Mechanical service
Disassembly, cleaning, inspection, lubrication, reassembly, regulation and measured observation for serviceable movements.
Mechanical horology / restoration / 102
Time deserves a repair record.
Calibre Clockworks services mechanical watches and clocks with conservation-minded choices, measured timing and a written record of what was found, changed and deliberately left alone.
72 h
post-service observation
6 pos.
watch timing where appropriate
01
bench record per piece
Bench 03 / calibre 565
Mainspring set · third wheel pivot dry · dial untouched · case polish declined.
About / workshop ethic
Restore function. Preserve evidence. Explain the compromise.
A service is not a cosmetic reset. We examine movement, case, dial, hands and prior interventions before deciding what should be cleaned, repaired, retained or replaced.
Historical value can live in original finish and wear. Polishing, reluming, dial refinishing and replacement parts are therefore explicit choices, not invisible defaults.
The final bench record belongs with the piece: timing, parts, photographs, water-resistance result where relevant, and limitations another watchmaker should know later.
Offerings / bench disciplines
Vintage restoration
Conservation-led mechanical repair with explicit decisions around original finish, dial/hands, case work and period-correct replacement parts.
Clock overhaul
Domestic and small public clocks: movement service, bushing/pivot work, strike/chime correction, setup and running observation.
Case & sealing
Crystal, crown, gasket and case-integrity work with pressure testing where the construction and condition justify it.
Inherited-piece assessment
Identify movement and likely era, document condition and separate necessary work from optional cosmetic intervention before commitment.
Process / bench record
Six entries between intake and return.
- 00:00
Intake
Photograph condition, record owner priorities, note water exposure or recent failure, and define the level of cosmetic intervention allowed.
- 00:30
Diagnose
Open and inspect before final scope: wear, contamination, previous repair, corrosion, endshake, damaged teeth, springs and sealing surfaces.
- 02:00
Approve
Issue findings and choices. Restoration work does not expand silently because a new problem appeared under the dial.
- Bench
Service
Clean, repair, lubricate and assemble according to movement needs, documenting parts replaced or fabricated.
- +24 h
Measure
Regulate and observe rate, amplitude, beat, power reserve, functions and sealing where applicable across an appropriate period.
- +72 h
Return
Explain final performance and limitations, deliver the record and recommend a realistic future service interval.
Projects / repair archive
Repairs remembered by what we chose not to erase.
1958 dress watch / BR-218
Movement service and replacement mainspring restored reliable running. Dial spotting and case edges were retained; owner declined refinishing.
Railway wall clock / BR-204
Worn pivot and oval bushing corrected, strike train cleaned and hands stabilised. Existing station inventory marks remained untouched.
1970 diver / BR-197
Crown tube and gaskets replaced, movement serviced and pressure-tested to a conservative declared limit. Original faded bezel remained with the watch.
486
fictional bench records
91%
original dials retained
72 h
typical post-service observation
100%
replacement parts disclosed
People / watchmakers
Four benches, different instincts.
Mara Okeke
Conservator & watchmaker
Vintage wristwatches, conservation decisions, dial and case originality.
Daniel Ko
Watchmaker
Modern mechanical movements, regulation, sealing and diagnostic measurement.
Elsa van Rensburg
Clockmaker
Domestic clocks, strike/chime systems, pivot and bushing work.
Tomás Reed
Parts & records
Movement research, donor components, fabrication coordination and bench archive.
Insights / timing notes
Amplitude is context, not a trophy
A high number alone does not prove a healthy movement. Position, lift angle, mainspring state, lubrication and design all matter when reading timing data.
Water resistance is temporary
A passed pressure test records one moment. Gaskets age, crowns wear and impacts change sealing; vintage pieces need use advice that matches construction.
Polishing removes material forever
Rounded lug edges and softened case lines cannot simply be put back. Cosmetic work should be chosen with the same care as mechanical replacement.
FAQ / owner decisions
Before the caseback opens.
Will you make an old watch look new?
Only when that is the owner's explicit goal and the material allows it. Conservation often means retaining honest wear, original finish and tool marks rather than polishing history away.
Do you replace parts automatically?
No. We document worn or unsafe components, repair where technically sound, and replace only when necessary for function or preservation. Original parts are returned when practical.
How long does restoration take?
Routine mechanical service is different from restoration. Parts research, fabrication, case work and timed observation can extend a complex project across several months; the estimate states the likely bench stages before work begins.
Can you guarantee vintage accuracy?
We guarantee the quality of our work, not modern quartz performance from every historical movement. The final record states the observed rate, amplitude, power reserve and any design limitation.
Do you work on quartz watches?
Selected high-quality quartz pieces, yes, particularly where case integrity, movement sourcing or sentimental value justifies repair beyond a simple battery change.
Contact / intake appointment
Tell us what it is, what it does, and what you do not want changed.
Send photographs of dial, caseback and movement if safely accessible, plus the known history, current fault and restoration priorities. We reply with the appropriate assessment route rather than quoting unseen work as fixed.
Request bench assessmentBench appointments
Tue–Fri · 09:00–16:00
Saturday collection by arrangement
Complex restorations quoted after physical assessment.
Catalogue prototype · fictional workshop · imagery via Unsplash