If you are buying mechanical watches, it means you are looking for something more than just a way to tell time. If you only need accurate timekeeping, you could spend $20 on a Casio and be done with it. In fact, there is a good chance that a cheap Casio will be more accurate than an automatic watch. But Casio lacks any mechanical charm. A good automatic watch is a work of art. You buy them for the craftsmanship and artistic design. And to wear such a work of art on your wrist, you will have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
There is nothing wrong with this. If you want the best performance, you have to pay for it. At the same time, if you are spending this kind of money, you want to know that the watchmaker guarantees the quality of their product. It is rare for something to go wrong with a premium automatic watch. But when it does, good customer service can make the difference between a positive experience and a terrible one. Here is a list of five watch brands that offer the best customer service.
Rolex
Rolex is one of the most famous watch manufacturers. They were founded in 1905 in the UK, but after World War I, they moved their headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland, to take advantage of better economic conditions in the interwar period. During World War II, Rolex thrived. The company is known to have provided British POWs with free Oyster 3525 chronographs. This chronograph was used to time the guards during their escape, which would eventually be immortalized in the film “The Great Escape.”
In the 1970s, like many automatic watch manufacturers, Rolex found itself at a crossroads. Automatic watches were quickly being pushed out of the market by cheaper and more accurate quartz watches. There were two possible solutions: start making quartz watches or find another way to sell automatic watches. Rolex tried making a few quartz watches but ultimately remained successful by marketing their automatic watches as premium products. In many ways, this marketing scheme created the landscape of automatic watches we know today. Their Submariner models, developed during this period, remain some of the most iconic watches in the world.
Along with this premium marketing, Rolex provides customer service to match. Every watch comes with a certificate of authenticity, and ownership is tracked by Rolex. The Rolex customer support team will repair any Rolex watch indefinitely. Even if you have a classic watch released decades ago, they will still be able to service it.
Omega
Although Omega is not as widely known in popular culture, it is an even more renowned watch manufacturer than Rolex, with a history dating back to 1848. Back then, Omega was called La Generale Watch Co - not the most inventive name. Over the years, they have changed names several times, but Omega has existed since 1903.
Omega is known for promoting its watches through aggressive advertising. If you check the Wikipedia page, you can see a list of celebrities who have worn these watches. Notably, James Bond has worn Omega watches in every Bond film since 1995. Omega watches even went to the Moon when Buzz Aldrin wore an Omega Speedmaster Professional chronograph during the Apollo landing.
Omega's customer service is based on their reliable repair program. Every watch comes with an initial five-year warranty. If you repair or restore your watch at one of Omega's authorized repair centers, this period is extended by two years. Thus, with regular maintenance, the warranty can be extended indefinitely. It should be emphasized that this is only possible if you go to an authorized repair center. If a jeweler in the local mall damages your watch, the warranty does not apply.
Longines
Longines has existed in one form or another for almost 200 years. Founded in 1832 in Switzerland, the company produced only pocket watches for nearly a century. This was the most common type of watch at a time when wristwatches were rare and expensive. But times changed. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, complex military maneuvers required ordinary soldiers to wear easily readable wristwatches. This led to the emergence of increasingly cheaper wristwatches and a decline in pocket watch sales. In 1927, Longines released its first wristwatch - the Weems Aviation Watch. Incidentally, the Longines logo, first registered in 1889, is the oldest continuously used logo in the world.
The Longines warranty works similarly to the Omega warranty, except that the initial warranty period is not five but only two years. However, it can be extended by two years with each service of the watch. As with Omega, Longines will honor this warranty only if the work is done at an authorized service center. Additionally, Longines keeps detailed records of ownership and watch repairs. If you send your watch for a certificate of authenticity, you will also receive the history of your watch from the date of manufacture.
Tudor
Tudor is another manufacturer known for aggressive celebrity marketing. With brand ambassadors like David Beckham and Lady Gaga, they put a lot of effort into this kind of advertising. This makes perfect sense. Tudor is a sister company to Rolex, but they have traditionally been known for their tool watches. Think of Tudor and Rolex as the watch equivalent of Ford and Lincoln. Ford will get you where you want to go, but Lincoln will get you there in style. Tudor has traditionally relied on military sales to boost its profits. But as the military has moved to digital technology, Tudor has restructured to enter the luxury market.
As a luxury watch manufacturer, Tudor now offers a luxurious level of service. Every watch comes with an initial five-year warranty. If you send your watch for after-sales service, you will receive a two-year warranty extension from the service date. This can be done indefinitely if you service the watch at an authorized service center. After-sales service also includes additional cosmetic case treatments. This service is paid for separately and is not required to extend the warranty. But it is a good way to restore the shine of old watches.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre is renowned for its inventions and technical innovations. Since its founding in 1833, they have produced thousands of movements. They also released the most complex wristwatch in the world - the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Gyrotourbillon Westminster Perpetual. Possibly their most famous invention is the Atmos Clock, which runs on changes in room temperature and can operate virtually indefinitely.
All Jaeger-LeCoultre watches come with a two-year manufacturer's warranty. However, by registering the watch on the Jaeger-LeCoultre website, the warranty is extended to eight years. On the one hand, this is the most comprehensive warranty I have seen, as no maintenance is required to extend the warranty. On the other hand, there is no way to extend it further. After eight years, the warranty no longer applies.
