Watchlords

Fellow Lords
A friend of mine approached me about his Takeo Kikuchi watch, he said the battery went dead in it, and he wanted me to help him replacing it. I took it to a small local shop. The jeweler there told me that the battery had leaked and destroyed the movement. He gave me an estimate of $250 to replace the movement I thought this was a little high because about two or three years ago I replaced a movement in one of my work watches and it was $125. I know things do go up but I still thought it was a little high so I thought I’d run it by my fellow Lords to see what you guys thought.

I have replaced quartz movements on two "vintage" Yema divers. It took a while to identify suitable replacements, but once done in my memory the cost was 20-50 USD to source them. But I spent quite a few hours on research, someone who needs to make a living on it may be reluctant to take such an order and try to fend off by giving a very high estimate.
Would You mind to post what movement is in there?

I know nothing about Takeo Kikuchi watches until reading this post; I googled them and was hard pressed to find anything about them other than old ones selling for, I guess, around a hundred bucks. It sounds like the watchmaker really doesn't want to do the work and source a movement and so is gold-plating the bid to try to get out of it, like Herr Gerdy says above.

Unless the watch your pal has some sentimental value attached, I'd recommend he shitcans it.

conjurer wrote: ↑

January 11th 2023, 11:23pm

I know nothing about Takeo Kikuchi watches until reading this post; I googled them and was hard pressed to find anything about them other than old ones selling for, I guess, around a hundred bucks. It sounds like the watchmaker really doesn't want to do the work and source a movement and so is gold-plating the bid to try to get out of it, like Herr Gerdy says above.

Unless the watch your pal has some sentimental value attached, I'd recommend he shitcans it.

I only ever remember seeing that name on a Casio https://casiofanmag.com/news/g-shock-dw ... aboration/

The jeweler said he was going to use a Seiko movement. I never heard of the brand either my Friend wife is from Japan. Her father gave it to him as a gift so there is a little sentimental attachment to it I have it now and a second jeweler waiting for a second opinion. I too thought that it was possible he estimated the job high because he really didn’t want to do it.

Being as you can buy various Seiko quartz movements from 4 pounds for a 3 hander up to 19 pounds for a 6 hander, that price is waaaay expensive.
I have changed several movements in watches and its very straightforward if you have the correct hand to pinion size/height, it just means removal of movement and hands, swap hands over and put back in the case.

So the second jeweler just called me and told me he could not find the parts . Any suggestions on any one else

See what movement it has in it, and look for a replacement.

What is the movement?

I'd put money on it having a Miyota. Shouldn't be hard to pull the movement and replace it.

When I pick it up I will ask what movement is in the watch

So the sales person at the store called me today.
I was told the movement that they were going to put in the watch was a Seiko YM 55A I don’t know if this helps. I asked what was in the watch currently and he did know he was only going by the notes on the work order.

I couldn’t find that specific movement - but you may want to wade through here to see if you might find something suitable:

https://www.esslinger.com/search.php?se ... on=product

Ofcmark wrote: ↑

January 17th 2023, 2:05pm

So the sales person at the store called me today.
I was told the movement that they were going to put in the watch was a Seiko YM 55A I don’t know if this helps. I asked what was in the watch currently and he did know he was only going by the notes on the work order.

Available here for $25 (New but no stem/crown. S=Seiko/Epson/Hattori)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/255484591662

Ofcmark wrote: ↑

January 17th 2023, 2:05pm

So the sales person at the store called me today.
I was told the movement that they were going to put in the watch was a Seiko YM 55A I don’t know if this helps. I asked what was in the watch currently and he did know he was only going by the notes on the work order.

Lost my money

jason_recliner wrote: ↑

January 17th 2023, 5:20pm

Ofcmark wrote: ↑

January 17th 2023, 2:05pm

So the sales person at the store called me today.
I was told the movement that they were going to put in the watch was a Seiko YM 55A I don’t know if this helps. I asked what was in the watch currently and he did know he was only going by the notes on the work order.

Lost my money

Not really we still don’t know what was in the watch they were going to replace it with a Seiko movement