•••► Time well spent ◄•••
Tijdloos specialises in vintage mechanical wristwatches. We sell them, but we also repair and restore
them, because even the finest old watches occasionally need a little encouragement to keep going.
All repairs and restorations take place in our own atelier, where watchmaker Frank Impens brings more
than 35 years of experience to the bench. Around here, he is known as ‘The Watch Guru’. He has an
uncanny talent for persuading tiny pieces of metal to cooperate.
You may have noticed our little watch repairman popping up here and there. He’s rather fond of the spotlight and,
fortunately, he’s also our copyrighted logo. That means he may look like a friendly fellow, but he is not
available for hire. Our watchmaker may share his skills; the logo, however, stays with us.The watch repairman,
his design and associated artwork are protected by copyright and may not be copied, reproduced, altered or used
without our prior written permission. In short: admire him, enjoy him, but please don’t take him home.
He works exclusively for Tijdloos.
••◆••
•••► Original stays original ◄•••
Our approach is simple: keep it original. We preserve the character, history and originality of every watch
we work on. After all, the scratches, patina and quirks are part of the story. We also regularly stock up on
New Old Stock (NOS)Swiss-quality parts. This means that many vintage movements can be repaired with parts
that are not merely compatible, but belong to the same era, which is rather more satisfying than introducing
a modern stranger to a 70-year-old movement. And then there are the impossible parts.
Too rare. Too old. No longer made. No longer available anywhere on earth, apparently.
That’s when Frank gets creative. He can modify a similar part or manufacture a replacement from scratch.
It takes skill, patience and, occasionally, a level of stubbornness that borders on the unreasonable.
Naturally, this takes time. Because every repair receives the same care and precision, repairs
can take up to 12 weeks. If you need your watch back for a particular date, please
tell us in advance. After all, your watch may have been made 80 years ago.
It has waited this long. We’d rather get it right than get it rushed.
•••► A few things worth knowing ◄•••
A small but important update: Tijdloos no longer has a walk-in shop. Our new home in Wehe-den Hoorn is a
dedicated watch atelier, where vintage watches are repaired, restored and occasionally persuaded to start behaving
themselves again. Watchmaking is quiet, fiddly and rather unforgiving work. It involves tiny parts, enormous
concentration and very little tolerance for interruptions. So, while we are happy to talk watches, all repair
and restoration enquiries are handled by email or telephone. Repairs can be sent to us by post, or delivered
and collected by appointment. If you are sending a watch, Monday or Tuesday is the best time to do so,
as we can make sure someone is here to receive it. Please include a brief description of the problem
and let us know if you would like a quotation before we begin. And please, do remember to
include your contact details. We know how to find a missing screw in a mechanical movement.
Finding the owner of an anonymous watch in a box is considerably harder.
No walk-ins. No waiting room. Just watches, tools and an unreasonable
amount of concentration.
•••► Before we start turning the screws ◄•••
Has your watch stopped, slowed down, gained a little enthusiasm, or simply started behaving strangely?
Send it to us for a check-up. We promise not to start repairing things just because we happen to have the tools out.
Nothing gets repaired without your approval. If work is needed, we can provide a quotation first, so you know what
you’re getting into before the first tiny screw is turned. To give you a proper quotation, however, we need to see the
watch, and preferably what’s happening inside it. We therefore keep your watch for a short while so our watchmaker
can examine the movement properly and establish what it actually needs. Within 2–3 weeks, you’ll receive
a detailed report and quotation by email. From there, the decision is entirely yours. There is absolutely
no obligation to proceed. You can say yes, say no, think about it, or decide that your watch and your
wallet need some time apart. For a complete overhaul of the movement, we provide a 6-month
guarantee. Maintenance and servicing are carried out using original parts only.
•••► Our quotations cost nothing and commit you to nothing ◄•••
We prefer repairing watches, not winding up our customers. So, no pressure, no surprises and no ticking
time bomb afterwards. We first take a careful look at what your watch needs, then you decide whether
we get to work. We are often asked if we can give a quotation from a photograph. Unfortunately, a photo
can tell us the model, the dial colour and whether the watch has had a particularly interesting life. What
it cannot tell us is why the movement has stopped sulking. For that, we need to see the movement up close
So, apologies if we cannot provide a meaningful quotation from a photo alone. It is not because we are
being difficult. We simply prefer watchmaking to guesswork, and your watch deserves better than an
educated guess. Send us the watch, let us have a proper look, and we’ll tell you what it needs.
No unnecessary repairs, just an honest assessment from someone who knows
which end of the tweezers to hold.
••◆••
Questions? We’re happy to help:
06 - 51222134
