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Movement Overhaul Cost in the UK: What You Will Pay
A full movement overhaul on a mechanical watch in the UK typically costs from a few hundred pounds to well over £1,000, depending on the brand, the calibre and whether parts are needed. At Horology Kings, servicing starts from £350 for Cartier and TAG Heuer, £400 for Breitling, £450 for Omega and £500 for Rolex. Below you will find what the work includes, what moves the price and how to budget without surprises.
TL;DR
A movement overhaul means the watch is dismantled, cleaned, inspected, reassembled, lubricated and regulated. It is not a quick clean or a battery change.
Our published starting prices are from £350 (Cartier, TAG Heuer), £400 (Breitling), £450 (Omega) and £500 (Rolex). Worn parts are quoted separately once the movement is open.
Complexity drives the price: chronographs, in-house calibres and haute horlogerie cost more than a simple three-hand watch.
Vintage watches can cost more still, because original parts may be hard to find.
Plan for a service roughly every three to five years, and sooner if the watch runs fast or slow.
Table of Contents
What a movement overhaul actually involves
The words “service”, “overhaul” and “full service” are used loosely, so it helps to know what sits behind the price. In a proper overhaul the watchmaker removes the movement from the case and takes it apart down to its individual components. Each part is cleaned, examined for wear and put back together with fresh lubricant in the right places. The watch is then regulated so it keeps time within tolerance.
Manufacturers publish their own definitions. TAG Heuer’s UK price sheet describes a complete service as diagnosis and dismantling, overhaul or replacement of the movement, reassembly, oiling and regulation, replacement of wearing components, ultrasonic cleaning of case and bracelet, and gasket replacement, finishing with a final control to factory specification. At the very top of the market the process is more exhaustive. A. Lange & Söhne describes disassembly and degreasing, inspection and replacement of worn parts, reassembly and lubrication, adjustment in five positions, new seals and several days of testing, covering power reserve, water resistance and rate accuracy.
The practical point: a genuine overhaul is hours of skilled bench work, and the price reflects that labour plus the consumables, such as oils, gaskets and cleaning cycles.
Overhaul, polish and battery change are different jobs
A polish treats the outside of the case and bracelet. A battery change applies to quartz watches. Neither touches the mechanical movement. If your watch has not been opened in years, a polish alone will leave the part that matters, the movement, untouched. If you also want the case refreshed, we offer polishing from £100, which can be booked alongside the service.
Movement overhaul cost in the UK by brand
UK pricing varies by brand because each calibre has different construction, different parts and different time on the bench. These are our published starting prices for servicing at Horology Kings:
Brand | Servicing from | Billing |
TAG Heuer | £350 | One-off |
Cartier | £350 | One-off |
Breitling | £400 | One-off |
Omega | £450 | One-off |
Rolex | £500 | One-off |
Case polishing (any brand) | £100 | One-off |
The word “from” matters. It is the starting point for a standard service on a standard model. Your final quote depends on your exact reference, its condition and anything the watchmaker finds once the movement is open. You can see the full list on our watch repair and servicing page.
How a manufacturer price sheet scales with complexity
Public manufacturer sheets show clearly how complexity drives cost. TAG Heuer’s UK 2026 list puts complete service at £270 for group 3 mechanical watches, £355 for mechanical chronographs, £410 for mechanical in-house movements, £600 for haute horlogerie watches and £1,420 for group 6 watches. Parts not listed are quoted separately.
Take the pattern rather than the figures as your guide. A simple three-hand automatic sits at the bottom of any price range, a chronograph costs noticeably more, and a high-complication or in-house calibre costs more again. The same logic applies whichever brand you own.
What pushes an overhaul price up
The starting price assumes a watch in reasonable health. These are the factors that raise the final figure.
Movement type and complications
Chronographs, perpetual calendars, annual calendars, GMT mechanisms and in-house calibres have more components and more adjustments. More parts means more cleaning, inspection and regulation time. If you own a Patek Philippe, expect a different scale altogether: our guide to Patek service costs in the UK explains why you should budget for more.
Worn or damaged parts
A mechanical movement wears in use. The most common additions are mainsprings, gaskets, crown and stem components, and sometimes wheels or jewels. Typical faults that add work include worn or broken mainsprings, which one UK watch repairer notes commonly add work to an overhaul.
Extra work can also follow a knock, water ingress, dried lubricant or earlier poor repairs. A fault often only shows once the movement is apart, which is why a responsible workshop quotes for additional parts before carrying on, rather than adding them silently.
Age and parts availability
Vintage watches are the biggest variable. When original components are no longer made, the options are donor parts, specialist sourcing or having a part fabricated. One UK restorer says that parts availability is often the largest cost and turnaround variable in vintage work. If you own a watch from the 1960s or 70s, set aside more budget and more time than for a recent model.
Water resistance testing and case work
New gaskets and a pressure test are part of a thorough service. Be aware that on older watches, water resistance may not be guaranteed even after an overhaul and gasket replacement, which TAG Heuer states for vintage pieces in its own UK sheet. For that reason, keep vintage watches away from swimming and showers whatever the service record says.
Is a movement overhaul worth the money?
Think of it against the value of the watch. A mechanical movement relies on oil to reduce friction. Over years the oil thins, migrates or dries, and metal parts begin to wear against each other. Servicing before things fail is usually kinder to the movement, and cheaper, than running it until it stops and then paying for damaged components.
On a watch worth several thousand pounds, a service costing a few hundred is a small percentage of its value, and it protects both its performance and its resale appeal. A recent service record also gives a buyer confidence. We cover how warranties and paperwork compare in our guide to when a 5 year warranty beats service papers.
How often to service
A sensible rhythm for most mechanical watches is every three to five years, a range suggested by a UK watch repair practitioner. Treat that as a guide, not a deadline. A watch worn daily, exposed to knocks or used in varied conditions may need attention sooner, while one that rests in a box and is worn occasionally may go longer.
Signs that it is time:
The watch gains or loses noticeably more than it used to.
The power reserve is shorter than it should be.
The crown feels rough, gritty or loose when winding or setting.
There is moisture or fogging under the crystal. Stop wearing it and bring it in straight away.
The rotor sounds different or the watch stops intermittently.
A watch running fast is a common trigger. British GQ notes that abnormal fast running can come from migrating lubricant, a hairspring displaced by shock or magnetisation, and recommends an overhaul. Our guide to a watch running fast takes you through the checks to try at home first.
Repair, replacement or overhaul: which does your watch need?
Most watches need an overhaul, with specific parts replaced where worn. Replacing the entire movement is a different decision, and it is a rare one on a luxury watch.
For a collectable watch, original parts matter. A replacement movement or non-original components can affect provenance and, in turn, value. Our article on aftermarket parts and provenance risk explains why collectors should ask exactly what is being fitted. Originality shapes cosmetic choices too: a vintage dial and case with honest wear can be worth more than a refinished one, as we show in preserve patina or refinish.
A good rule of thumb: the more valuable and original the watch, the more you should favour overhauling and repairing the existing movement with correct parts.
Authorised service centre or specialist: how to choose
There are two broad routes. A manufacturer service centre follows factory procedures and uses brand parts, and it typically issues an official service record and a warranty. TAG Heuer’s sheet, for example, states a 24-month warranty on the maintenance performed and the components replaced. A specialist workshop of certified watchmakers offers a more personal service and direct access to the person who works on the watch.
Whichever you choose, ask these questions before you hand a watch over:
What exactly does the quoted price include: cleaning, new gaskets, regulation, testing?
What happens if worn parts are found? You should be contacted with a figure before extra work begins.
Which parts will be fitted, and are they original?
What warranty covers the work, and for how long?
Is the cost of insured return delivery included?
How long will the watch be away?
Answers to these matter more than a headline price. A low figure that excludes gaskets, testing or postage is not comparable with one that includes them.
Our perspective
We see the same pattern again and again: collectors who service on a steady schedule rarely face the big bills. The expensive surprises come from watches that were run for a decade, then arrived with dry oil, worn pivots and a damaged mainspring. That is why we publish starting prices for the brands we service most, and why we explain that worn parts are quoted separately. Our certified horologists open the movement, tell you what they find and give you the cost of any extra work before it goes ahead. You decide. We also look at servicing as part of ownership, not just maintenance. A watch that has been looked after properly, with its original parts and a clear record, is easier to sell and holds its appeal. If you ever want to know what your watch is worth, our valuation takes minutes, and we are always happy to talk it through. Lewis
Book a service or find out what your watch is worth
We service Rolex, Omega, TAG Heuer, Breitling and Cartier watches, with polishing available alongside. Our certified horologists carry out the work, and prices start from £350 for TAG Heuer and Cartier, £400 for Breitling, £450 for Omega and £500 for Rolex. See the details and request your service on our watch repair and servicing page.
Thinking of selling instead of servicing? We offer valuations and buy luxury watches directly from owners, with secure UK bank transfers. Start on our sell your watch page. If you would like to know what a valuation costs elsewhere first, read our watch valuation costs guide.
Budgeting tips for your next overhaul
Service on a schedule. Putting it in your calendar every three to five years avoids emergency repairs.
Keep a repair fund. Setting aside a modest amount each year spreads the cost, and leaves room for a parts quote.
Ask for a written quote that names the work covered and how extra parts will be handled.
Keep every service record. It supports resale value and helps any future watchmaker.
Insure the watch in transit. Use tracked, insured delivery both ways.
Bundle jobs. If the case needs polishing as well, doing it during the overhaul means one trip away from your watch.
FAQ
How much does a mechanical watch service cost in the UK?
It depends on the brand and the movement. Our servicing starts from £350 for Cartier and TAG Heuer, £400 for Breitling, £450 for Omega and £500 for Rolex. Chronographs, in-house calibres and vintage watches usually cost more, and worn parts are quoted separately.
What does a movement overhaul include?
The movement is removed, dismantled, cleaned and inspected, then reassembled with fresh lubricant and regulated. Gaskets are typically renewed and the watch is tested for timekeeping and water resistance. The exact scope varies by workshop, so ask for it in writing.
How often should a mechanical watch be serviced?
A common guide is every three to five years. Service sooner if the watch begins to gain or lose time, the power reserve drops or the crown feels rough.
Is it worth servicing an expensive watch?
Yes, for most owners. The cost of a service is small compared with the value of a luxury watch, and regular servicing helps avoid damage to the movement. A documented service history also supports the watch when you come to sell.
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