Repair Estimates
Clock/Watch Intake & Estimates
The Clock Shop of Richmond, LTD
Dropping off your item(s):
We do not take appointments for dropping off or picking up.
We encourage customers to document and take photos of their property prior to drop off.
Step 1: Your timepiece(s) will be taken in and you will be given a claim ticket with an account number. The account number issued will remain the same every time you visit! There is a $10 estimate fee on each item brought in for us to evaluate. We do not offer free estimates or evaluations.
- Due to high customer traffic, please plan to leave clocks with us for around 6 months. This time frame includes the evaluation and estimate from the clockmaker, repairs, testing time and potential adjustments that may be required. ALL TIME FRAMES ARE APPROXIMATE.
- Does your clock need wood repairs? Is the bottom busted out/loose on your floor standing clock? Please let us know upon drop off and we can give you a referral to a wood shop! Some repairs, adjustments can be made “In-shop.” No guarantees until we see the item! There are many, different designs to clock cases and can vary.
PLEASE REFERENCE YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER WHEN INQUIRING ABOUT A REPAIR OR HAVE QUESTIONS.
Step 2: Estimates take 3-4 weeks. Every timepiece we take in must be evaluated by the Clockmaker or Watchmaker.
Step 3: Once the Clockmaker/Watchmaker has looked over your item(s) we will call you with the estimate and provide you with an APPROXIMATE, repair time frame. Due to high traffic this time frame, and the labor intensive work we perform, is not guaranteed and may be offset by repairs that were taken in and approved prior.
Step 4: Once you have received the estimate you have a few options:
- Ok the repairs, “Yes.” Your item(s) will be placed in our work queue.
- Place your item(s) on “Hold.” If you want to think about it, consult with a loved one, you may place your item(s) on “Hold.” Items left on hold for more that 60 days from drop off, will incur a storage fee of $35 a month. Please make sure that you make a final decision and get back us before the 60 days.
- Decline estimated repairs, “No.” If you decide not to proceed with the repairs, we will place your item in our pick up room and select “No” on the estimate we provided. Please make sure to pick up your item(s) within 60 days otherwise a $35 a month storage fee will apply on each. No repairs, no warranty. Without any repairs, we are unable to warranty or guarantee the functionality of these items.
If upon receipt of your estimate(s) you decide to place your item(s) on “Hold,” please call and let us know that you do not wish to have the item(s) repaired and plan to pick up. This gives us time to assemble and have your item ready when you arrive.
If for any reason, you change your mind on repairs, after you have approved the estimate, and we have already begun to work on it, you may be charged for our time/parts. Please let us know at least, a week in advance, before picking up your item, so can make sure it is assembled and ready to be picked up. You may call us or go to the “contact” tab above and email us, please include your account number. It may take us several days to assemble/prepare your item for pick up. We do not offer any warranty on these items.
BRING THESE ITEMS WITH YOUR CLOCK: pendulums, weights, clock leaders/suspension springs (what the pendulum hooks onto), hands, loose gears or parts that go to watch/clock movements.
KEEP THESE ITEMS AT HOME: winding keys/cranks*, door keys (Make sure to unlock any doors before bringing in your clocks!), loose finials or decorative pieces, photos, manuals, frets, watch fabs, decorative and detachable parts/pieces
If you have multiple items in for repairs, we will call as each one is ready. Please pick up your repaired items within 60 days, otherwise a $35 a month storage fee will apply.
*If you feel your key may not be a good fit or is loose on the arbors, bring it with you and we will let you know if you need a new, tighter fitting key. The original key will be sent home with you.
When calling to give estimates we encounter a lot of phone numbers with voicemail that is not set up or full. If you have not heard from us within the 3-4 week range with your estimate(s) please contact us. Items left over 60 days, without any contact from the owner, will incur a $35 a month storage fee.
Limit 5 watches per visit, per day. This includes watches brought in for estimates and/or battery replacements.
Watches that are extremely worn, with missing stone(s)/other case parts, we may choose not to repair or take in. We are not responsible for age related wear issues.
We do not offer “Part & Piece work.” The Clock Shop of Richmond will only do what is necessary to warranty your timepiece for 1 year. Example: “My clock hasn’t been serviced in 10 years and needs to be oiled only, I do not want any other services.” We hear this a lot. Most mechanical clocks, should be oiled every 2-3 years and cleaned every 5-10 years. Eventually movements will wear on themselves. The more maintenance that is kept up with, the longer the movement will be preserved. So, the Clockmaker will look over your clock’s movement and decide what service is due. We will only do what is recommended by the Clockmaker.
Clock cases that are in need of major repairs, should be taken to your local Wood Shop before it is brought to us for an estimate. We can provide some, basic wood repairs only (minor case gluings or decorative pieces).
We service clocks that are hundreds of year old. If we notice any age related wear/structural damage we will let you know. This is to be somewhat expected and it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that your timepiece is sturdy/stable enough for it to be handled and repaired. The case is important because it houses the movement/mechanism of the clock. Some grandfather/tall case clock movements can weight upwards of fifty pounds or more! Weights can also be anywhere from 6 to 75 pounds! Your case will need to be repaired by a wood shop before any repairs will be completed. Case repairs can change how a movement sits in the case/leveling. This is why we do not start repairs until we have the case.
The Clock Shop of Richmond is not responsible for lost items, such as case/winding keys, original manuals, or loosely fitting, finials/case parts, pictures, papers, etc. that are left inside and or with goods dropped off.
If your clock has fire damage, please take it to a professional who can clean/remove fire/water and or soot damage. Due to the oder, we WILL NOT TAKE IN SAID ITEMS. The guts (movements, dial, weights, pendulum, other internal parts) can then be brought in for an estimate on repairs/cleaning.
We do not clean clock dials. Dials that need repairs/cleaning must be sent to a Dial Repair Shop. Reference upon request.
We do not: Offer any decorative repairs (replacement finials, paper dials, rosettes, etc.), “clean up” or wipe down clock cases/glass, sell replacement light bulbs, installing/replacing bottoms of floor standing clocks, or offer any electrical work/repairs and are not responsible for items brought in with old and/or damaged cords. Any electric repairs will require a licensed electrician.
Other Estimate Information:
Due to the mechanics of clocks/watches there is always a chance, once the movement is removed from the case, we may find other issues. Such as broken/bent teeth, pivots, broken springs/suspension springs, click springs, missing parts, broken chime rods/gongs, etc. If this occurs, you will notified before we proceed with any repairs.
If you wish to “wait” for an estimate on you watch there is a nonrefundable fee of $100 per item. Available on watches only. One estimate per visit. This will not be credited to future repairs and is non-refundable. Please call to confirm the Watchmaker is here, before your arrival. He is usually in on Tuesdays and Wednesday after 2pm. We do not take appointments.
Occasionally, we do experience issues with prior repairs and/or parts that have been replaced. Many clocks do experience “married parts” (parts taken off of another clock/watch movement and reused on another clock). Please be patient as these items may require other parts to be made/replaced, and more time for the Clockmaker/Watchmaker to repair. There are some instances we may return said items, unrepaired. This also applies to clocks that come in apart/missing parts/gears. If additional parts/repairs are needed, we will let you know.
We reserve the right to increase prices to reflect current costs from our distributors. If there is a price increase after a repair(s) has been approved, you will be notified.
We reserve the right to refuse service at anytime.