I bought a watch 3 or 4 years ago. It works well and looks fine. Unfortunately the woven wire band got hit and it has a few loose wires that snag clothes etc. I went to the jeweller in a smallish country jeweller and the siad thay cannot change the band. I went to a large provincial city and to a branch of the company that sold me the watch. They told me it had to be sent away and would take 6 - 8 weeks and cost around $70. This is not an improvement in e=watch design and did not feature in the sales spiel. Take note.
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One can order replacement bands online…from the Skagen website.
There are also videos on Youtube if you want to see how to replace the band yourself or show your local jewellers how to do it for you.
It appears the band is held on by a couple of screws and replacement is relatively easy if one has the tools and good eyesight.
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I’ll add that watch maintenance tool kits are available on ebay for very modest sums. They typically have tools for removing the backs (a single edge razor blade and rubber mallet works too), tools for taking all sorts of bands apart, and a set of screwdrivers for micro-screws. I bought one a few years ago and it has paid for itself 10-20 times over not counting the visits to a shop I did not have to make,
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Thanks to the two respondents. I am exploring options now. Excellent information that I failed to find on web.
Citizen advise minimum 4 weeks to get a repair quote. Then another 3-4 weeks for repair.
Watch working perfectly but requires re-waterproofing.
This is an expensive solar powered titanium watch.
My main complaint is the delay in getting a quote. Citizen clearly expects their customers to be without a watch for a month before providing the required information to decide whether it’s worth repairing or replacing.
After 35 years of brand loyalty will never buy a Citizen watch again.
Papabill
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Have you tried a specialist watchmaker rather than Citizen persay.
In Brisbane, we have used Brisbane Watch Repair Centre. While these independent watchmakers are not necessarily cheap, we find them cheaper than going through a chain jewellery store or direct to the manufacturer.
Last year we had a diving watch repaired, serviced and waterproofed for about the same price as getting it only repaired through Wallace Bishop.
Turn around may also be quicker if the parts are readily available and the watchmaker does not have a backlog of work.
It might be worth contacting a specialist watchmaker (can be found easily through searching online or using yellowpages.com.au) and see what they can offer. Many provide service and support for the major watch brands.
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Good to know for next time, but unfortunately only discovered delays AFTER sending watch to Citizen via retailer.
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Hi @bill.gross
I have moved your post to another thread to do with watch issues.
The length of time take for your watch may not all be down to Citizen. I know from experience that some larger jewellry stores only send and receive stuff once a week. If your watch repairer does this, then that could possibly add up to two weeks to the elapsed repair time. The other issue is where they sent it as there are a number or sites where Citizen watches are repaired. Not knowing where you live and where it was sent, I can’t tell if this added to the delay in getting your watch back.
If your watch was sent off to Sydney Head Office you can go online and see what is happening via the Citizen Portal.
Using the portal, “you can now register a service or repair request online. Once all the details are entered you will be advised of an estimated cost, if any, prior to sending your watch to us.”
Therefore, you can see how long it will take, cost etc, before you send anything off.
That way you can be fully informed and make a choice as to whether you want to be without your watch for that long and pay that much.
In addition to @phb’s suggestion, I have seen watch repairs in an island stall at a shopping centre where they do everything you mentioned including guaranteed pressure testing. Perhaps there is one near you, you haven’t noticed?
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A good point is that few jewellery stores employ watchmakers. They send them out. Same for many repairs (chains, clasps, etc). Their value added is their logo on the bill that adds often quite considerable mark-up to the service or repair, as well as their own handling time.
A few years ago I learnt many ‘Collins Street’ (Melbourne high end) jewellers send the bulk of their watch and repair business to a small shop on Russell St. The single proprietor/watchmaker shop does excellent work. He charges me about 1/2 what I would pay a jewellery shop for the same service, 1 week turnaround most of the time.
Also know of a few high end specialists who charge quite a bit more, have ‘snooty’ but do not do any better work.
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