Alex’s Watch & Clock Repair

I’ve visited Alex’s Watch several times, for batteries and new leather bands, with good results. But in June of 2013 the watch was giving me trouble and he said it needed a cleaning and refurbishing. It wasn’t cheap but watch ran fine for about 1 and ½ years (warranty was only for a year) and then the watch would stop working during the night when I took it off, had to reset it every morning, eventually it began to stop during the day. Today I talked to him and he looked at watch and said he couldn’t have refurbished it because he left no mark on it which he usually does. So I bought a new battery (he said old one was weak) and watch stopped working altogether hours later. I checked my records and found I did pay nearly $ 200 for a refurbishing/​cleaning including new crystal and band on said date. I’m not calling him a liar, could be an honest mistake on his part, but I will go elsewhere for repairs.

Alex just figured out how to fix the band of my Polar V800 watch. The person on Polar chat tech support couldn’t help me figure it out. But, Alex figured out that the metal piece on the watch that looked like the band attachment had actually ripped out of the old band and needed to be removed before a new band could be attached. He extracted the old metal without doing damage and attached the new band in ten minutes. And, it only cost $ 10. I’m very pleased.

Whenever my watch battery dies, I feel like I am wearing only one shoe.
As a Ballard resident, I was looking for somewhere close-​by that I could have my watch battery replaced. I came across Alex’s business based on Unilocal reviews and gave it a whirl.
I walked in circles around the humungous Ballard Fred Meyer and had to ask the Tully’s coffee barista where Alex’s shop was. After 10 minutes of being lost, I had finally found him. I asked for a battery replacement and handed my watch over. He responded in a strong accent, «15 minutes, $ 22.» I said to myself silently in my head, «Twenty-​two dollars!!!» Since I had gone out of my way and no longer had my watch in hand, I paid the $ 22 and kept my mouth shut. While my watch is still running, the price seemed a bit steep, particularly with unfriendly service. Of course, my second watch’s battery died 2 months later, and I went elsewhere.
Directions to the store:
Enter at the furthest south entrance of Fred Meyers (the one without the outdoor garden shop in front).
Once inside the doors, turn left (Tully’s coffee is on right side).
Alex’s watch repair is a little glass box in the back left within the Fred Meyer’s Jeweler Shop.

The Best Watch repair place i found in the long time. there quick and nice very understandable very easy to communicate.
I had my 2 clocks done with them and i have bean going there for small watch repairs. Price is very fair and reasonable
The owner Alex takes his time to really explain all the details about what he’s going to do with your watch or clock. And this is one of the busiest place i Ever-​seen i guess people really like him.

I arrived thinking that this was my last place to look for a battery for my watch, an «Oakley» 2.0 Crush. This owner took my 3v battery and handed me a 1.5 and said this was the right exact match battery. I accepted this mans word and drove home with the wrong battery thinking, expert right? Wrong. So, I returned to the store, Fred Myer, and got him to resell me a 3v, and if feces flew in the form of a pig, wrong size again from an expert… returned with watch and he said, again, «I sold you the right size battery in the first place, for the record a 1.5v battery, this time he writes on the battery to make sure I was’nt screwing him around… and said, and I quote him, «I warrant this battery (1.5V) for one full year… and since I’m installing this, I’m charging you for the the install on the watch! As a consumer in this particular store, I will shop for other reasons, but never with this arrogant half-​wit appearing individual again… all this for a battery. 3 trips and trying to give me feces for his error, done and done…

I don’t think I’ve ever given a double-​back 5 star review for anywhere, except maybe Paseo’s. My Panerai was acting up. Took it to Alex. He rocked the Casbah and the thing runs better than it did when new. He’s that good. Thankfully.

Knowledgeable, prompt, friendly and affordable service.

Alex is a great example of an industrious immigrant (Uzbek, I think) who provides affordable, top-​notch service, day after day, in an industry where most other vendors are expensive, slow, and often hard to deal with. Alex is always glad to see you, and readily interrupts whatever he is working on to greet you and quickly tell you what is possible, and what is practical, for your particular watch. Go back two years later for another replacement battery, and he will recognize you, and can tell you when he last replaced that battery. Great service, whether just for a battery or for a larger repair. Alex is very capable and a pleasure to deal with. Ain’t no reason to go anywhere else.

I brought my Seiko Perpetual Calendar watch for a new battery and possible repair. Alex gave me a price for re-​setting the calendar, but he said there were scratches inside the watch indicating it was damaged and it might not be possible to reset the calendar. Ultimately, he could not reset it so he did not charge me for it. His price was reasonable and he only kept my watch for a day.
I had brought the same watch into a watch and jewelry shop in Ballard prior to this time for the same service and they not only took 2 weeks for the battery replacement, but must have damaged the perpetual calendar feature. The battery only lasted 7 months which is abnormally short. The cost was abut 75% more than I paid Alex for the same service.

I first brought my beloved watch to a big watch and clock shop in Ballard for repair. They barely glanced at my watch – didn’t even pick it up, actually – and said no, can’t fix it. I guess it wasn’t fancy or expensive enough for them because when I took it to Alex, at a friend’s suggestion, he replaced the works inside it in less than half an hour and sent me on my way with the watch ticking away merrily. And it still is.
I heartily endorse Alex and his little watch-​repair setup in the Ballard Fred Meyer jewelry section. Fine work at a reasonable price and professional service.

Alex was fantastic. Quick and reliable, and he gives you the prices right up front. So there are no surprises and you can decide up front if its worth it or not. He seems a little shy and quiet, but I think he really knows what he is doing. I am really happy to have found a place where I can take my families watches with confidence.
Thanks

Quick and friendly. Convenient that it is inside Fred Meyers and open on Saturdays. Note you can only pay by cash or check. (I took out cash on my debit card at the grocery register.)

I was referred here by a friend that is a watch hobbyist. I had an unnamed mechanical watch with an ETA 6497 – 2 movement that was losing about 3 – 4 minutes a day. Alex was able to adjust it. He is very friendly and the customer service was great! He quoted me before doing the work and I thought his prices were reasonable and the watch was ready the next day. Cash and Checks only.
I wouldn’t have problems having him work on my Omega or Girard Perregaux. Although he is located in the Ballard Fred Meyer Jewelry Department (3^rd largest Jewelry Retailer in the US) his business is separate from the store, so they obviously trust him. My only other Seattle watch repair experience has been with Ben Bridge or Nesbit’s (crème de la crème).
If you’re bitching about changing a watch battery, it says a lot about the watches you don’t own & I wouldn’t listen to those people for advice on where to go for watch repair or car repair for that matter.

Alex does wonderful work and is very fair on his prices.

Have you looked for a place to get a battery replaced in a watch? Where can you just drop it by and 10 minutes later it’s done! Well, here’s your place. I dropped by a used Wenger watch that needed a battery and the inside crystal was hazy. He fixed both and it was still just 10 minutes. He’s located in the Fred Meyer at the jewelry store just inside the door. He’s great!