This vintage CWC watch came into Ross Watch Repairs after a previous battery replacement had failed to get it running. Once we assessed the watch, it was clear that the fault was deeper than the battery itself and that the original quartz movement required specialist attention.

A Vintage CWC With an ETA 536.121 Movement

Inside the watch was an older ETA 536.121 quartz movement. This calibre is discontinued and original components are now extremely difficult to source, which makes repairs like this very different from servicing a modern quartz watch where a complete replacement movement may be readily available.

Two Repair Options

We explained the options to the customer before carrying out any work.

Option one was to replace the old movement with a newer ETA quartz mechanism. That could have been the more straightforward route, but because the dimensions and fitting points can differ between movements, there was a possibility that the hands, stem or crown would also need to be changed or adapted.

Option two was to keep the original ETA 536.121 movement and try to source the discontinued components required to repair it.

The customer chose the second option because preserving the watch’s originality mattered more to him than simply fitting a modern replacement. The watch had belonged to his grandfather and had been used during his military service, so keeping as much of the original watch as possible was important.

Sourcing New Old Stock Parts

With many vintage quartz movements, the difficult part of the repair is not necessarily diagnosing the fault; it is finding parts that have not been manufactured for years. We contacted suppliers abroad and searched for suitable new old stock components for the original ETA movement.

Once the key parts were located, the movement could be dismantled and repaired rather than discarded.

Preserving the Original Watch

For a watch with family history, a technically easier repair is not always the repair the owner wants. We always try to explain the realistic options, including the advantages and disadvantages of repairing an original movement versus replacing it with a modern equivalent.

Manufacturers and larger service networks may sometimes favour replacing complete assemblies because it is efficient and repeatable. With independent watch repair, there is often more room to discuss whether originality, cost, turnaround or long-term serviceability matters most to the owner.

Ultimately, it is the customer’s watch. Our job is to explain what is possible and let the customer decide which route suits them.

The CWC Is Running Again

After sourcing the required components and repairing the original movement, the watch was reassembled and returned to working order. The important part of this repair was not just getting the hands moving again; it was doing so while retaining the original movement that meant so much to the customer.

Watch the repaired CWC ticking

CWC and British Military Watch History

CWC — Cabot Watch Company — has a long connection with British military watches. According to CWC’s official history, the company was established in 1972 to produce reliable military-specification watches and has supplied watches to branches of the British Armed Forces for decades.

The movement itself was made by ETA SA, one of Switzerland’s best-known movement manufacturers. Older quartz calibres can become particularly challenging to repair once they have been phased out and original parts stocks begin to disappear.

Vintage Watch Repairs in London and Across the UK

Ross Watch Repairs works on vintage and discontinued watches where parts availability can make repair more complicated. Where possible, we can investigate original repair, compatible replacement movements or new old stock parts and explain the options before proceeding.

You can visit our London Bridge workshop at The Shard or our Canary Wharf workshop. Customers elsewhere in the UK can use our postal watch repair service.

For postal repairs, send the watch by Royal Mail Special Delivery to Ross Watch Repairs, Unit 4B, Cabot Place Shopping Centre, Canary Wharf, London E14 4QT. Include your name, phone number, email address, return address and a note explaining the fault or work required. A £15 postage and packaging charge applies to postal repairs under £50, assessment returns and warranty returns.

Frequently Asked Questions