Process & About
Built for the watch you’d never forgive yourself for ruining.
The preservation philosophy
An official service center’s job is to return your watch looking new. My job is to return it running right, still looking like your watch.
That means the original dial stays, even if it’s aged. The hands stay. The patina stays. Cases aren’t polished round. When a part genuinely must be replaced, you’ll know before it happens, and where genuine factory parts aren’t available to independent watchmakers, I use quality parts that meet or match original specifications, and I’ll always tell you which.
If you’ve been quoted an absurd number, wait-listed for months, or turned away because your watch is vintage or a gray import, that’s exactly the work this bench exists for.
About the watchmaker
I’m Chuck, the watchmaker behind Hazen Watch Co.. I came to the bench the long way, after years in law enforcement, where documentation, accountability, and careful handling were the whole job. Over the last five years I’ve taught myself the craft hands-on, one movement at a time, learning alongside the watchmaking community and channels like Wristwatch Revival. Today I specialize in Omega and Rolex calibers.
What I care about most is preservation. The watches on my bench carry meaning and memories: a graduation, a father, a milestone reached. My job isn’t to make them look new. It’s to honor that history and get them running right again. Every watch is documented coming in and going out, and treated like it’s the only one that matters.
Chuck · Hazen Watch Co.
How it works
01
Request a quote
Fill out the intake form with photos and a description of what your watch is doing. You'll get a personal reply within 1–2 business days.
02
Mail it in
We send you step-by-step packing and shipping instructions, including how to insure the parcel. Nothing ships until you're comfortable.
03
Free assessment + written estimate
Your watch is examined, photographed, and put on the timing machine. You receive a written condition report, a timing trace, and a fixed estimate. Free.
04
You approve
No work begins until you approve the estimate in writing. If you decline, the watch comes straight back. Assessment still free; you only cover return shipping.
05
Service
Full disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, and reassembly, with original parts preserved wherever possible. You can reach the bench directly with questions at any point.
06
Return, with proof
Your watch ships back insured, with before/after timing results, so you can see exactly what changed.
Typical turnaround: 2–4 weeks from arrival to return shipment, depending on parts availability. You’ll get a realistic date with your estimate, and updates if anything changes.
Mailing in a watch, safely
Collectors mail five-figure watches across the country every day. Done right, it’s routine. When your quote is approved you’ll receive detailed instructions, which come down to:
Wind it down or let it stop. Cushion the watch in a small box inside a larger box, never an envelope. Ship with signature required and declared-value insurance for what the watch is worth. Photograph everything before sealing the box; your intake form photos plus ours form the condition record on both ends.
Independent watch service. Not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Rolex, Omega, or any watch manufacturer. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.