Frequently Asked Questions
Which watch brands do you look after?
We only repair and service these watch brands - Seiko, Pulsar, Lorus and Oakley "Timebomb". Specialising solely in these watches since 1999.
Workshop
We provide a friendly and professional service; all work is carried out in our secure and fully insured premises.
How pleased are people with your work?
Our customers are very happy with our service and they have given us 100% positive feedback, have a look at the testimonials. Over 800 at 5 stars.
Kinetic watch technology.
The original Seiko brilliant concept of a kinetic watch in 1988, was for a watch that would keep very good time when being worn and not require a battery every 3 or 4 years, the originals where made in the 1980s and 90s, they had a Capacitor as the storage cell.
Some of the watches we receive for a service still have this cell and sill hold a similar charge to an Automatic watch (2 days) after over 30 years.
The Capacitor has not been used by Seiko since 2000. It is a rechargeable battery now made by Panasonic or Maxell and is 30 times more powerful, it is the same cell as used in solar watches.
The reason these cells fail, is that they have not been worn enough to keep them charged. Rechargeable batteries deteriorate very quickly when in a discharged state.
There is another reason the cell fails and that is because the watch is in 'High Power Mode' due to requiring a service, the oils and greases dry out making the movement very stiff, the electronics deliver 12 times the normal power, trying to keep the watch going, this puts a very heavy strain on the battery.
Who will work on my watch?
We will do all the work on your watch; we never send a watch to any other workshop, like all the high street shops do.
How long does the guarantee last?
Our master watchmaker carries out final checks in accordance with our quality control procedures and issues a full guarantee. Your watch is then fully guaranteed for two years.
This guarantee excludes any damage or deterioration that results from an accident or from mishandling of the watch.
Also the Strap and the Bracelet are not guaranteed.
Any intervention by a third party will also void the Service Guarantee.
Can you repair my watch?
Yes, if it has Kinetic on the dial or it is on our calibre list.
If Seiko say they cannot repair your watch because the parts are obsolete, we should be able as we have a large stock of genuine spare parts.
If we cannot repair your watch, we will return it with a full refund, providing it is not salt water damaged or physically damaged by someone trying to repair it or been left for over a year with a flat battery in it, in which case there is a £20 fee for its return.
Do you replace the Capacitor?
Yes, we always replace it with a new Seiko replacement that is fitted in their new watches.
Will you take care of my watch?
Yes, each watch has its own plastic box, so will not get scratched and we are extremely careful with it.
What is the difference between a Glass and a Sapphire Crystal?
The Glass and the Sapphire Crystal look the same, however, the Sapphire Crystal is more scratch resistant.
How do I get my watch to you?
We recommend that you send your Seiko to us via Royal Mail Special Delivery, you are then fully insured. We will notify you when we have received your watch and just before we return it.
Only use Royal Mail Special Delivery, you are then insured for £500.
We return it the same way and they have never damaged or lost a watch.
Package it in a small box or a padded envelope and wrap your watch in something to protect it, this will also stop it ripping the envelope.
Make sure that your name, address and postal code is on the outside of the package and on the correspondence inside.
Do not send the presentation box, as we have our own standard packing, therefore it will not be returned.
Can I send from out with the UK?
Sorry no. We do not accept or return watches to the EU or Internationally, only to the UK and the Isle of Man.
How long will it take to repair my watch?
7-14 working days (average 9 days) to complete a Service and Repair.
How much does it cost for a repair to my watch?
Use the Calibre number on your watch to find the cost of service and repair. The FIXED price is on the web page and there's also a posting form.
We don't do part jobs as the movement has to come out of the case and dirt gets disturbed.
If the watch has been badly damaged physically or has been badly damaged by water Ingres, we might not be able to repair it.
Can I order parts for my watch?
Sorry we do not supply parts, only chargers and straps that are listed on our web page.
What does "water resistant" mean?
When the watch states "water resistant" it means it will withstand accidental splashes but is not suitable for immersion in water.
My watch is water resistant to 200 metres (20 BAR) what does that mean?
It was made to withstand pressure to 200M (20 BAR) when new, or just serviced.
We always test it to the same pressure it was manufactured too, when we service it.
How can I charge my Kinetic watch?
Kinetic watches should be worn about 4 days a week on average, by a reasonably active person.
It is no use shaking it; you will have to shake it for hours every day.
Watch winders will not charge Kinetic watches.
Modified watch winder that will charge Kinetic watches: Kinetic Charger
Quote?
We offer a FIXED price service which can be found on our website. If you send your watch to us and do not go ahead with the fixed price for your model then we charge £20.00 to return towards inspection and postage costs.
Can you repair my Automatic watch?
Sorry we no longer do them, as we don't have many parts now and they are difficult to get.
Guarantee
If the fault is from accidental damage, it is not covered by our guarantee, but you will only be charged a minimum to cover our costs.
The guarantee date starts when the watch has been fully serviced and tested. This date can be found on the paperwork returned with the watch when serviced.
The strap or the bracelet are not guaranteed.
If it is a Kinetic watch, it may not be being moved sufficiently to keep it charged.
If the battery is flat due to insufficient movement, recharging requires a £20.00 fee, including the return postage.
You could purchase a Fast Charger from us. Email us to find out more.
Technical Information
Technical
Seiko Kinetic watches are designed with a very special circuit that compensates for heavy loads, such as when the Day/Date is changing at midnight or if the watch is knocked as the seconds hand is moving.
When a heavy load is encountered the watch switches to high power mode to keep it at the correct time, the power used jumps from 0.7 Micro Amps to over 8 Micro Amps and this is about twelve times the normal power.
The problem is that the watch will eventually stay in this high power mode. This is caused by the gas escaping from the Capacitor over the years; this gas cannot escape out of the watch case and condensates on the mechanism and contaminates the oils making the movement very stiff. The only solution is to clean the movement thoroughly.
It is no use just changing the cell without cleaning the movement as it is just a waste of money, it will not hold a charge for more than a few weeks.
We fit the new "Seiko upgrade kit", containing a rechargeable Accumulator (Titanium Carbon Lithium Ion), which is fitted in Seiko's new Kinetic watches, metal clamp and insulator.
This Seiko upgrade kit will provide power for months of inactivity as it is 30 times more powerful and should last years.
There are people just changing the cell for about £40 on eBay, with no guarantee; so why not get it done properly.
What We Do
Our Seiko full service procedure is designed to ensure that every timepiece leaving Kinetic Repairs workshop complies with its original functional specifications.
Timekeeping accuracy and water-resistance are rigorously tested to guarantee the level of quality and reliability you naturally expect from a Seiko watch.
The movement is dismantled and each component is ultrasonically cleaned in specially formulated solutions to remove the contamination from the capacitor.
After cleaning a watchmaker closely examines each individual component of the movement and identifies which components require replacement. Only genuine replacement Seiko parts are fitted and there is no extra charge.
Using the most advanced lubricants, each functional component of the movement is carefully lubricated to minimise friction and prevent wear. This ensures that the movement of your Seiko timepiece will continue to give your Seiko watch many more years of extremely high accurate timekeeping.
We upgrade the old capacitor with the very latest cell (Titanium Carbon Lithium Ion). Or if it is a Quartz watch, a high quality watch battery is fitted.
The case is carefully reassembled and the seals replaced to guarantee the water resistance to the original pressure. The compression test – will reveal the presence of even the smallest leak.
Rigorous quality checks are carried out at each stage of the servicing process. During the final check, the power reserve, the power being used and the accuracy of your watch are verified one last time against manufacturing specifications to guarantee the highest possible standard of quality.
We return your watch in 7 to 14 days (average 9 days) with no hidden charges and by Royal Mail Insured "Special Delivery" to any UK address.
We also ultrasonically clean your watch bracelet to get the dirt and grit out of it, that's wearing it away.
After a full service, your Seiko is covered by a Service Guarantee. This guarantee excludes any damage or deterioration that results from an accident or from mishandling of the watch. Any intervention by a third party will void the Service Guarantee.
There may be an extra charge for case parts (like a screw down crown) or expensive bracelet parts.
Tips on looking after your Kinetic watch
Batteries do not like heat, so don't keep it on a radiator shelf and its best not to wear it in bed.
We have tested some of these Accumulators that are out of Seiko Kinetics that are now 10 years old and they are almost as good as new, so should last years if kept cool and charged.
If the fold over clasp is not very tight, DO NOT bend the centre catch part as it WILL snap off, you can usually bend the outer ones a little.
If you decide to clean it yourself or get a watch-repairer to do it, the movement must be stripped down and the coils removed so no cleaning fluid gets on them or they will be damaged.
All the Seiko Kinetic watches that we service are soaked for 12 hours to soften the oils prior to being ultrasonically cleaned.
As the new Upgrade Kits do not gas off, the mechanism will not get contaminated in the future, providing the movement has been cleaned.
Seiko Kinetic watches can be dated by the first number of the serial number on the rear case at the bottom (i.e. 7xxxxx = 1997, 2007, 2017)
Our charges are much less than the high street as there is no middleman. Also you will have your watch back between four and ten times quicker.