while all are different, they are reasonably standard in the mechanics of how they work with a few exceptions in modern Omega and Rolex particularly, though you'll find less variance with vintage watches so a competent, accredited watch repair shop should be OK even if they've never encountered that particular watch before.

As an aside if you're interested in going down the watch-movement rabbit hole and geeking a bit it's fun finding out how many very expensive high-end watches have been built using only very minor modifications to generic, mass produced movements rather than in-house created ones - it shows where the value is, and where it isn't to a certain extent.

 

[Chicken Run]

Watches of Switzerland?


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[Gilliver's Travels]

Have a look at the BHI (British Horological Institute) and they have a list of accredited repairers. Might not be Tissot certified but will likely be good and if Tissot no longer have the parts there's possibly not much benefit in going somewhere Tissot certified anyway. I used to take my Dad's old watch into a small watch repair shop in Hove, sadly now closed, where they'd make replacement parts that were no longer available. It's a real skill, but one which decent watch repair places will be able to do and I'm sure you'll find one fairly local that has the skills. I've tinkered with watches a bit and built my own and repaired some movements where spares are available (and the value low in case it goes wrong!), and while all are different, they are reasonably standard in the mechanics of how they work with a few exceptions in modern Omega and Rolex particularly, though you'll find less variance with vintage watches so a competent, accredited watch repair shop should be OK even if they've never encountered that particular watch before.

As an aside if you're interested in going down the watch-movement rabbit hole and geeking a bit it's fun finding out how many very expensive high-end watches have been built using only very minor modifications to generic, mass produced movements rather than in-house created ones - it shows where the value is, and where it isn't to a certain extent.

Many thanks for the advice. I'll check out the BHI website and see if they can come up with a suitably accredited local repairer.

 

[Worthing exile]

Steve Fletcher from the Repair Shop can fix anything. www.clockworkshop.co.uk

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Have a look at the BHI (British Horological Institute) and they have a list of accredited repairers.

I did just that, and have now booked the repair with a guy in Worthing. Many thanks for the tip!

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I have a 60-year old Tissot watch that needs fixing. Apparently needs parts not stocked by Tissot (according to TH Baker)

Any recommended specialist, Tissot-certified watch repairers in the Brighton area?

I'd be surprised if Albion man James Ross Jewellers couldn't help in Portslade.

Edit: just noticed you're sorted

 

[Nitram]

Have a look at the BHI (British Horological Institute) and they have a list of accredited repairers. Might not be Tissot certified but will likely be good and if Tissot no longer have the parts there's possibly not much benefit in going somewhere Tissot certified anyway. I used to take my Dad's old watch into a small watch repair shop in Hove, sadly now closed, where they'd make replacement parts that were no longer available. It's a real skill, but one which decent watch repair places will be able to do and I'm sure you'll find one fairly local that has the skills. I've tinkered with watches a bit and built my own and repaired some movements where spares are available (and the value low in case it goes wrong!), and while all are different, they are reasonably standard in the mechanics of how they work with a few exceptions in modern Omega and Rolex particularly, though you'll find less variance with vintage watches so a competent, accredited watch repair shop should be OK even if they've never encountered that particular watch before.

As an aside if you're interested in going down the watch-movement rabbit hole and geeking a bit it's fun finding out how many very expensive high-end watches have been built using only very minor modifications to generic, mass produced movements rather than in-house created ones - it shows where the value is, and where it isn't to a certain extent.

No doubt most on the list are fine but still Google the name of the repairer as some shocking stories can be told.

It’s getting harder and harder to find decent repairers, it really is a dying art. The last two watch repairers I used for one of my older pieces no longer trade.

 

[B-right-on]

I'd be surprised if Albion man James Ross Jewellers couldn't help in Portslade.

Edit: just noticed you're sorted

Was going to plug JRJ too, he sorted my watch out, but nowhere near as old as the OPs

 

[Nitram]

Was going to plug JRJ too, he sorted my watch out, but nowhere near as old as the OPs

That’s the problem with older models, the manufactures don’t have the stock of old parts as the OP found out with Tissot. Not just them but even the likes of Rolex don’t want to know on watches of a certain age and outsource them.
Trouble is finding a good one to repair it, normally an old school enthusiast but they are becoming thin on the ground these days. Some of my watches are 60 plus years old and it’s increasingly difficult to find anyone reputable to work on them. I don’t know of any in the Brighton area now, a few years back there were two good ones.

 

[Easy 10]

Ticka (opposite Portslade Tesco). The old codger in there used to work for NASA, he designed the oxygen compression units used on the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Fixed a dicky watchstrap of mine a couple of years ago. If he can't fix it, no-one can.

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Thanks for all the helpful replies - NSC at its finest.

I'll update once the repair's completed, in a few weeks' time.

 

[Live by the sea]

Be wary of hefty repair bills as with respect Tissot is not an expensive make like Rolex or omega where it’s usually worth paying even a big bill for a quality repair .

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Be wary of hefty repair bills as with respect Tissot is not an expensive make like Rolex or omega where it’s usually worth paying even a big bill for a quality repair .

True, except there's another dimension of value in play here. Sentimental.

 

[Live by the sea]

True, except there's another dimension of value in play here. Sentimental.

That’s true of course .

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Thanks for all the helpful replies - NSC at its finest.

I'll update once the repair's completed, in a few weeks' time.

Denouement: The BHI website led me to Wheelers in Worthing: long established family firm, on-site workshop, nice people. They sourced parts, full service plus new crystal. Took three weeks. £250 but well worth it. Highly recommended!

 

[Elbow750]

Denouement: The BHI website led me to Wheelers in Worthing: long established family firm, on-site workshop, nice people. They sourced parts, full service plus new crystal. Took three weeks. £250 but well worth it. Highly recommended!

That's fantastic news. £250 to bring a 60 year old watch back to active life is well worth it. Here's to another 60 years for both of you!

 

[Nitram]

Denouement: The BHI website led me to Wheelers in Worthing: long established family firm, on-site workshop, nice people. They sourced parts, full service plus new crystal. Took three weeks. £250 but well worth it. Highly recommended!

Great result, and a fair price for the work done.