Questions we answer every day at the bench

All of them, near enough. Quartz, mechanical and automatic watches, vintage pieces and luxury brands. On the clock side, antique longcase and grandfather clocks, mantel clocks, cuckoo clocks and wall clocks. We also handle stopwatches. If it keeps time and it has stopped keeping time, bring it in and we will look at it. Over five decades we have seen most of what comes through the door.

It depends on what is wrong and what the piece is. A battery replacement is not a full overhaul, and a cuckoo movement is not a quartz module. So we look first. Estimates are free on all repairs, and you get the cost before any work starts. No opening, no dismantling, no charges until you have agreed the quote.

That depends on the job. A straightforward battery change is quick. A full service, a dial refinish or a worn antique movement takes longer, and longer still if a part has to be sourced for an old calibre. We give you an estimated timeframe along with the free estimate, before you leave the piece with us, so you know what to expect.

No. The workshop is open Monday to Sunday, nine in the morning to six in the evening, and you can walk in with your watch or clock any day. A call ahead on (+91) 8700956690 helps if the piece is large or unusual, so we can set aside bench space and the right time to look at it properly.

Usually one of two things. A quartz watch whose second hand jumps in steps, or stutters back and forth, is often telling you the battery is low. If the battery is fresh and it still misbehaves, the movement needs attention: dried oil, a worn pivot, or dirt in the train. Guessing is not worth it. Bring it in and we will diagnose it properly.

Probably, yes. A mechanical watch that keeps good time can still be running on dried oil, and the wear that follows is silent until it is serious. Servicing is preventive: strip, clean, fresh lubrication, new gaskets where fitted, and regulation. The general rule of thumb in the trade is that a mechanical watch benefits from a regular overhaul rather than waiting for a fault. Bring it in and we will assess it.

Yes. Luxury mechanical and quartz watches are part of the regular work here, including servicing, overhaul, crystal replacement, dial refinishing, and strap or bracelet work. We are an independent workshop, not a brand service centre, and we tell you that plainly. The watch is handled on the bench by hand, with the same care given to any fine movement, and nothing is done without your approval.

Stop wearing it and bring it in quickly. Do not shake it dry, do not leave it in rice, and do not put it in the sun. Water carries salts and dust into the movement and rust starts within days, particularly in Delhi humidity. The sooner a movement is opened, dried and cleaned, the more of it survives. Fogging under the crystal is a warning sign, not a cosmetic issue.

Yes. Yes. We can come to you anywhere in Delhi-NCR for a clock or a watch. A longcase or grandfather clock is often better seen where it stands, since the case, the beat and the level of the floor all affect how it runs. Some jobs can be done in the home, others need the movement brought back to the workshop. Call (+91) 8700956690 to arrange a visit.

Never carry a clock with the pendulum and weights hanging. Stop the movement, remove the pendulum, take off each weight and label which hook it came from, and secure the chains or cables so they cannot unwind. Wrap the dial and glass separately. Carry a mantel clock upright, never on its back. If it is a longcase, leave it where it is and call us.

Usually it is, and more often than people expect. Clock movements were built to be repaired: bushes can be replaced, pivots repolished, springs renewed, bellows recovered. Value is not only in the market price either. A clock that hung in a family home is worth keeping alive for that reason alone. We will look at it, tell you honestly what it needs, and let you decide.

Do not force anything. Do not wind it, do not move the hands backwards, and do not oil it yourself. A clock that has stood for years will be dry, and running it dry causes the wear you are trying to avoid. Send us a photograph of the dial, the case and the movement if you can reach it, or call and describe it. We will tell you what is likely needed.

Regularly, and before something breaks. Oil thins and dries with time, and a movement running on dry bearings wears itself down. As general trade guidance, a mechanical watch is usually overhauled on a regular cycle of several years rather than left until it stops, and a clock benefits from periodic cleaning and oiling. The right interval depends on the piece, its age and how it is used. We will advise on yours.

Not really, though the phrase persists. A mainspring winds until it stops, and that is the end of it. What people call overwinding is nearly always something else: a broken mainspring, a slipping barrel, or a dirty movement that cannot move the power it has been given. Wind smoothly, stop when you feel resistance, and if it will not run after winding, bring it in.

Yes. Custom watch building is part of what we do. Tell us what you want: the movement type, case, dial, hands, crystal and strap, and how you intend to wear it. We work from your requirements, source what is needed and assemble it on the bench. Engraving can be added to the case or the back. We will talk through what is practical before anything is ordered.

Yes, all three. Crystal and glass replacement covers acrylic, mineral and sapphire, on watches and on clock doors. Dial refinishing brings back printing, markers and finish on a worn or faded dial. Straps and bracelets are replaced to fit the case and the wrist, in leather, steel or other materials. Cases are cleaned and polished as part of the work where it suits the piece.