John Gowing Jewellers
establish 1946 in Oxford's covered market
John Gowing Jewellers
establish 1946 in Oxford's covered market
John Gowing Jewellers
establish 1946 in Oxford's covered market
John Gowing Jewellers
establish 1946 in Oxford's covered market
When a watch stops, loses time or shows signs of damage, you want clear advice from someone who understands the movement as well as the value the watch holds for you. John Gowing Jewellers provides expert watch repairs and servicing from our shop in Oxford’s historic Covered Market.
Our highly skilled in-house watch specialist has served John Gowing customers and the local community for nearly 40 years. This depth of practical experience allows us to assess watches carefully and complete most basic repairs in-house, often while you wait when the watch, parts and workload permit.
Established in Oxford in 1946, we care for everyday, luxury, modern and vintage watches. From battery and strap replacement to mechanical servicing and sympathetic restoration, every watch is considered individually before work proceeds.
A stopped quartz watch may simply need a new battery, but correct fitting matters. We carry an extensive stock of watch batteries for many types of watch, enabling our in-house specialist to complete most straightforward replacements while you wait. We inspect the watch, fit the appropriate battery where suitable and advise whether resealing or water-resistance testing is needed. If a battery has leaked, the movement may require further assessment.
Mechanical movements contain finely engineered components that depend on correct lubrication and adjustment. If your watch is losing time, stopping unexpectedly or has a reduced power reserve, our in-house specialist can assess whether it needs a basic adjustment, repair or complete service. Work requiring a fully equipped specialist workshop is entrusted to highly reputable professional horologists with the appropriate expertise and service guarantees.
Older watches often require a different approach from modern timepieces. Originality, parts availability, sentimental importance and financial value all need to be considered. We care for many vintage and antique watches and can advise on the likely scope and economic viability of restoration before substantial work is undertaken.
We stock a wide choice of watch straps in different materials, sizes, colours and recognised brands to suit many watches and budgets. Our in-house specialist can fit replacement straps, adjust many bracelets and carry out minor fitting work, often while you wait. We can also assess damaged glass, crowns, clasps and other exterior components and explain the available options.
Water resistance is not permanent. Seals age, cases are opened and knocks can affect the integrity of a watch. Where appropriate, we can arrange pressure testing and advise whether resealing or further attention is required. A watch should never be assumed water-resistant simply because it was when new.
We discuss the problem, the watch’s history and how it is used.
We explain whether the watch appears to need a simple repair, further diagnosis, servicing or restoration.
Where more extensive work is required, the scope and cost are agreed before authorised work proceeds.
Our experienced watch specialist completes most basic repairs in-house, often while you wait. More complex work is placed with highly reputable specialist horologists selected for the watch and the work required.
The watch is checked as appropriate to the work completed, and we explain any care recommendations when it is returned.
We accept watches from a wide range of makers for assessment. The repair route depends on the brand, movement, age, condition and availability of appropriate parts. Where manufacturer or specialist intervention is the responsible option, we will explain this clearly.
For complex servicing and repair, we work with highly reputable professional horologists, including authorised specialists where required and available. Partner work is supplied with the relevant written warranty or guarantee. References to a brand do not imply that John Gowing Jewellers itself is an authorised service centre unless expressly stated.
Qualifying watch repairs and complete services carried out through John Gowing Jewellers are covered by a 12-month guarantee on the workmanship performed and replacement parts supplied. The precise cover is confirmed with the repair documentation, and any applicable partner or manufacturer service warranty is passed on with the completed work.
Replacement watch batteries are guaranteed for 12 months. This covers the replacement battery itself and does not guarantee the condition or continued operation of the watch’s existing movement.
Our guarantee does not cover accidental damage, misuse, normal wear, unrelated faults or later work undertaken by another repairer. Water resistance is covered only where it has been expressly included, tested and recorded as part of the service. Please retain your receipt or repair reference.
Timing depends on the work required. Because we have an experienced specialist and extensive battery and strap stock in-house, most basic repairs can be completed while you wait when the watch, required part and workload permit. Mechanical servicing, parts sourcing and vintage restoration take longer. We will give you the clearest available expectation after assessing the watch, but specialist parts and unforeseen movement damage can affect completion times.
John Gowing Jewellers is located in Oxford’s Covered Market, convenient for Oxford city centre, the universities and visitors travelling from across Oxfordshire. We regularly welcome customers from the surrounding area, including Abingdon, Kidlington, Bicester, Witney and Didcot.
You are welcome to bring your watch to the shop during opening hours. If you are travelling specifically for a complex or unusual watch, contacting us first is advisable.
Often, yes. Sentimental importance can justify work that would not make sense on financial value alone. We will explain the likely cost and practical options so you can make an informed decision.
We assess many vintage and antique watches. What is possible depends on condition, movement and parts availability, and restoration should respect originality wherever practical.
Yes, in many cases. Our specialist completes most straightforward battery replacements in-house while you wait, supported by our extensive stock of watch batteries. Unusual case constructions, damaged seals, pressure testing, specialist batteries or an underlying movement fault may require more time. Contact us first if timing is important.
Yes. Qualifying repairs and complete services are guaranteed for 12 months for the workmanship performed and replacement parts supplied. Replacement batteries carry a 12-month battery guarantee. Full conditions and any partner or manufacturer warranty will be confirmed with your repair paperwork.
No responsible repairer should treat water resistance as permanent. Testing can assess a watch at a particular point in time, but seals, crowns, impacts and future use can affect it.
Bring your watch to John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market, call 01865 242815 or use our online enquiry form. Tell us the brand, model if known, the problem you have noticed and whether the watch has recently been exposed to water or suffered an impact.
A watch rarely chooses a convenient moment to develop a fault. Sometimes the warning is obvious, such as a cracked glass or a watch that has stopped. In other cases, small changes in accuracy, winding or power reserve indicate that attention is needed.
At John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market, our in-house watch specialist draws on nearly 40 years of service to the local community. We assess modern, vintage and luxury watches and explain whether the sensible next step is a straightforward in-house repair, adjustment, service or specialist restoration.
A small variation can be normal for a mechanical watch, but a sudden or significant change deserves attention. It may be caused by magnetism, an impact, ageing lubricant, wear within the movement or a need for regulation. Quartz watches can also become erratic when a battery is weakening or a fault develops.
Record how much time the watch gains or loses over several days and tell the watchmaker whether the change began suddenly. This is often more useful than simply saying that the watch is ‘running slow’.
A quartz watch that stops may need a battery, but fitting a new battery is not always the complete answer. An old battery can leak and damage the movement, while a new battery will not correct a mechanical fault.
If an automatic watch stops while being worn, the winding system, movement or power reserve may require investigation. Avoid repeatedly shaking the watch or forcing the crown in an attempt to restart it.
A fully wound mechanical or automatic watch should run for a period broadly consistent with its movement specification. If it now stops much sooner than it once did, the movement may not be winding efficiently or may require service. Note how long it runs after winding and whether your normal wearing pattern has changed.
Condensation inside a watch should be treated promptly. Moisture can corrode the movement, stain the dial and damage hands and other components. Do not place the watch on a radiator, use a hairdryer or open the case yourself. Remove it from water exposure and seek professional advice as soon as possible.
A crown that is stiff, loose, difficult to pull out or no longer screws down correctly can compromise both operation and water resistance. Chronograph pushers that stick or feel uneven also require attention. Never force a crown or pusher, particularly when the watch is wet.
A case can appear undamaged even when an impact has affected the movement, hands, dial, crystal or water-resistant seals. If the watch behaves differently after a fall, stops, rattles or develops condensation, arrange an assessment before continuing to wear it.
A worn spring bar, loose link, damaged clasp or cracked leather strap can result in the entire watch being lost or badly damaged. Check the attachment points regularly and stop wearing the watch if the bracelet or strap feels insecure.
No. A battery, strap, spring bar or minor adjustment may resolve some problems, and our in-house specialist can complete most basic repairs while you wait when parts and workload permit. Other symptoms point to work within the movement. A proper assessment helps avoid unnecessary work while identifying faults that could become more expensive if ignored.
Many mechanical and automatic watches benefit from servicing approximately every five to seven years, but there is no universal interval. The manufacturer, movement, age, condition, use and exposure to water all matter. Follow the maker’s guidance and seek advice sooner if the watch’s behaviour changes.
If your watch shows any of these symptoms, bring it to John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market. Our experienced in-house specialist will assess it and may be able to complete a basic repair while you wait. More complex work is entrusted to reputable specialist horologists and supplied with the appropriate warranty. Qualifying repairs and complete services are covered by our 12-month guarantee.
When a quartz watch stops, a battery replacement is often the first solution. However, a watch case contains seals, delicate contacts and a movement that can be damaged by incorrect handling, moisture or a leaking battery. For watches relied upon in water, opening and closing the case also raises an important question: is the watch still water-resistant?
John Gowing Jewellers provides watch battery replacement from our shop in Oxford’s Covered Market. Our in-house watch specialist has nearly 40 years of experience, and our extensive battery stock means most straightforward replacements can be completed while you wait, together with advice on resealing and pressure testing where appropriate.
The correct battery must be fitted without damaging the movement, case back, coil or electrical contacts. The case and seals should also be inspected. A professional can identify corrosion, leakage or another fault that means a battery alone will not solve the problem.
The exact process depends on the watch, but it may include:
No. Replacing the battery does not itself restore water resistance. A watch’s resistance depends on the condition of the case, glass, crown, pushers and seals, as well as correct closure. ‘Waterproof’ should not be treated as a permanent description; water resistance can change with age, wear, impact and servicing.
Pressure testing is particularly relevant if you rely on the watch for swimming, water sports or frequent contact with water. It may also be sensible after the case has been opened or when seals, crown or glass have been disturbed. The appropriate test depends on the watch and its intended use.
A successful test reflects the watch’s condition at that time. It cannot guarantee resistance indefinitely, and the owner should continue to follow the manufacturer’s care guidance.
An exhausted battery left inside a watch can leak and corrode contacts or damage the movement. If a quartz watch has been stopped for a long time, arrange inspection rather than leaving the old battery in place. A replacement battery may not revive a movement that has already been affected.
Many watch batteries last roughly two to three years, but life varies widely according to the movement and functions used. Chronographs, alarms, lights and other features may consume more energy. A battery that expires unusually quickly can indicate a movement fault and should be investigated.
Most straightforward watch battery replacements can be completed in-house while you wait because we carry an extensive stock of battery types. Not every watch is suitable: difficult case constructions, damaged seals, pressure-testing requirements, specialist batteries or faults beyond the battery can require more time. Workload also affects timing, so contact us first with the make and model if you are making a special journey.
Yes. Replacement watch batteries fitted by John Gowing Jewellers are guaranteed for 12 months. The guarantee covers the replacement battery itself; it does not guarantee the condition or continued operation of the watch’s existing movement. Please retain your receipt or repair reference.
Treat condensation as urgent. Stop exposing the watch to water and bring it for assessment promptly. Do not heat the watch or operate the crown and pushers while it is wet. Moisture can cause corrosion and damage the dial, hands and movement.
Visit John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market for a battery assessment. Our experienced specialist can complete most straightforward battery replacements while you wait and explain whether the watch requires further fault-finding, resealing or pressure testing. We also stock a broad choice of replacement watch straps if yours needs attention at the same visit.
A vintage watch may be valuable because of its maker, rarity and condition, but its importance may also come from the person who owned it and the memories attached to it. Repairing an older watch therefore requires more than making it run. The right approach must consider originality, reliability, appearance, parts availability and the owner’s priorities.
John Gowing Jewellers has served Oxford since 1946, and our in-house watch specialist has cared for local customers’ watches for nearly 40 years. We assess vintage and antique watches from our shop in the Covered Market. Where restoration is possible, the aim should be to make informed, proportionate decisions rather than automatically replacing or refinishing everything.
A repair addresses a particular fault: for example, a damaged crown, broken mainspring or watch that has stopped. A service generally involves dismantling, cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, reassembling and adjusting the movement. Restoration can go further, potentially involving the case, glass, dial, hands or hard-to-find components.
More intervention is not always better. On a collectible watch, an original aged dial or case finish may be more desirable than a newly refinished appearance.
Visit John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market for a battery assessment. Our experienced specialist can complete most straightforward battery replacements while you wait and explain whether the watch requires further fault-finding, resealing or pressure testing. We also stock a broad choice of replacement watch straps if yours needs attention at the same visit.
Visit John Gowing Jewellers in Oxford’s Covered Market for a battery assessment. Our experienced specialist can complete most straightforward battery replacements while you wait and explain whether the watch requires further fault-finding, resealing or pressure testing. We also stock a broad choice of replacement watch straps if yours needs attention at the same visit.
Collectors often value original dials, hands, crowns, bezels and case proportions. Repainting a dial, polishing a case heavily or fitting visually incorrect parts can reduce historical interest and sometimes financial value. Before cosmetic work begins, ask what will be changed, what can be retained and whether the work is reversible.
Parts availability is one of the main challenges in vintage watch repair. Some components can be sourced, adapted or made, while others are unavailable or would cost more than the watch’s financial value. The movement reference, age, condition and previous repairs all affect what is practical.
A careful assessment should distinguish between work that is technically possible and work that is proportionate for the owner.
There is no single answer. Consider four forms of value:
A repair can make sense even when the cost exceeds market value, provided the sentimental reason is understood and the owner approves the expenditure.
Do not assume that a vintage watch is safe in water, even if it was originally marketed as water-resistant. Ageing seals, corrosion, worn crowns and case damage can compromise protection. Unless the watch has been appropriately assessed and tested, keep it away from water.
Bring your watch to our Oxford Covered Market shop for expert assessment and straightforward advice. Our experienced in-house specialist can handle many repairs in-house and arrange specialist attention where needed.
Over 100 years of collective experience in fine jewellery in Oxford.
