Watch Service Cost in the UK — The Real Numbers Nobody Tells You

A full service on a mechanical watch in the UK costs between £195 and £950, depending on whether you go to an independent watchmaker or a brand service centre. That's a massive range, and most of it has nothing to do with the quality of work you'll receive. It has to do with who's doing it and what name is on the dial.

If you own a watch worth £500 to £5,000 — which is most of the independent and microbrand market — understanding service costs isn't optional. It's the difference between a watch that makes financial sense and one that quietly bleeds you dry.

What a Full Service Actually Involves

A full service means the movement is completely disassembled. Every component is cleaned, usually ultrasonically. Worn parts are replaced. The movement is reassembled, lubricated, regulated, and tested over several days. Gaskets are replaced. The case is resealed and pressure tested for water resistance. Some services include case and bracelet polishing; others charge extra.

This isn't a battery swap. It's skilled, time-intensive labour that requires training, specialist equipment, and a clean working environment. That's why it costs what it costs, and why the cheapest quote isn't always the smartest choice.

What You'll Pay at an Independent Watchmaker

Independent watchmakers are where the real value sits for most watch owners. Based on current UK pricing from established independents, here's what to expect for a full movement service excluding parts:

A basic manual wind movement runs around £195 to £220. A standard automatic — your ETA 2824, Sellita SW200, Miyota 9039, Seiko NH35 and similar — sits at roughly £220 to £280. A complex automatic like a Rolex calibre or Omega Co-Axial starts from around £265 and can reach £350 depending on the watchmaker. Manual chronographs go from about £325 to £380. Automatic chronographs start at £380 and climb from there.

Spare parts are usually extra. A new mainspring adds £12 to £30. Crystals, crowns, and gaskets are often included in the service price unless the damage is significant. Case polishing may or may not be included — always ask.

These are 2025/2026 figures from reputable UK independents. Prices have risen steadily over the past few years and will continue to do so. Watchmaking is a shrinking trade, demand is stable, and the maths only goes one direction.

What You'll Pay at a Brand Service Centre

This is where it gets expensive, and where you need to decide what you're actually paying for.

Rolex charges £600 to £950 for a standard service on a steel model in the UK. Complications and precious metals push it higher. You get genuine parts, a two-year international service guarantee, and the peace of mind that comes with factory-level work. You also get a turnaround time that can stretch to 8-12 weeks.

Omega currently charges around £450 to £550 for a non-chronograph automatic and £550 to £750 for a mechanical chronograph through their UK service centres. Prices have increased roughly 25% in the past couple of years. Polishing and case refinishing can add £150 to £300 on top.

Tudor, TAG Heuer, Breitling, and other Swatch Group or independent Swiss brands follow a similar pattern: official service costs that sit somewhere between two and four times what an independent watchmaker would charge for the same work.

The question isn't whether official servicing is good. It is. The question is whether it's worth the premium for your specific watch.

When Brand Servicing Makes Sense (and When It Doesn't)

If you own a Rolex, Omega, or similar high-value watch that you plan to sell, official service history matters. Buyers pay more for watches with stamped service records from the manufacturer. The premium you pay for official servicing partially comes back to you in resale value.

If you own a watch worth £500 to £2,000 from an independent brand — a Christopher Ward, a Baltic, a Farer, a Halios — sending it to an authorised service centre (if one even exists for that brand) makes almost no financial sense. A competent independent watchmaker will service the ETA, Sellita, or Miyota movement inside it for a fraction of the cost, and the work will be identical in quality.

Here's the uncomfortable maths. If you own a £1,000 microbrand watch with an SW200 inside it, and a full service costs £220 to £280 at an independent, that's roughly 22-28% of the watch's value every five to seven years. It's not nothing. But it's manageable, and it's honest.

Now imagine sending that same watch to an official service centre — if the brand even offers one — and paying £450 or more. You're now spending nearly half the watch's value on maintenance. At that point, you have to ask whether servicing the watch is smarter than replacing it entirely.

How Often Do You Actually Need a Service?

The industry standard recommendation is every five to eight years for a mechanical watch. Some brands say three to five years. Some watchmakers say ten.

The honest answer: service your watch when it needs it, not on a schedule. If your watch is keeping good time — within a few seconds per day — and hasn't been exposed to water, dust, or impacts, leave it alone. A watch that's running well doesn't need to be disassembled and rebuilt just because a calendar says so.

Watch for these signs that a service is actually due: accuracy has dropped noticeably (gaining or losing more than 15-20 seconds per day), the power reserve feels shorter than it used to, the crown feels gritty or stiff when winding, or the date change is sluggish or inconsistent. If any of these appear, book it in. If none do, keep wearing it.

This is especially relevant for watches in the £500 to £2,000 range. Servicing a watch that doesn't need servicing is burning money.

How to Find a Good Independent Watchmaker in the UK

This is the hard part. The UK has excellent independent watchmakers, but they're not easy to find, and the best ones have waiting lists.

Start with the British Horological Institute (BHI). Their member directory lists qualified watchmakers across the country. Look for someone with formal qualifications — a BHI diploma or equivalent — and verifiable experience with the type of movement in your watch.

Word of mouth matters more than websites. Watch forums like WatchUSeek, Reddit's r/watches, and the various UK watch groups on Facebook are full of recommendations. People who've had good (and bad) experiences talk about them.

Ask questions before you commit. What does the service include? Are parts extra? Do they pressure test? What's the turnaround time? What warranty do they offer? A good watchmaker will answer all of this clearly and without getting defensive.

Avoid high-street jewellers who "also do watch repairs" unless you know for a fact they have a trained watchmaker on site. Many of them outsource the work, which means you're paying a middleman and losing control over who touches your watch.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

Postage and insurance. If you're sending your watch by post — which most independent watchmakers now accept — you need tracked, insured shipping both ways. Royal Mail Special Delivery covers up to £500. For anything above that, you'll need additional insurance or a specialist courier. Budget £15 to £30 for return postage depending on the value and method.

Parts availability. ETA and Sellita parts are everywhere. Miyota parts are common but slightly harder to source outside Japan. Seiko NH movement parts are abundant. Proprietary in-house movements from smaller brands can be a nightmare. If your watch has a movement that only the brand can service, factor that into the purchase decision from day one.

Warranty implications. Sending a watch that's still under manufacturer warranty to an independent watchmaker will almost certainly void that warranty. If your watch is under warranty, use the brand's service network. Once the warranty expires, an independent is almost always the better choice for non-luxury pieces.

Common Mistakes

Paying for brand prestige on a mid-range watch. If your watch cost £800 and the brand wants £400 for a service, find an independent. You're paying for a logo on the receipt, not better work.

Servicing on a fixed schedule regardless of need. A well-made modern movement with synthetic lubricants can run for a decade without issue. Don't service a healthy watch out of anxiety.

Choosing the cheapest option without checking credentials. A bad service can damage a watch. The person working on your movement needs proper training and proper equipment. The £80 service from the market stall guy is not the bargain it appears to be.

Ignoring service costs when buying. A watch that costs £1,500 to buy and £400 to service every five years has a very different total cost of ownership than one that costs £2,000 to buy and £220 to service. Think long-term.

Not asking about water resistance testing. If your watch has any water resistance rating, the service must include resealing and pressure testing. If the watchmaker doesn't do this, find one who does.

The Takeaway

• A full service on a standard automatic from a UK independent watchmaker costs £220 to £280. Chronographs cost £325 to £380 and up.
• Brand service centres charge £450 to £950 depending on the brand. The work is good, but the premium is significant.
• For watches under £2,000, an independent watchmaker is almost always the right call once the warranty expires.
• Service your watch based on symptoms, not a calendar. If it's running well, leave it alone.
• Factor service costs into your purchase decision. A movement that's cheap to service makes the watch cheaper to own.