If you have an issue with your Citizen watch you may be wondering about repair options. Depending on the issue and your warranty may guide your decision for the repair work. There are local options like watch repair shops and jewelers and then there are mail away options to an authorized service center. While local repair shops have their benefits, the work can void the timepieces warranty in some circumstances. Below I will discuss repair service options, warranty info for Citizen, and how the watch Citizen watch repair near me works.
Find Citizen Watch Repair Near Me
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Unauthorized Citizen Watch Repair Near Me
When you take a Citizen watch to a local watch repair shop or jeweler they will have the skills to do most repair work. The downside is that they are not an authorized Citizen service center. This means that they can not honor the warranty, they likely won’t guarantee their work, and their work may actually void the warranty.
So why would anyone take a Citizen watch to a local repair place?
Local repairs shops are much more convenient, the turnaround time is significantly faster, and you can talk to a technician in person. If your warranty has expired anyway you may not actually care about it.
Authorized service centers can take 4 to 5 weeks to complete a repair and you likely will never speak to someone in person. You fill out a form, send in your timepiece and wait to hear back.
How long is the Citizen Watch Warranty?
Citizen has one of the longest warranties on the business at 5 years. It is a limited warranty and begins from the date you purchased the watch. If you need to make a claim on it, the watch must be sent to a Citizen authorized service center with an original receipt. The receipt must clearly show the purchase date, model number, and price.
Like most watch warranties things like the battery, the strap/band, the crystal, and normal wear and tear are not covered. The coverage is for craftsmanship and manufacturer defects only.
For more information on Citizen watch’s warranty, click here.
Citizen Battery Replacement
If your Citizen watch contains a battery eventually it will need replacement. A typical battery needs to be replaced very 1 to 3 years. You should never leave a dead battery in your timepiece as it could leak and cause internal damage to the movement.
Most local repair shops can replace a battery for you. It is also something that you can do yourself. You just need to be mindful of your warranty and how an unauthorized repair or unintentional damage may impact it. I always lean towards suggesting letting a pro technician swap out your battery.
If you decide to change your battery on your own I recommend using a watch holder, a case knife, and tweezers to perform the repair
If you need a battery brand conversions chart check here.
For a water resistant watch you should definitely seek help for changing the battery. A pro watch shop will run a water test on the watch after they reseal the back of the case.
Citizen Watch Crystal Replacement
The crystal, also called the glass, is the part the protects the face, hands, and dial. Citizen watches feature different types of material for the crystal most typically acrylic and mineral glass. A few high end Citizen watches have sapphire crystal which is much more expensive to replace.
Acrylic and mineral glass can scratch easy, but won’t shatter. Soft scratches can be buffed out. Sapphire is the opposite, it won’t scratch , but shatters easily.
Replacing the Band or Strap
Switching out the band or strap on a Citizen can be done on your own, typically with a spring pen. Replacing a band or strap on these watches is also pretty affordable. Some folks like to change the band or strap to change the style and look of the timepiece. The good part about a band or strap swap is that it doesn’t involve anything mechanical and therefore just takes a few minutes to complete.
Watch Strap or Band Resizing
Having a properly fitting watch not only looks better, but will keep your timepiece safer. A watch should be sized to fit comfortably on your wrist, but not so tight that it cuts circulation, and never loose enough to fall off. Resizing is one of the most frequently requested repairs at a watch repair shop or jeweler. Some folks need the service done because they have gained or lost weight and need an adjustment.
Straps made of fabric, rubber, and leather can be resized, by adding new holes into them for a tango clasp. Eventually though you can only size it so far before you run out of material. Metal bands are easier to resize. For those you can just add or remove links as needed.
Crown and Stem Repair
A crown and/or Stem repair gets a bit more complicated. the crown is the knob(s) on your watch that allow you to make time and function settings. If you have a bent crown it may be possibly to straighten out the underlying pin called the stem. Often when a crown gets damaged the stem is damaged along with it. In the worst circumstances the pin gets pushed so far into the watch the internal movement gets damaged also.
If you have a damaged crown on a Citizen watch I would advise taking it in for a pro technician to look at it.
Movement Repairs and Overhauls
There are a few different types of movements in watch making. Typically the Japanese Citizen watches use a Quartz movement. One of the things i like about Citizen watches is that some of the parts can replaced with other Japanese Quartz movements. If you have a vintage Citizen timepiece, you probably don’t want any movement parts swapped though that aren’t original.
If your watch is loosing time or behaving erratically it may be an issue with the movement. this is a repair that should be done only be a pro technician. Your movement may just need to be serviced, but it’s possible you require a complete overhaul.
Before Sending Your Watch to a Citizen Authorized Service Center
An authorized service center is the proper authority to perform repairs on a Citizen watch. Any repairs they do they will guarantee their work for a specific amount of time after it is completed. It is normally about 1 year from the date of repair. If the repair you need falls under warranty the work is completed for free and if not they contact you and ask you how you want to proceed. If you can decide to get non warranty work done, you will be billed. Alternatively you can say no and have the timepiece mailed back to you.
You can get their online repair form here, which is required before you send in the watch.
Tips For Sending Your Watch in for Authorized Service
Here are some tips that are good to follow before you mail in your watch.
- If you are claiming a warranty, include your original receipt.
- Estimate the value of the watch and write it on a note to send with the watch.
- Use a note card and write a description of what the issue is, be VERY specific.
- Bubble wrap the watch or the box before you send it.
- Insure the package for the value you estimated the watch to be worth.
- Follow all the instructions on the online Citizen watch repair form
Can You Repair It Yourself?
Citizen watches are actually not to bad to work on. You can find parts online and even order a new movement. I would however recommend not working on it, if you don’t have experience. Watch repair involves special tools and you can damage the watch just by opening the back of the case. Changing the battery is one thing, but replacing a crystal, movement, or stem requires more skill.
Other Citizen Timepiece Resources
If you are still looking for help with a Citizen timepiece try these resources.
- Official Citizen Homepage
- Citizen Wiki Page
- Subreddit for Citizen
- Watch U Seek Forum
- Watch Freeks Citizen Forum
Citizen Watch Repair Near Me – Conclusion
Citizen makes a great low to mid grade watch. They don’t have many quirky issues like other watch manufacturers in their price range. If you are seeking a local Citizen watch repair, then you need to consider how the may impact the warranty. While local repairs are great they may not be able to guarantee their work or even have all the right parts that an authorized service repair center has. This is what I have learned from the Citizen watch repair near me.
