Movement for Tag 1500 Professional

[moody]

Hi guys.

So I joined here to see if anyone here can help advice or anything really.


I have my Dad's old Tag 1500 professional here.

It needs a new movement basically.

As you guys will know, it's a fairly old model and finding the same movement for the watch is proving tricky.

I have gone to a few high street jewelers & watch repair stores but they all but one say they'll have to send it off to Tag. The store that didn't told me that I needed work done thagt I know I don't, like new face, hands, case etc when the problem is with the movement.

Tag here in the UK have also told me they cannot help.

The moment is an ETA 255.266

I know this was a very common movement, for a very common format, 3 hands, date at 3 o clock.

I haven't been able to find one yet.

Can anyone help,

or tell me a moment that is available that'll fit my father's watch.

TIA

Luke!

[jdm]

Actually it should have 24h time, and sweep seconds. If you don't care about that it can be replace with a 955.432 or 955.402. Always post pictures front and back when asking about watches.

Before giving up on it would be good to give it a shot with a line release box or de-magnetizer, a very cheap device.

[Chopin]

Indeed the movement that you have is a common one. You won'd be able to find it anymore (at least not in official shops/stores) but that type of ETA movement has a modern day equivalent. (gonna have to google it as I don't know which one it is...)

Don't listen to the people you've spoken with. A brand new movement that replaces the old one is the trick. One difference is the branding (logo) on the movement. Yours probably has Tag on it and the ones you'd buy off the shelf have no branding.

It is possible that the plate that has the Tag branding on it might fit the new movement. Then there's also sending it to Tag which will probably cost a lot more and it's also possible that they might want to replace other parts which will add up the costs. Depends on their policy. Omega does this a lot.

[bklake]

When it comes to quartz, usually the answer is replace.  Not worth servicing.  Most watch makers don't want to waste their time on a $3-10 module.  It is quicker and easier to just replace. 

Here, we have a movement with no replacement available.  Your watch has some sentimental value.  And it is an expensive watch to begin with.  What to do?

I have a cheap thrift shop watch that has an ETA 255 movement in it.  It ticks but consumes a battery in 2 days.  I have not started a service on it yet but will.  There is a technical guide available for it so it must have been designed for servicing.  I have revived several Seiko quartz watches of that vintage with great success.  They either did not tick at all or the second hand would just quiver.  The oils thickened over time and just stopped all motion.  Last summer, I serviced a flooded Miyota movement in my daughter's dive watch.  A replacement movement would have been $3.  I felt bad because I didn't check the back gasket and it was my fault it flooded.  In 2 hours, I had it back together and working.  It is possible to fix even the cheapest of quartz movements if they are designed to be taken apart.

Is there damage to the movement from a battery leak?  Do the coils have any visible damage?  If no, search for a watch maker willing to service it.  Searching for a watch maker can be frustrating.  It is my experience that they quote high prices for stuff they don't like to work on.  This is the situation that drove me to work on my own watches.   If the customer wants to pay, great for him.  Keep searching, a watch maker will pop up that is willing and able to fix your watch for a reasonable price. 

[jdm]

26 minutes ago, bklake said:

When it comes to quartz, usually the answer is replace.  Not worth servicing.  Most watch makers don't want to waste their time on a $3-10 module.  It is quicker and easier to just replace. 

ETA 255, 955 as well many others do not fall into this category, they are mid-high range module just one step below High Accuracy Quartz. Price new can be USD 25 and much more. Any watch repairer that wants to bear this name should be able and willing to service a quartz module.

[bklake]

JDM, I was thinking that exact thing about this ETA movement but failed to convey it.  These are very rebuildable and based on the existence of a technical guide, they are expected to be serviced. 

Quartz doesn't excite me like automatics.  Early on, my exposure to quartz was cheap throw away movements.  I discovered older Seiko quartz and they are loaded with interesting stuff that makes them worth maintaining.

My comments about watch makers was based on what I experienced locally.  This is likely the situation most face if they stay local.  I know there are watchmakers that willingly work on everything.  Finding them is the hard part.  I like this site because there is help available for anything that keeps time.  No judgment zone.