Frequently Asked Questions

We repair all types of watches, including mechanical, quartz, and automatic watches.  We do not repair "cylinder" or "fusee" style watches which require more time that we have to restore these special watch types..  We also do not repair "replica" or "counterfeit" watches as we do not support the counterfeiting of goods.

If you have a high end modern watch and are local to Jacksonville we can arrange to meet and discuss your options for servicing it.  We do not accept high end watches by mail to avoid being victims of fraudulent actions by a few bad apples.

We repair mainly German and American clock movements.    We do not service cuckoo clocks, 400 day / Anniversary clocks, Atmos clocks or Regulators.  We are limiting clock service to Jacksonville Florida and surrounding counties so we can assist with proper transit and assembly if required.

The time it takes to repair a watch varies depending on the type of repair needed. We will give you an estimated completion time when you drop off your watch..  Repairing a vintage  watch made by a company that went out of business years ago isn't like getting your appliance fixed. Unfortunately, we can't just phone the factory and have them send us the new parts we need . 

As such, how long a repair can take depends on whether or not parts are required and/or available. Repairs that are in for simple services like a crystal replacement can often be completed in only a few days, while difficult repairs requiring an extensive search for parts can take much longer. 

Each watch is serviced in the order received, and we give each watch the attention it deserves when its turn for service comes. There is no RUSH service offered. We are always willing to answer questions about the status of your repair, and your patience will be rewarded with a watch that's been repaired carefully and correctly!

Yes, we offer a 1-year warranty on all of our watch repairs.  Similar warranty on clocks as well, and longer 3-5 year warranties are available if a complete movement replacement is requested based on brand of clock movement used.  

Things not covered by warranty on watches are broken pivots, broken jewels, crystals and cases..  Broken pivots (the "tips" of the balance staff) are only caused by one thing: IMPACT! A broken balance pivot or cracked balance jewel is a sure sign that a watch has been dropped, or that it has undergone some other significant shock that was severe enough to cause the pivot or jewel to break. Damage to cyrstal and case are also the result of impact.

Things not covered under warranty for clocks are bent or broken suspension springs and obvious damage to parts due to mishandling.  Remember to carefully remove the pendulum and lock moveable parts prior to moving a clock.

We will accept watches and clocks sent from the United States and Canada. We may consider other countries in the future, but limiting our work to North America right now.

Please Contact Us Before Sending Your Watch - Send email via the contact us button on this website. Describe the watch you wish to send and the repair(s) needed as best you can. Please await our reply before sending the watch. If you've already exchanged email with us or spoken to us on the phone, then you can skip this step.

IMPORTANT: You must contact us before sending your watch to confirm that we are accepting repairs and that your watch is a brand which we can repair. If you send a watch that we are unable to repair without first contacting us, the watch will be returned at your expense!

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: We are currently not accepting watches from outside the USA and Canada due to issues with international shipping and customs. Any international packages received with customs fees, duties, or brokerage fees will be refused. We apologize for any inconvenience to our international customers.

Carefully Package Your Watch - Once we confirm that your watch is a make and model that we repair, carefully package and send your watch via the carrier of your choice to the address we provide you in Jacksonville, Florida.  Please send ONLY THE WATCH (not the box, chain, fob, attached jewelery etc). We recommend USPS Priority Mail with insurance and delivery confirmation.  We recommend that you wrap the watch in bubble wrap or other well-padded material, and then place it in the center of a small box with additional padding around it. Please do not send it in a package of styro-peanuts. the watch will "sink" to one side and have no protection at all.

Make sure you include: your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and a brief description of what is wrong with the watch (as far as you know) or what you would like to have done. If you don't tell us how to get in touch with you, and what you want done to the watch, we will have a harder time completing your estimate.

Include the Required Estimate Deposit - Please include a check or money order, payable to "Renaissance Watch Repair" in the amount of $40 per watch to cover cost of estimate and return postage. Your deposit allows us to take the time to perform a thorough inspection of your watch so that we can give you the best possible estimate. It also covers return Priority Mail shipping and insurance in the event that you decline our estimate. If you accept our repair estimate your deposit will be applied in-full toward the repair of your watch. Estimate deposit is non-refundable.

Receive Your Repair Estimate - Soon after receipt of your watch (usually within 2 business days), we will thoroughly inspect your watch and send you a repair estimate via email. If you agree to our repair estimate we will proceed with the work and your deposit will be applied in-full toward the work to be done. If you decline the estimate, we will return the watch to you via insured priority mail and your deposit will cover the estimate and the return insured shipping charges.

While in our custody, your watch will be handled with the utmost professional care, but we are not responsible for loss or damage incurred in transit. Please make sure to insure and trck the package.

How will you ship my vintage watch back to me?

Our preferred method of shipment is US Postal Service Priority Mail with delivery confirmation and insurance, and that is the method we use unless you specifically request another method. 

We will do a best effort to clean dials and watch cases, but there is a limit on the type of repairs we can do.  

We do not repair watch dials other than extremely carefully cleaning the surface as best we can.   We can replace the dial if you find a compatible one, otherwise if you want to fully restore a dial you can look for specialized services offered that restore or replace dials.

If it is a pocket watch case, we can polish, and replate the case if you request the additional service.  For wrist watches we will ultrasonically clean bracelets and if requested we can do a best effort to polish out light scuffs.  If major dents or scratches exist, additional work from a jeweler may be required  

Light scratches on acrylic crystals can be buffed out, but if the cyrstal is discolored or too badly damaged, it will need to be replaced.  We cannot remove scratches from mineral or sapphire watch crystals.