Looking for a Specialist Watchmaker in Japan?
About TOKEI Works Japan
TOKEI Works is a watchmaking workshop based in Japan, specialising in the repair and overhaul of vintage pocket watches and manual-winding/Automatic wristwatches.
We work on watches with history – from pocket watches over 100 years old and some of the earliest wristwatches to more modern timepieces, including those that other watchmakers have returned as beyond repair.
We take the time to carefully examine each watch and explore every possible way to bring it back to life. Every watch is different, and we believe each deserves individual attention.
Even when a repair seems impossible due to unavailable parts, we don’t give up easily. We can search internationally for rare and hard-to-find parts, sourcing them from overseas to make a repair possible.
Have an old watch you’d love to see ticking again? Get in touch with TOKEI Works. We’d love to take a look and see what we can do.
Repair Request / Contact Us Explore Our Watch RepairsGive Your Watch a Second Life.
Do you have a watch that means something special to you?
Perhaps it’s a family heirloom, a special keepsake, or a watch that holds precious memories.
Every watch has a story. With a little care, yours may have many more years ahead of it.
Let’s bring your treasured watch back to life. Start your restoration journey with us today!
Identifiable Makers and Brands – Over 90% Repair Success Rate
We achieve a repair success rate of over 90% on identifiable watches.
If your watch has a maker’s name or brand name, or we can identify its manufacturer and movement, the chances of successful repair are very high.
Why is this possible?
For many established Swiss and American watchmakers, we have access to extensive technical documents and historical records. This includes well-known Swiss brands such as Rolex, Omega, Longines, IWC and Zenith, as well as American brands such as Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Bulova and Gruen.
By identifying the manufacturer and the exact movement used, we can research its specifications and search for original or compatible parts from suppliers and collectors around the world.
Even if the original movement is beyond repair, we may be able to find a replacement movement. If a required part is no longer available, we can also explore having one made or adapting another part where technically possible.
A missing part doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road. We look for solutions rather than simply giving up.
A Special Passion for Old Pocket Watches
Do you have an old pocket watch but don’t know who to turn to?
Have you taken it to a repair shop, only to be told it’s too old, parts are no longer available, or it simply can’t be repaired?
We understand these challenges. At TOKEI Works, we especially enjoy working on old pocket watches, including those that other watchmakers have given up on.
Don’t give up on your watch just yet. Talk to us and let us see what we can do!
Pocket watches were widely used around the turn of the 20th century. Naturally, many of these watches are now well over 100 years old.
The original manufacturers may no longer exist, and finding the correct replacement parts can be extremely difficult. For watches of this age, these challenges are simply part of the job.
At TOKEI Works, we don’t simply give up because parts are difficult to find or the manufacturer is no longer around.
Our focus is on one thing: making your watch work again.
We take the time to carefully examine every detail, investigate possible solutions, and source rare parts whenever possible. We approach each watch individually and are committed to exploring every reasonable possibility of bringing it back to life.
“My Watch Isn’t Working” – That’s Not a Problem!
A watch that has stopped working is one of the most common reasons people come to us. Many watches are inherited, kept as family treasures, or simply stored away for many years without being used or maintained.
This is especially common with pocket watches. Many were originally made and used over 100 years ago, and may have spent decades sitting in a drawer or passed down through generations.
When we open an old watch, one of the things we commonly find is that the lubricating oil has dried out, disappeared or become ineffective. Without proper maintenance, the movement can eventually stop working.
In fact, if a watch of this age is still running, we’d say it’s been very well looked after!
A watch that has stopped ticking is exactly the kind of work we do. Repairing and overhauling non-working watches is part of our speciality.
About Watch Repair Costs
The cost of repairing a watch depends on several factors, including its age, manufacturer, movement type, overall condition and the work required.
At TOKEI Works, our standard repair charges generally start from ¥40,000. However, the final cost can vary considerably depending on the condition of each watch and the parts required.
For example, a mainspring may need to be replaced as part of the repair. In addition, problems that were not visible during the initial inspection may only become apparent after the movement has been dismantled and examined in detail. As a result, the estimated repair cost may need to be revised as the work progresses.
The Condition of the Watch Matters
Even a watch in very poor condition may be capable of being brought back to life with the right care and repair work.
However, the more worn or damaged a watch is, the more work may be required. Replacing worn parts, addressing corrosion and correcting previous repair problems can all add to the time and cost involved.
A properly repaired and serviced watch can look and operate very differently from when it first arrived. However, achieving a better result often requires additional work and expense.
We aim to examine each watch carefully, explain what needs to be done and discuss any changes to the estimated cost before proceeding with additional work.
Things to Consider Before Repairing Your Watch
Do You Intend to Keep Using the Watch?
Before deciding to repair your watch, it’s worth considering how you plan to use it.
Mechanical watches, including manual-winding watches, require regular maintenance, much like a car. Even if a watch is working, it may still need an overhaul to keep the movement in good condition.
Older watches are often less well sealed against dust and moisture than modern watches. Over time, dust and other contaminants can enter the movement and mix with the lubricating oil.
Watch lubricants can also deteriorate, dry out or become less effective as they age. When a movement operates without adequate lubrication, friction increases and its components can gradually wear down. If left unattended, this wear can eventually lead to more extensive and costly repairs.
Regular Maintenance Comes with Ongoing Costs
Repairing a watch is not necessarily a one-time expense. If you intend to keep wearing it, you should also be prepared for the cost of periodic servicing and maintenance.
We understand that not everyone wants to spend money on a watch regularly, especially if it is rarely worn. If you don’t intend to use the watch and simply want to keep it as a collectible or family keepsake, restoring it to working condition may not be necessary. Keeping it for display without repairing it can be a perfectly reasonable choice.
What If You Want to Preserve the Watch?
Even if you don’t plan to use your watch, its condition is still worth considering.
Rust and corrosion can develop or spread over time, potentially causing further damage to the movement. Depending on the watch’s condition and how you intend to preserve it, professional inspection and appropriate maintenance may help prevent avoidable deterioration.
Ultimately, the right decision depends on your plans, your budget and the condition of the watch.
At TOKEI Works, we want you to make an informed decision before committing to a repair. Whether you want to wear your watch regularly, preserve a treasured heirloom or simply keep it as a display piece, consider what matters most to you before deciding how much to invest in it.
Repair Request / Contact Us Explore Our Watch RepairsUnderstanding the Accuracy of Vintage Mechanical Watches
If you choose to own a vintage mechanical watch, it’s important to understand that it will not keep time with the same accuracy as a modern digital watch.
Mechanical watches have inherent limitations in their timekeeping accuracy. Their performance can be affected by several factors, including the position of the watch, movement and shaking, and the design and condition of the movement.
Even after a proper overhaul, an old mechanical watch may gain or lose time each day. The achievable accuracy depends on the watch’s age, original specifications and overall condition.
Remember the Era in Which Your Watch Was Made
When you look at an antique pocket watch or vintage wristwatch, try to imagine the world in which it was made. Life was different, and watchmaking technology was far less advanced than it is today.
Many older watches were made long before modern protections against magnetism, physical shocks and water became widely available. These watches were built using the materials and techniques of their time, and they were not designed to offer all the protections we expect from modern watches.
Although many antique watches feature remarkable craftsmanship, their original designs have limitations that cannot always be overcome through repair.
Please Don’t Expect Your Watch to Increase in Value
Owning and wearing a manual-winding or vintage watch can be a wonderful experience. Perhaps it was passed down by a family member, or it reminds you of someone special. The memories and personal meaning attached to a watch can be truly priceless.
Some vintage watches sell for very high prices, but these are often rare or particularly desirable models. The market value of a watch depends on many factors, including its manufacturer, model, rarity, condition and originality. Prices can also vary considerably depending on where and how the watch is sold.
Even after spending money on repairs, there is no guarantee that your watch’s market value will increase by the same amount, or that you will recover the cost of the repair if you sell it.
Watch Repairs Can Be Expensive
Repairing an antique or vintage watch is not the same as repairing a modern watch. Even watches of the same model may require individual adjustments to work properly.
In the past, watchmakers sometimes made small adjustments during assembly to account for differences between individual components. As a result, even parts from the same production batch may not be perfectly interchangeable.
The same applies to repair work today. We cannot simply replace a part and expect everything to work perfectly. Each movement must be carefully dismantled, and its components must be cleaned and inspected individually. When reassembling the movement, we also need to consider wear, ageing and the adjustments required to ensure the parts work together correctly.
Finding replacement parts can be another challenge. Even a small component may be difficult to find, requiring us to search overseas suppliers or specialist collectors. In some cases, a replacement part may need to be adapted or made specially.
All of this takes time, specialist knowledge and careful workmanship.