Metropolitan Watchworks, LLC

I would have gotten my watch repaired here, but I was advised against it by the store manager. He explained very clearly how friction progresses with aging in the watch mechanism; no matter what he did, he couldn’t overcome that built-​in degeneration. Rather than charge me $ 20 to stick a new battery in and send me on my way (only for me to be disappointed in as little as a week when the watch would slow down again), he took the time to talk me through the options of how to weigh watch replacement against repair.
I swore I would write a good review of this place right then and there, because these folks are clearly ethical professionals. Their little store with glass enclosed watch lab inside (where you can see them working) is quite extraordinary in this day and age of disposable mechanics.
Hurry over and get your clocks and watches repaired and diagnosed!

I’ve brought two watches in for simple battery replacements. Nothing fancy, but they work fast and charge a reasonable price, especially since they’re conveniently located in the St. Paul Skyway (in the Alliance Bank building, near the Subway). They sure know their stuff, though. My watch was running through batteries like grass through a goose and finally I know why. The old place I’d been bringing my watch for replacements was scamming me good: they didn’t have the right size battery on hand, so they stuck a smaller battering in its place and stuffed a wad of paper in to make it fit! Metropolitan Watchworks has two people working behind a glass enclosure so you can see them work. No chance of being scammed here! Plus they tested the movement and replaced the worn-​out gasket, which was good because the last place didn’t even close the back right the last time.
The place is fully-​equipped for all sorts of repairs, not just battery replacements. The owner is one of 12 in Minnesota certified by the American Watchmakers-​Clockmakers Institute, and used to teach watch repair for 30+ years, so you know he knows his stuff. Needless to say, I’ll be taking all of my watches here for replacement and service in the future. I have two automatic watches that haven’t needed repairs yet, but if they do, I’ll update my review accordingly.