ABC WatchWerks Vs. LA Watch Works????

[martinr]

LA Watchworks, fast turnaround, excellent work, good price.

[fskywalker]

So who's the main contact at LAWW ? I want to service my 16610 soon and have the chamfers rectified / redone and wonder how much extra they would charge for that

[swish77]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

So who's the main contact at LAWW ? I want to service my 16610 soon and have the chamfers rectified / redone and wonder how much extra they would charge for that

Edvi is your man.

[btinl]

Originally Posted by martinr

LA Watchworks, fast turnaround, excellent work, good price.

How long for turnaround times?

[chows99]

i heard they charge more than RSC. Is this true?

[swish77]

Originally Posted by chows99

i heard they charge more than RSC. Is this true?

For what kind of work? In general, no, that's not true, based on my experience anyway. Also, RSCs don't have the same approach. LAWW is about preservation of vintage pieces. RSCs, in general, want to change everything to make watches like new.

[citizenkosmas]

What is the best method for shipping and insurance? I am very nervous to let my 5512 out of my sight, much less post it in the mail.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by citizenkosmas

What is the best method for shipping and insurance? I am very nervous to let my 5512 out of my sight, much less post it in the mail.

Safest shipping method from USPS is registerd mail, where they keep packages on a safe / vault and have a signature register every time it switch from location to location. On private carriers you can use Fedex or UPS and can insure privately with Parcel Pro


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[SubKing]

I have my 6538 with LAWW right now. They quoted, (when I sent my watch in back a few months ago), there was a 12 week lead time. I should have my piece back in a couple weeks, they said before Xmas.

It all depends on what kind of work you’re having done, the bill can add up very quickly..
they have pieces shipped to them from all over the world and are pretty busy at the moment from what I gather. But they are the best at what they do that’s for sure.

As far as shipping, sure registered is the most cost effective way to go but they do have a cap of how much you can insure and the shipping service is slowed down because it’s under lock and key. Sometimes it can take usps 10 days or more to get a registered package back to me. Sometimes it’s faster. It’s not exactly an accurate service

I personally have a parcel pro account and ship next day air. I honestly don’t want my vintage pieces being kicked around for 2 week by the post office, in and out of cold warehouses. They are fragile timepieces so the less time they spend in transit the better. Just my 2 cents

[mattedialdoc]

Originally Posted by SubKing

I have my 6538 with LAWW right now. They quoted, (when I sent my watch in back a few months ago), there was a 12 week lead time. I should have my piece back in a couple weeks, they said before Xmas.

It all depends on what kind of work you’re having done, the bill can add up very quickly..
they have pieces shipped to them from all over the world and are pretty busy at the moment from what I gather. But they are the best at what they do that’s for sure.

As far as shipping, sure registered is the most cost effective way to go but they do have a cap of how much you can insure and the shipping service is slowed down because it’s under lock and key. Sometimes it can take usps 10 days or more to get a registered package back to me. Sometimes it’s faster. It’s not exactly an accurate service

I personally have a parcel pro account and ship next day air. I honestly don’t want my vintage pieces being kicked around for 2 week by the post office, in and out of cold warehouses. They are fragile timepieces so the less time they spend in transit the better. Just my 2 cents

+1


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[Blakerhodes]

Originally Posted by btinl

How long for turnaround times?

I had the case done on my 1675 and it took about 6-7 weeks and they did a great job.

[JerimiahLee]

I was using ABC for the longest time, but like many here followed Edvi and Beau to LAWW.

They have two of my watches today and service all of my other pieces. They are professional, provide accurate timelines, and do nothing but incredible work.

If you need Edvi's contact information just let me know.

[Vicc]

Hi everyone. I work in NYC as a watchmaker and now I have my own personal experience working on a watch that was done by ABC.

The watch came in for a hand adjustment because the hands were obviously touching. After removing the movement and trying to adjust the hands it became evident that the hands couldn't be adjusted because the paint was too thick - and I do say paint because paint was used instead of luminous, not to mention that it wasn't even the right color.

I told the customer that I couldn't adjust the hands and asked if he knew the hands were redone, which is when he told me it was redone by ABC. He asked if I can redo them correctly and I told him yes. Needless to say the customer was happy with the end-result.

Here are some pictures before and after

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by btinl

How long for turnaround times?

I called edvi two weeks ago on a movement service only, got a 12 week quote.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by Vicc

Hi everyone. I work in NYC as a watchmaker and now I have my own personal experience working on a watch that was done by ABC.

The watch came in for a hand adjustment because the hands were obviously touching. After removing the movement and trying to adjust the hands it became evident that the hands couldn't be adjusted because the paint was too thick - and I do say paint because paint was used instead of luminous, not to mention that it wasn't even the right color.

I told the customer that I couldn't adjust the hands and asked if he knew the hands were redone, which is when he told me it was redone by ABC. He asked if I can redo them correctly and I told him yes. Needless to say the customer was happy with the end-result.

Here are some pictures before and after

Hmm. Hands look badly scratched; or is that inevitable? And why paint and not lume?


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[swish77]

Originally Posted by Vicc

Hi everyone. I work in NYC as a watchmaker and now I have my own personal experience working on a watch that was done by ABC.

The watch came in for a hand adjustment because the hands were obviously touching. After removing the movement and trying to adjust the hands it became evident that the hands couldn't be adjusted because the paint was too thick - and I do say paint because paint was used instead of luminous, not to mention that it wasn't even the right color.

I told the customer that I couldn't adjust the hands and asked if he knew the hands were redone, which is when he told me it was redone by ABC. He asked if I can redo them correctly and I told him yes. Needless to say the customer was happy with the end-result.

How do you know the hands had definitely been redone by ABC?

And when hands are color-matched like this by any watchmaker, isn't it always a paint-like substance that's used, or is some sort of artificially aged lume used?

I would assume it's the former, because on these vintage watches, most of us wouldn't want glowing hands on a dial that most likely had no glow.

[Vicc]

The hands shouldn't get scratched while in a watchmakers care, but I can't tell whether or not the hands were scratched before they went to ABC and unfortunately I can do very little to polish hands without making it look obvious. Why someone would use paint like that is beyond me.

As to answer your questions Aaron, its what the customer told me. Supposedly he read on these forums to use ABC before, hence why he sent his watch there in the past.

There are many ways to get the color right, but from what I can see this was done using solely paint (and the wrong kind), and not a mixture.

[btinl]

Originally Posted by southtexas

I called edvi two weeks ago on a movement service only, got a 12 week quote.

Wow, they must be backed up.

[ABCWatchWerks]

Viktor,

This is not the work of ABC, period!

[Vicc]

I will see the customer next Wednesday and ask him if he had taken it anywhere between sending the watch to ABC and his visit to my shop.

[japenney]

LA for me.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Vicc

Hi everyone. I work in NYC as a watchmaker and now I have my own personal experience working on a watch that was done by ABC.

The watch came in for a hand adjustment because the hands were obviously touching. After removing the movement and trying to adjust the hands it became evident that the hands couldn't be adjusted because the paint was too thick - and I do say paint because paint was used instead of luminous, not to mention that it wasn't even the right color.

I told the customer that I couldn't adjust the hands and asked if he knew the hands were redone, which is when he told me it was redone by ABC. He asked if I can redo them correctly and I told him yes. Needless to say the customer was happy with the end-result.

Here are some pictures before and after

What comes out of someone's mouth isn't always the truth. So before I would post something like this I would check with ABC first instead of trying to roast them.

Also when lume isn't desired on vintage some people do paint the hands to match the dial.

[mattedialdoc]

My money is that wasn't an ABC job. Alex, just like Beau, does impeccable work.


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Instagram: @mattedialdoc

[sheldonsmith]

My 116600 SD4K is at LAWW right now. After hearing that Eric Ku (owner of Vintage Watch Forum and renowned watch dealer) was behind LAWW, I had no reservation sending my watch there for a ceramic bezel modification.

I’ll post the results here and on my website when I get the watch back.

~ Sheldon

[imperio]

Originally Posted by sheldonsmith

My 116600 SD4K is at LAWW right now. After hearing that Eric Ku (owner of Vintage Watch Forum and renowned watch dealer) was behind LAWW, I had no reservation sending my watch there for a ceramic bezel modification.

I’ll post the results here and on my website when I get the watch back.

~ Sheldon

Please do! What work did you get done?


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[SubKing]

Originally Posted by sheldonsmith

My 116600 SD4K is at LAWW right now. After hearing that Eric Ku (owner of Vintage Watch Forum and renowned watch dealer) was behind LAWW, I had no reservation sending my watch there for a ceramic bezel modification.

I’ll post the results here and on my website when I get the watch back.

~ Sheldon

what is the "ceramic bezel modification"?

[sheldonsmith]

Originally Posted by SubKing

what is the "ceramic bezel modification"?

I learned of the idea here on the Forum: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=440710

Essentially, its removing with bezel assembly, separating the ceramic insert, masking the number track (to protect the platinum numbers) and blasting the insert with LAWWs special alum oxide/glass media blend, then cleaning and re-installing the now matte black insert and bezel.



-Sheldon

[imperio]

Originally Posted by sheldonsmith

I learned of the idea here on the Forum: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=440710



Essentially, its removing with bezel assembly, separating the ceramic insert, masking the number track (to protect the platinum numbers) and blasting the insert with LAWWs special alum oxide/glass media blend, then cleaning and re-installing the now matte black insert and bezel.







-Sheldon

Eager to see the final result. How much did this cost?


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[exador]

Looks like they forgot to separate the bezel from the case when they matte blasted it

[cop414]

If I remember correctly the case was also brushed on the sides, I like the look.
Sheldon I can’t wait to see yours.