Servicing a defunct brand?

[dchang81]

I don't like thinking about the possibility of a watch brand going out of business, but are there options for servicing older watches of defunct brands? I figure not too much different than vintage watch servicing where parts are scarce if it's just a simple 3 hander.
For my upcoming bday the wife wants to get me a watch. Thought about getting a simple patek dress watch but I find it a bit boring if I can say that about a timeless watch... Plus the dang price increase. Been really looking at smaller independents but the big stickler is are my kids going to inherit a paperweight if the brand ceases to exist? I guess sometimes I think my conservative nature stops me from pulling the trigger on some cool independent brands.

[MCMartiny]

Depends on the nature of the movement, but as long as you stay away from anything exotic (e.g. GS Spring Drive) you should be OK. A standard swiss lever movement can be serviced by any good independent watchmaker and broken / worn parts can be (re-)made from scratch (at a cost). As you say this is no different than for vintage big-brand pieces where parts are scarce or no longer available.

[nicky77]

This for me is the biggest deterrent for getting an independent brand (beyond maybe the $1K-$3K mark).
This has been my issue with the new independent brands as well, some make some very cool watches, but I am not comfortable with making the move.
I agree that everything can be serviced, for a cost, and for doing the work of finding the person to service the watch and to get the watch to the service person to get the service which may not be in the country where you live.
I like the idea that I can drop the watch off at the AD, that may be a couple of hundred miles away, but I can still drive it there.
I figure with a bigger brand that they will more than likely be around in some form, or that parts will be around, or because there are more of them around, there is the financial incentive for someone to produce the parts. Also that there are more people that are able to work on them.

[dchang81]

Yea I imagine not much different than vintage watches if not some exotic movement. From what I understand 5402 royal oaks you can't get gaskets to ensure WR.

[enjoythemusic]

With ETA and Stella movements commanding a good-sized share of some 'independant brands', that's actually a good thing. Of course you may be able to scan a 'rare' part, make it more precise-fitting, and then 3D print it up.