Knowledge base
The bits nobody explains properly
A growing reference for watch geeks — movements, sizing, water resistance, materials and servicing, written in plain English and free of marketing gloss. Tap any topic to expand it.
Sizing & fit
Water resistance
Dials, crystals & lume
Service & care
Glossary
Independent watch repairs in the UK
Established independent repairers and specialists by town and city. Use the map to jump to your area — always confirm current pricing and contact details with the workshop before sending a watch.
London
Steven Hale Watch Repairs (SHWR)
Mayfair, Central London
High-end Swiss luxury watch overhauls, movement servicing and laser welding. Works on Rolex, Omega, Breitling and Cartier.
SwissMade
Hatton Garden, London
Independent bench watchmakers in London's historic jewellery quarter — Swiss chronograph servicing, case restoration and polishing.
Watch Surgery
Bond Street & Westfield (Shepherd's Bush / Stratford)
Multi-branch independent specialist: battery replacements, pressure testing, crystal replacements and mechanical overhauls.
Guildford
TIME Watch Repair
66 Quarry Street, Guildford
Local independent workshop handling mechanical overhauls, quartz servicing, crystal replacement and strap/bracelet adjustment.
Presman Master Watchmakers
Serving Guildford & Surrey (local jeweller partners / postal)
BHI-accredited service centre for vintage and modern Swiss restoration, dial refinishing and pressure testing.
Birmingham
Creative Watch Co.
Vyse Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
Established independent repairer offering on-site pressure testing, full movement overhauls and battery/reseal servicing.
F. Meeks & Co.
Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
Long-standing independent horologists specialising in vintage watch restoration, antique pocket watches and mechanical movements.
Manchester
The Watch Lab
Arndale Centre, Manchester
Dedicated testing facility: movement assessments, glass replacement and pressure testing for Swiss and modern brands.
Martins of Manchester
Central Manchester
Independent watchmakers for luxury repairs, movement overhauls and case polishing — Rolex, Omega and Breitling.
Bristol
Watchworks
Ashley Down Road, Bristol
Accredited independent watchmakers specialising in Rolex, Tudor and Swiss luxury movement maintenance and case restoration.
The Watch Lab (Cribbs Causeway)
Cribbs Causeway Shopping Centre, Bristol
Walk-in diagnostics: movement overhauls, battery replacement with water-resistance testing and strap refurbishment.
Edinburgh
Brendan Haddock Watch-Clock Repair
Edinburgh (by appointment)
Over 50 years of experience in vintage mechanical restoration, clock overhauls and bespoke horological care.
Martins Jewellery & Watch Repair
City Centre, Edinburgh
Independent repair shop: movement cleaning, mainspring replacement, glass fitting and luxury watch servicing.
Glasgow
Caledonian Watch Repairs
Central Glasgow
Independent workshop servicing vintage mechanical pieces and modern Swiss luxury wristwatches.
G.A. Taggart Watchmakers
Glasgow
Traditional horological workshop for movement overhauls, balance wheel adjustment and crystal fitting.
Tap a pin to jump to the repairers in that area. Numbers show how many share a location.
Quick answers
- How accurate should a mechanical watch be?
- Most modern automatics run between -10 and +10 seconds a day depending on position and wear. Consistency matters more than the raw number: a watch that gains a steady five seconds a day is healthier than one that swings unpredictably.
- Do I need to service every five years?
- Five years is a manufacturer's default, not a rule. Many movements run well for eight to ten years. Service when timekeeping drifts noticeably, the power reserve drops, the winding feels gritty, or before you expose the watch to water.
- Which size actually fits a 6.5" wrist?
- Look at lug-to-lug rather than diameter. Under about 47mm lug-to-lug will sit flat on a 6.5-inch wrist; a 38-40mm case in that range usually wears comfortably.
- Can I swim with a 100m watch?
- Yes for pool and surface swimming, assuming the gaskets and crown are in good order. Leave diving, and hot showers, to a 200m watch with a screw-down crown that has been pressure tested recently.