Where to go in KC to have a mechanical watch serviced

[VSG]

Sorry if this is in the wrong section (or if I skipped any newbie rituals that should have happened before my first post).

I'm relatively new to collecting watches, but I've already managed to gather a few from the teens through the fifties. Some are in great shape...some could use a little TLC.

Eventually I might get to the point of doing my own cleaning/servicing (already have a little bag of junkers set aside for practice!), but right now it would be nice to find someone halfway local to service a few of them for me.

The problem: I have no idea where to go!

If anyone has experience with someone in/around Kansas City that does quality work on older watches, I'd appreciate your input.

[CometHunter]

Unless or until solid leads come along and post, you could try "Watch Repair" in the phone book yellow pages.
I look for places that advertise being NAWCC members (Natl. Assn. of Watch and Clock Collectors), and have been in business for a while. The good ones just seem to stay in business longer.

Bring him one of your less-important pieces to work on (assuming there are any, of course). If you're happy with the job, you can keep going back to him with the rest of your collection, becoming a valued repeat-customer.

[Scott D]

As CH said, you could try the Yellow Pages for NAWCC members.

You can also try one of the sponsors here, we have seveal that service vintage watches (click on the Sponsor's tab at the top of the page to see them). While I don't think any are in KC and you'd have to ship the watch to them, all of them are quite good and I'd use in a heartbeat.

[VSG]

Thanks for copying my post here CometHunter!

The point of looking for a NAWCC member is a great one! (I wouldn't have thought to look there ) I'm not a member, but a quick search of their business member directory showed a few places that might be options. They aren't all within driving distance, but that gives me something great to go with.

Before popping into the forum, I was looking through the YP and came up with limited results (a few places actually concerned me because they haven't been in business for many years at all).

And I too was thinking of taking in a watch that I'm not too attached to. I don't own any that are worth any significant amount to begin with...but I'd hate to have shoddy work done on one that I enjoy wearing.

Scott,

Thanks for the tip. My preference is someone local, because it's just great to talk face to face sometimes. But it's entirely possible that I won't be able to find someone semi-locally...in which case I'll be browsing sponsors!

[CometHunter]

You're welcome!

And let me be clear- I have nothing against businesses that haven't been around long.

I was just describing my own methods of finding a repair shop. Interestingly enough and contrary to my own advice the guy I use hasn't nearly been around the longest. I discovered him by accident because he's the CLOSEST. He's in a shopping mall only 5 minutes from the house! I was lucky in that he knows his stuff.