Watches
A special passion of owner Scott Heller and his staff are fine watches, and Heller Jewelers carries one of the largest selections of both new and pre-owned fine Swiss watches in the East Bay. As an Authorized Retailer, we are restricted from displaying or even mentioning certain watch companies on the internet, and for that reason we encourage you to visit the store and explore our collection of fine timepieces. Our knowledgeable staff can help you find exactly the right watch to suit both your style and your lifestyle, and our expert craftsmen can maintain and repair those fine watches you already own.
Here are some key points to consider when purchasing a fine watch:
- Do you simply need to tell the time, or do you prefer more function? Watch functions (in addition to hours, minutes and seconds) can include calendar functions, chronograph functions, a second time zone, alarm, moonphase, perpetual calendar, etc.
- Before you take the dive, check for water-resistance. Water-resistance is measured in bars (unit of pressure, 1 bar being equivalent to 1 atmosphere), and watches are tested at these pressures for a certain period of time. Exceptional pressure, as when diving, may exceed those limits, so if you are a diving enthusiast you will need a watch that can tolerate those conditions.
- Consider what type of maintenance the watch will require. Mechanical (manual and automatic) watches should be cleaned and serviced approximately every three years to ensure trouble-free time keeping and to retain the value of the watch. In quartz (battery operated) watches, the watch should be serviced when the battery is replaced, and we recommend battery changes should be done by authorized service center (like Heller Jewelers!) to ensure that your watch remains water-resistant.
- Consider the watch's life expectancy. The life of a well-made mechanical watch can be almost infinite, as long as skilled watchmakers are available. Their finely crafted parts can be repaired, replaced and even remade. Since quartz watches contain electronic components, their parts often cannot be repaired, but must instead be replaced.
- Brand reputation is important. Learn about the reputation of the watch manufacturer. A respected and long-standing reputation from an established manufacturer will ensure not only the quality and accuracy of your watch, but will make future maintenance and repairs more reliable, and boost the resale value of your timepiece.
