Whether it’s a $5,000 Rolex or a vintage Hamilton, your watch is a priceless investment that’ll only work for as long as you keep it in good condition. That means regular service from a horologist. But finding a good watch repair shop can be tricky and expensive.

If you’re new to the world of watches, it can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating. There’s a lot of jargon and terminology to learn. But you can get started in the watchmaking profession with a few key tools. Here are a few that every new watchmaker should add to their tool kit as the bare minimum.

A pair of precision tweezers is essential for watch repair. Tweezers should be small enough to grasp watch parts, have a fine tip and be made of high quality materials to make sure they last. A good brand to look for is Dumont, Horotec or Bergeon.

Adding a pair of tweezers to your watch repair kit will enable you to remove the back and front of a watch. This is necessary to do a complete repair or service on a watch. It’s also useful for removing watch crystals from the case. To protect your tweezers from scratching the delicate watch case, it’s a good idea to wrap them in some tin foil.

When a watch needs to be cleaned it’s important to remove any excess grease and moisture from the surface of the movement. A rubber dust blower is a handy tool for quickly and easily doing this. It’s also useful for drying watch parts after cleaning with a benzine jar or cleaning fluid.

For a more in-depth service, a horologist will usually take the watch apart and inspect all of its components. This process is called a “full service.” A full service can run anywhere from $300-$1,000, depending on the type of watch and its repair needs.

A full service can often include a replacement battery and a cleaning of the watch case. It may also involve a replacement strap or bracelet. Generally, watches should be serviced every four to six years. Having the watch serviced will help ensure its water resistance and accuracy.

If your watch is no longer telling the time or it has stopped completely, it may need a full overhaul. A full overhaul will require the watch to be opened, the watchmaker will find the problem and replace the necessary parts.

If your watch is very old, it might need a complete restoration. A complete restoration will involve a full service and then polishing the watch to restore its shine. This is a labor-intensive process that can cost several hundred dollars for a high-end watch.watch service near me