The Mostra Store watchmaking workshop: know-how and methods

In the heart of Aix-en-Provence, the Mostra Store watchmaking workshop has been assisting enthusiasts and collectors with the maintenance and repair of their watches for several decades. This page provides a practical overview of how the workshop operates, its working methods and the principles that guide each intervention.

How does the Mostra Store watchmaking workshop operate?

Every watch entrusted to the Mostra Store watchmaking workshop undergoes a preliminary diagnosis to assess its overall condition and identify any work that may be required. This first step is essential in order to adapt the intervention to each individual piece, whether it is a recent watch or an older model.

Depending on the situation, the intervention may involve a complete service, a targeted repair or a specific inspection. In all cases, the movement is fully disassembled in order to ensure precise and long-lasting work.

Tools and techniques used in the workshop

The Mostra Store watchmaking workshop relies on professional equipment to ensure precise and controlled interventions at every stage.

Movement accuracy is checked using a timegrapher, notably Witschi-type equipment, in order to measure the performance of the movement before and after intervention.

Components are cleaned using ultrasonic cleaning baths, including Elma-type equipment, which removes impurities while respecting delicate watch parts.

Water-resistance tests are carried out using both pressure and vacuum testing equipment (Bergeon, Witschi) in order to ensure the reliability of the watch after intervention.

Watch polishing is carried out in-house for standard operations. Certain highly specific interventions, such as laser welding or lapping, may be entrusted to specialist partners when necessary.

Workshop timelines and organization

Intervention times vary depending on the type of work required, the complexity of the movement and the availability of parts.

On average, a service or repair takes between 6 and 8 weeks. In certain specific cases, especially for older watches or watches requiring rare parts, turnaround times may be longer.

Fast interventions, such as battery replacement, can be completed immediately (around 5 minutes) or within 48 hours for more technical cases.

Most common faults and frequent mistakes

One of the most common causes of watch malfunction remains a lack of maintenance. A mechanical or automatic watch requires regular servicing in order to ensure proper operation over time.

Certain usage mistakes are also common. For example, some mechanical watches are not wound regularly, while some automatic watches are mistakenly considered perpetual movements that require no maintenance at all.

Exposure to water, especially during showers or unsuitable activities, as well as the absence of regular servicing, can also lead to movement damage or water-resistance issues.

The Mostra Store watchmaking workshop helps clients better understand and care for their watches in order to prevent these situations by offering, among other services, servicing of automatic watches in Aix-en-Provence.

Watches handled by the workshop

The Mostra Store watchmaking workshop works on watches from many leading watchmaking houses, whether contemporary models or older timepieces.

The workshop’s watchmakers regularly work on watches from brands such as Rolex, Omega, Tudor, Cartier, Chanel, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Panerai.

As every watch is unique, a preliminary diagnosis is carried out to determine the required intervention before any work begins and before any Rolex service.

Quotes and transparency of interventions

Before any intervention, a diagnosis is carried out in order to identify precisely which operations are required. A quote is then provided to the client, including the work to be carried out and the estimated turnaround time.

No intervention is undertaken without prior approval, ensuring complete transparency in the handling of each watch.

The services offered by the Mostra Store watchmaking workshop

The Mostra Store watchmaking workshop offers different types of interventions depending on your watch’s needs:

• Watchmaking workshop in Aix-en-Provence
• Watch servicing in Aix-en-Provence
• Watch repair in Aix-en-Provence