Charles Martin Watch Company is nestled in the picturesque Staffordshire village of Lichfield – a traditional haven amongst its surrounding urban landscape. The location draws tourists into its history-steeped buildings, its famous cathedral, and bustling cobbled streets, filled with gift shops and trades that offer everything from antiques to artisan coffee. With over 230 historic buildings to admire and a selection of award-winning eateries and quaint boutiques to peruse - a stop off at Lichfield, whether during the warmer summer months of the year or the festive period, is time well spent. And while passing through, you may consider paying a visit to the area’s most exclusive luxury watch boutique, Charles Martin Watch Company.
The store offers the perfect setting to stumble upon and fall in love with an authentic timepiece, as well as a trusted and certified repair and service centre for some of the world’s most prestigious names in the watchmaking industry. What the company focuses on is a memorable walk-in-and-shake-hands experience for customers – a place that you’ll want to recommend to friends and family and a unique customer experience you’ll want to relive time and time again.
Charles Martin Watch Company specialises in the sourcing and trading of collectable timepieces, both old and new, and prides itself on forging relationships with its customers based on a shared love of genuine, quintessential horology. In a world where bricks-and-mortar stores are considered less of a necessity these days (especially when it comes to next-day delivery and the ability to purchase products with a swift click of a button), Charles Martin Watch Company aims to reinstall the importance of a storefront and a physical point of contact for watch connoisseurs. The company realises that the ability to meet with fellow watch enthusiasts and to chat with a knowledgeable specialist in the field of Haute Horlogerie is, quite possibly, the piece de resistance for many a luxury watch collector.
Founded by Martin Cleaton back in (enter), Charles Martin Watch Company is one of very few local businesses that keep a once-dying industry alive by offering a service that is both transparent and authentic. The team comprises experts who have been in the industry for several decades and includes polishers, repairers and skilled technicians among its family of specialists, all of whom share the same passion for timepieces and craftsmanship.
If you’re looking to have specialist work carried out on your cherished timepiece, the company offers the same professional and tailored service that you would expect to experience directly with a genuine watch manufacturer. From a partial service (where the case is dismantled and the movement regulated) to a full watch service (requiring a full movement clean), Charles Martin Watch Company underpins the level of care promised by Omega experts themselves with its own state-of-the-art, certified Omega service centre on premises.
Being an accredited service centre for the brand, and other reputable manufacturers too, the workshop behind the storefront contains all the machinery, tools and equipment required for a thorough inspection and service. As a certified Longines, TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith service and repair centre too, the company offers a niche service that is unmatched across the local area, attracting discerning collectors from all over the country.
The company’s skilled team works independently to carry out repair work on the most intricate of watch parts, seeing the process through from start to finish with unparalleled expertise. With advantages that include the cutting down of delivery costs between consumer and manufacturer, and the reduction of long waiting times - independent services like those offered at Charles Martin Watch Company certainly instil a sense of belief and trust in this centuries-old trade.
For those looking to visit Charles Martin Watch Company this year, or to shop for the perfect timepiece on the company’s e-commerce store, here’s what you can expect.
First and foremost, the company is a trader and retailer of luxury timepieces. From the iconic Daytona to models manufactured by sports watch experts TAG Heuer, to delights for the Omega “Speedy” fan, Charles Martin Watch Company stocks an entire suite of luxury timepieces that continually grows and evolves as market demands dictate. If you’re in search of a specific model that you can’t see in-store or online, the company pledges to do all the time-consuming sourcing and the purchasing for you. With a team of horological enthusiasts on hand throughout the company’s shop floor, all you’ll be required to do is provide the details of your desired timepiece, either via a quick face-to-face meeting, a telephone call or by submitting an online form. This will provide the team with everything they need to know before trading with a shortlist of reliable sellers. Once the company’s team of specialists agree on the right price, the watch is given a full inspection and thorough service before it makes its way to you.
It’s also worth noting that all watches serviced and sold by Charles Martin have a 2-year warranty, and the company also promises free water-resistant checks for the first five years following a purchase, along with a 100-day returns policy. Each watch is authenticated with an original box and paperwork, while watch register checks are carried out before any timepiece leaves its premises.
Peruse an extensive range of luxury timepieces online at Charles Martin Company, from industry giants like Omega, Longines Rolex, Breitling, TAG Heuer, and Cartier to name but a few. Want to sell your watch? The company’s team of specialists can examine your timepiece and make you an offer, providing you with a value estimate using images and turning a valuation around within 24 hours. Having your watch valued at Charles Martin is not only a quick and hassle-free way to free up some cash from your investments, but it also unlocks the potential to part exchange with us.
The company’s experts will take your details and look to source the timepiece you wish to trade your watch in for, should you not be able to find what you’re looking for within the company’s online selection. Each trade-in comes with a Charles Martin guarantee, which also includes a buy-back guarantee to cover you as the customer. The company can also offer to sell your watch on consignment, as well as cash purchases for a swift and effortless process.
Aside from the watch brands that Charles Martin Watch Company is already accredited to, its team of specialists can service any watch. A standard, full watch service requires the complete disassembly of a timepiece and a thorough inspection of all parts, including the meticulous removal of the rubber seals and movement to identify any problems. An estimation is provided, outlining any necessary additional costs to those normally included in a standard service (additional costs may include parts like balance wheels, bridges, glass etc). After a complete dismantling of all watch components, the parts are then placed in an ultrasonic watch cleaner, which uses fluids that de-grease all parts, restoring them to a pristine condition.
The newly cleaned parts, once rinsed multiple times, are put through a drying process and relubricated before they are reassembled into position. The case and bracelet also go through a thorough restoration process, with the use of cutting, polishing and grinding tools that remove scratches and re-finish the watch. Time testing and pressure testing (including vacuum tests, a water submersion tests) are paramount, also. Simulating machines, which turn the watch for several days, test for accuracy and timekeeping, and are one of the last parts of the process.
Because the tolerances inside a mechanical watch are so fine, the slightest wear on the parts of a watch can cause major issues for its performance. Due to this, any components that show signs of wear and tear are removed and replaced with brand-new parts during a full service at Charles Martin.
Partial services are offered at Charles Martin and are a great option for those watches that have an up-to-date service history and are already in very good condition. Here, the company’s team of skilled technicians will strip the watch down and ultrasonically clean the individual pieces of the watch, reassembling them without the replacing of any used or worn parts. The movement is put into beat and regulated before it is returned to its owner in a restored condition.
Other Information
If you’re looking for more information on the services offered at Charles Martin, here’s what sets the company apart from others.
Since a personalised service is important to those who own a sentimental timepiece or valuable investment, the company provides quotes on an individual basis but as a rough guideline, strap and battery replacements usually start at around £15, while watch repairs begin at £75. Watch services start from around £200 and a service will take anything between 20 and 25 working days provided the company is experiencing normal demands. Watches can be posted to the company for services, repair work or valuations and it is always advised you opt for postal tracking due to the value of your item.
All purchases from Charles Martin come with a 6-pointer guarantee for peace of mind. The guarantee includes a two-year warranty, free UK postage, a buy-back promise, annual free check-ups, a 100-day returns policy, and access to a comprehensive service.
With over 100 years of horological experience, Charles Martin is an accredited watch repair business that provides a physical presence on the high street for independent face-to-face valuations. It’s a trusted, reputable store to visit for a detailed and thorough in-house repair or service with competitive pricing. As devoted watch enthusiasts themselves, the company’s team of skilled technicians all share a love for watches and a commitment to an honest and transparent service, whether that be nurturing and caring for your beloved heirloom or helping you invest in your first grail watch.