Central Watch

First, these guys charge ridiculous prices. Second, If you have a good watch do not take it here. I made the foolish error of taking my wife’s rolex to Central Watch for a regular service. I left it there for an evaluation. They said it needed a lot of work and wanted $ 975 to do the work and said that because of the age of the watch (16 years) it would no longer be waterproof. At first I stupidly said ok. But when they sent me a report that said the diamond dial was «after market,» the alarm bells went off. I bought the watch new from Tourneau and I knew they were not going to sell me a watch with a fake dial. I went back and picked up the watch and ended up taking it to a Rolex center. Guess what? Rolex charges $ 600 for a regular service and the dial is original.

Excellent service and everyone is very friendly. I had a complicated fix to a watch that was ~60 years old and they took great care. They also gave me a free band which was nice as well, and the email alert system is helpful. Available day before thanksgiving, also very convenient. Highly recommend Central Watch

They wanted $ 20 to remove a couple links from my watch. Not sure why anyone would pay that when any reputable jeweler will do it for free. Don’t waste your time with these clowns.

I just had my Oris automatic watch repaired at Central Watch. Outstanding repair and service can be found here. They provide estimates on all repairs and clearly communicate what needs to be done and they stick to their estimate. Friendly and helpful service all around. Highly recommend for new and used watches and all repairs.

Worst place ever. This comes from an experienced watch collector. If you value your time and money please stay away. The place is way overpriced and the service is terrible. Maybe they can replace a battery in a cheap watch but they certainly can’t handle vintage timepieces. Can’t even handle simple task like tying a screw to hold movement in place. It takes them 48 hours to evaluate and after that they send you an estimate, which can be several thousand dollars. I would recommend going to Diamond District instead. Much better service and prices. You will regret trusting them with your watch.

Stopped by this shop after work. It’s within Grand Central Terminal (Shuttle Passage) with signs directing you towards the store.
Brought my watch which had a broken link. The man working fixed the watch in two minutes and did not charge me anything.
Would go back here for any future watch repair.
Friendly, fast and affordable

My family old watch has a very complex system to replace the battery and other attempts to replace it have been a disaster.
At CW, they took care of it, very professionally, replaced the battery, and even tried to issues generated by previous watch repair places.
Would def recommend to buy a strap or get a new battery.

Unbelievable service and professionalism! I brought my vintage Omega Speedmaster (pre moon) watch to Steve and he returned it to me better than new. Not only did he search and find ‘impossible’ to find parts but he also was kind and patient enough with me, a vintage watch newbie. Steve explained and communicated with me through out the process. In fact he even brought me up to the lab they have above the store and gave me a brief tour, very impressive. The superior service not to mention 18 month warranty has convinced me that I will be a lifelong customer. Truly a hidden gem!

If you just want a strap or if you are looking for a complete overhaul or restore then maybe. Otherwise don’t waste your time. They don’t even listen to you.
I brought in my Grandfathers 1952 Omega asking simply get an estimate for replacing the crown with a genuine omega crown, as the original was lost sometime in the 70s.
Estimate came back saying the watch needed a total overhaul and that they couldn’t get a replacement cost for the crown without doing the entire watch. I find that a little strange as they have a listing for crown and stem service on their website. Also find that even stranger as the watch keeps perfect time and was overhauled through Omega less than a year ago.
I was just looking to bring the watch back to all original parts as the crown is the only non omega part on it.
Bottom line they just wont listen to you. Then they give you a line of crap about a smaller ~$ 200 repair and quote you $ 780 for an entire overhaul without the new crown as requested.
I use to get straps there also… I will never be a customer again.

I’ve now brought a third «nice» watch to Central Watch for cleaning/​polishing/​repair after several years of near-​daily wear. It’s not inexpensive –but all nice things eventually need maintenance/​attention and the work is by true professionals. Central Watch is fully trustworthy, and the watch will come out looking and working «like new» (and this particular Rolex is 25 years old). They are my go-​to place with any fine watch.

Bought a new watch strap.
The gentleman changed the strap in a few minutes.
Great place and cool vintage pieces.

These are the pros. People who gave low reviews do no understand who these people are. They handle repairs no one else handles. They have access to resources no one else has access to. They have people with decades of experience. When you go to a Lexus dealership, don’t expect to buy a Kia or a Yugo. You pay more to see the Super Bowl than two teams that are 0 – 6. Central Watch costs more because they are better. They cost more because products are more expensive for exotic repairs. Anyone can send out a watch under warranty. Try to find anyone who can repair 1960s Rolexes.
An the staff is courteous and professional. Steve is 3^rd generation. Sometimes that just means a family owned a store a long time. Steve is highly personable. But more so, he loves his job. He wants to be there. For him he goes to what he loves, not work. And that kind of attitude is infectious.
I feel bad for those who did not appreciate what they got at Central Watch. This is a special store. If you need your watch repaired this is the place to do it because they can repair it and will do it right. Just remember that sometimes that costs a little more. Someone else might do it for you cheaper, but no one will do it as good or make sure the right materials are used so that watch will stand the test of time.

I had been an infrequent customer of CW for quite some time. I live in Westchester and the location of CW in Grand Central made them convenient for me. The service I had was ok in the past. However, a recent experience with them has completely turned me off this business going forward.
The problem started when the stem of my Rolex popped out and needed a repair. I brought the watch to CW and they told me they would call me in a few days with an estimate. I received a call as promised and was told that the watch needed an overhaul. This is the $ 600+ maintenance service that all Rolex watches are supposed to get every five years.
I told the caller, Larry or his son I think, that CW had done this service two years before. The caller paused (caught out no doubt) and replied that the watch needed an overhaul. I instructed him to do no work on the watch and that I would pick it up in the morning. When I arrived home, I checked my paperwork and it turned out that CW had done an overhaul a year and a half prior!!!
When I arrived at CW the following day I was told categorically that my watch needed an overhaul. I once again declined the service and went directly to Rolex USA on Fifth Avenue.
At Rolex USA I was assisted by a very nice lady who looked at the watch and told me that the problem with the stem could be repaired while I waited! After about ten minutes she returned with my watch.
Rolex USA had done the last overhaul prior to CW and I asked her when the overhaul was done and if the watch needed one. She looked up the service record and said that the watch had been overhauled three years ago and would not need another one for two more years !!!
This was conclusive proof that CW sold me a unnecessary overhaul a year and a half after Rolex USA had performed one. To add insult to injury CW then tried to sell me on another overhaul a year and a half after their own unnecessary overhaul! Needless to say I was furious.
Was I a dope for not checking my records at the time of the first unnecessary overhaul? Yes.
But as the old saying goes: «Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me!» Luckily I did not fall into the latter category. But shame on you CW!
The happy ending to this story:
When I asked the Rolex lady the cost of the repair, her reply was: «nothing!» Now that is top notch customer service from a great company.
Will I return to CW? Never!!!
Will I return to Rolex USA? Absolutely!
Tip: If you have an expensive watch and a watchmaker tells you that it needs an overhaul check your prior service records!!!

I was more than a little apprehensive about letting them service my Rolex as most Rolex owners simply suggest that you let Rolex itself do any service. They (Rolex), however, rip you off in every way possible. They won’t even touch your watch for less than $ 800 and the prices start mounting from there. Adding insult to injury, the turn-​around time is usually two months (or more). I had tried a gentleman off Springfield Blvd on the service road of the LIE over a year ago but I really believe he was in over his head with my watch. Long story short, it just was not repaired properly.
A friend of mine suggested Central Watch and I decided to give them a try. They took my watch and indicated it would be 4 – 6 weeks but that it would be completely overhauled and, of course, regulated for accuracy. Less than three weeks later I got an email that my watch was ready. They gave it back to me in a beautiful leather case with a buffing cloth packed in with it. On the outside was a paper readout of the tolerences they had regulated it to and a card reminding me that their work was fully warrantied for 18 months. The watch came back to me looking literally brand new and keeping time perfectly. Not much more I can add. A truly class act backed up by obviously VERY highly trained watchmakers. Their prices were substantially lower than Rolex itself would have charged and the service they performed was literally spot-​on perfect. I couldn’t be any happier.

I have used Central Watch for an online purchase of a hard-​to-​find watch. Their description was accurate and in speaking with them, they were knowledgeable about the unique functions of this complication watch, and the condition was explained well. The service was great, watch arrived fast and easy, and it’s even better than pictured on the website or from description. It is extremely clean for an old watch & is running perfectly in the several days since I received it. It’s already has been complimented multiple times. Better price than the only example of this watch on Ebay too — which had a stained face and was being sold «as is»!! Great find and would definitely buy a watch from them again!

These people are idiots. I’m sure there may exist some talented watchmakers somewhere outside of view (and given that unverified possibility, I am giving more than one star).
The hours of this place are not convenient for someone with a job (often a precursor to owning some kind of mechanical watch) — so I asked my girlfriend to drop my watch off for an overhaul. After waiting in line for a long amount of time, she hands them my Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Diver which is running several hours off per day. She tells them it needs an overhaul, at which point they ask her if she would just like a battery change. This was the first red flag. Clearly this is not a battery operated watch– the fact that they are asking is embarrassing.
When she explained it is mechanical, the guy wound it a few times and saw the seconds hand moving. At this point he informed her that it does not require any kind of service. She then insisted «my bf says it is not working properly and asked me to drop it off for an estimate». The guy then brings over the lady next to him and shows her the watch. She then loudly ‘confirmed’ that it was ‘working fine’- which I imagine could have been to embarrass my gf who was insisting it wasn’t working but otherwise has no knowledge of watches. She tried to call me to get on the phone with these idiots, but of course, given the place’s subterranean location, there is no cell reception; so she just told me the story an hour ago and I am furious.
Dear Central Watch– this experience was shameful. Perhaps you hire knowledgeless clerks to process orders in the front and hand watches off to experts in the back, but to be frank, I am not handing off an expensive mechanical watch to an idiot who asks if it needs a battery change and sends it away because they see one of the indicators moving. If I don’t feel comfortable giving you a UN with a basic ETA movement, I am not bringing you my AP, I am not bringing you my JLC, and I’m not bringing you my Patek. I’m certainly not recommending you to anyone.

OK — I’ve been passing these nice folks for years, on my daily sojourn into NYC. I figured an easy pin replacement in the band of my Seamaster might be a good opportunity to give them a shot. My normal jeweler (Nagi in Stamford) is not convenient for me during the week.
ok — i drop it off — 3 days later I get an estimate (via email, very nice) for $ 95! to replace the «rivet/​pin» — $ 95!!! OK, I get the watch back (repair NOT done) and take it to Nagi (along with another watch that needed a battery and a cleaning). I did not tell Nagi of my experience at Grand Central Watch…
Want to know what Nagi charged me for cleaning the watch and replacing the battery on a Tag? $ 45. Cost for replacing the «rivet/​pin» on my Seamaster that Grand Central Watch wanted $ 95 for… NOTHING! They said — those pins cost nearly nothing, they were happy to do it
So in closing — I will NEVER go back to Grand Central Watch. Although the folks are very nice and pleasant, the prices are usurious — I’d even go so far as to call them a ripoff.
Thumbs down

Staff is friendly but the prices for simple things like watch battery installs are nothing short of an outright gouge.
$ 21 to replace the battery in a simple Swiss Army?!?
Hours are definitely unreasonable: 8am-​5pm, they close earlier on some days and are closed on weekends. Their weekday hours make it extremely difficult for the average person coming through Grand Central to be able to stop unless you’re going to work early or leaving work early. They don’t seem to care though. And wanna pay for that watch with your debit or credit card? Forget about it! They sell watches for $ 3,000 and up, but suspiciously decline to accept credit cards. The owner loves flashing his constantly changing Rolex wrist, but those pesky credit cards leave too much of a paper trail for the tax man.
Inconvenient all around and an example how small businesses in business for too long, lose touch with modern times. The owners may have a business now, but they’ll have nothing to pass on, least of which is a satisfied customer base.

Pros:
–Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
–Convenient location in Grand Central, although can be a bit difficult to locate if you’ve never been there before. (It’s in the 45^th Street passage, which is on the complete opposite side of the station as the subway.)
–Good selection of watch bands, including grosgrain ribbon. (These straps are becoming increasingly hard find. Buy a handful at $ 7 each while they still have them!)
Cons:
–Prices seem to be a bit steep on their watches. Blame this on the location, or just being in New York, but you can do a bit better looking around online or outside of the city.
–Watch selection also isn’t that great. This is a VERY small shop, which seems to mostly specialize on repair, so don’t go here expecting a lot of variety.

They may be ok for a battery change or bracelet adjustments, but don’t take your mechanical watches here for servicing. All I will say is, on one occasion I brought my vintage IWC to them to ask about polishing the case which had some scratches. The watch was running fine and had been thoroughly examined by my trusted watchmaker. Central Watch insisted on taking the watch to the back (out of my sight), and said they had to open it up. Now why would you need to open up the watch to give a pricing estimate for polishing the case? 15 minutes later they returned my watch and gave me an estimate which I said I’d think about.
When I got home, I realized I could not pull the crown out to set the time, the crown and movement would jam whenever the crown was pulled out. This was definitely not an issue before. I took the watch to my watchmaker and he stated a few parts of the movement were swapped out with generic parts. As this is a 40 year old watch, I had to send it to IWC for a full service to rectify the problem, since only they would have the correct parts that were replaced, and this cost a real fortune. So no, I would not trust these guys.