AJR Watch Repair

Started going here because i was new to the area. Only ever needed sizing done. Brought probably 5 watches in on 5 different occasions. Every single experience was bad. The bigger guy with the long hair always seemed to be judging the watches I’d bring in. I have some oversized Diesel watches, and every time i brought one in for sizing, he acted like i was straight up stupid for having such watches. He told me on 2 different occasions that when the batteries died, I’d be screwed because there was «no way to replace the batteries, there isn’t a watch tool big enough to do it.». Really? The last straw was when i went to bring in yet another watch to get sized, and the big guy, who now recognized me, was leaving the store early, even though he saw me going to bring in a watch to get sized. He left 20 minutes before the store closed. I switched over to FRIENDLY WATCH REPAIR IN THE CHINA TOWN PART OF OAKLAND, and guess what? $ 5.00 to size a watch, not $ 10.00 like this place, and the owner of FRIENDLY, replaced ALL 4 BATTERIES in both of my «impossible to replace batteries» watches. In about 5 minutes flat at that! This place could really use some lessons in actual watch repair. The big guy acts like he knows what he’s doing when he clearly doesn’t. They over-​charge for simple tasks such as sizing, and are unprofessional. Seriously, go to FRIENDLY WATCH REPAIR instead. They have 5 stars for a reason. Save money and aggregation, and instead of an awkward interaction, have a pleasant one instead!

Well it all started when I brought my boyfriend a watch for our anniversary but didn’t know that there was a certain watch size! So I went to a place nearby and they told me they couldn’t fix it because it was a citizen watch and I couldn’t find one out here !!
Bummed out right? So I went to google type in watch repairs and then this store popped up and I’m happy I went with them. $ 10 to fix the watch no surprise charges and they were certified with Citizen so we had no issues we were in and out and my boyfriend is happy!
Thanks again for the good customer service !

I’ve gone to AJR two or three times a year for the past few years, and I’ve referred many customers to Sergei, back from when his shop was inside cvs to his current location inside the dry cleaners on Piedmont Ave.
Sergei is excellent — skilled and professional (if not the warm-​fuzziest guy you’ll ever meet). 4.5 stars for Sergei.
His male assistant however, needs to learn something about customer service.
I go there for watch batteries instead of to a chain store in order to support them as a local business. I don’t need them to install it for me so I usually pay the battery price, which is about half the battery+install price.
So recently I bought a watch for $ 8 at a nearby consignment store and went to AJR for a battery, which usually costs me about $ 6. The assistant insisted on charging me for the installation price even when I asked him *repeatedly* to stop and just give me the loose battery. So the battery cost me $ 11 for an $ 8 watch.
I realize the financial issue is minor, but the utter lack of customer service (arguing with me about why he assumed I wanted the install and it was «too late» to stop «I have to charge you for the work I’ve done») was a total put-​off, and cost AJR my business as well as my referrals.

Watch battery has needed replacing for years, but other shops couldn’t get the back off the watch. Easy in, easy out. Thank you!

Don’t bother with this watch repair. The repairman could use a few lessons in etiquette and customer service. He was rude, unhelpful, and never turned around to look me in the eye and properly address me. You guys lost my business.

Sergey is amazing. So quick. So honest. Go here for repairs of any kind. He is so good at what he does.

Sergei was quick, efficient, and cheap. I only had my batteries replaced, but it took about 1 ½ minutes for him to do it. Best place near my house!

Quick service in and out in 15 minutes for a watch battery replacement and two keys made.

Sergey is a genius! I came in to get a battery for my little French watch and to have it reset. I knew the stem was broken and that it would have to be reset with tools. Sergey took it apart and told me that unfortunately, the watch was broken because the hour hand would not move when he was trying to reset it. I was resigned to parting with my watch when he started tinkering with it again, and in a few minutes had fixed it. All for $ 10.02!

Wow, brought my watch in for repair after another shop replaced the battery and deemed my watch broke. AJR looked at my watch, cleaned and slightly adjusted the connections and bam my watch works. Cost, no charge.

I came in to get 4 watch links resized — simple enough. Didn’t get the owner to do but got his assistant. Nice lady but became unfriendly at the very end. The person had a hard time resizing my watches. To make it simple for her I advised her to finish the 2 watches instead of the total 4. The 2 she did right, this is after I told her to resize it again. The remaining 2 she didn’t resize, she claimed it must be the maker. It’s an old automatic Seiko watches. They mass produced these… and you work at a watch repair store. Don’t make excuses, just state you can’t or don’t know how to do it.
As to why two stars when I didn’t have the owner take care of me? Well he hired her therefore it represented his store. This must be an off day for them but I won’t come back here again. What’s that, it’s only one of me? There’s a thing we like to call «word of mouth.»
Final tip — Train your assistant again to own up to her work and be better at the skill.

This place is awesome! I came in about ten minutes after they closed (it closes at 5 on Saturdays) and the woman fixed my watch band anyway! Excellent, fast service.

I looked this place up for a watch battery replacement and decided to take it there. I was in and out in less than 5 minutes for $ 14.08. It is either $ 9.95 or $ 12.95 plus tax depending on how uncommon the battery is. Service was wonderful. It is located inside of a dry cleaner business on Piedmont Avenue.

The guy was great. I came into the store to have my new Seiko watch fitted to my small wrist and he meticulously went through three adjustments to get it right. He did this within ten minutes, while he let me know that the watch should be just a tad loose (I always wore watches a bit too tightly before this, I think). The pay was reasonable and I walked out with a watch that now fits me well.

Sergey was friendly, skilled, quick, and affordable. Thank you!

I take away one star because one of the pins fell out of my watch the day after repairing it… The ceramic band broke again due to this
Absolutely what I was looking for… I had a few watches that needed links out or links in or links repaired… This was a one stop shop for me. AND I got a key made in the process as well! The gentleman who fixed my watches was fast and friendly. I would most certainly go here again!

wow. I feel super silly for putting off taking my husbands watch in for as long as I had. he’s been watchless for months now and yeah, I realize he could have taken it in at anytime but since it was a gift from me, I just felt like I should take care of it. and man did I procrastinate like crazy.
if this sounds familiar, make yourself feel like a chore champion and bring all your non-​ticking watches here. this guy is fast, friendly, and reasonable. he’s open every day but sunday and takes cards too.
no idea why I thought replacing a watch battery would be such a big deal cause it’s not. at all.

Quick, efficient and inexpensive! Note; they are located INSIDE the «Piedmont Ave Cleaners» between «Dr. Comics & Mr. Games» and «Monte Vista Food Center» (Grocery store).