Speak tothe workshop.

Contact details at a glance

• Address: Alpha Group, 9 St Cross Street, Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8UB
• Phone: 020 4531 5299
• WhatsApp: +44 7726 776776
• Email: contact@alphagroupwatchmaking.com
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10:30 to 17:30; closed at weekends
• Assessments: book online through the consultation page
• Company: The Alpha Group 7C Limited

Choosing the right contact route

Each way of getting in touch has its strengths. Use whichever feels easiest; this is simply a guide.

• Phone, 020 4531 5299. Best for a quick question during opening hours, or to arrange a time to bring a watch in.
• WhatsApp, +44 7726 776776. Useful when a photo explains the problem better than words: a cracked crystal, a dent on a lug, a bracelet that sags, or misting under the glass.
• Email, contact@alphagroupwatchmaking.com. The right place for longer histories, attachments such as previous service records, and for authorising someone else to collect a watch on your behalf.
• Online consultation. Book a consultation when you are ready to have the watch assessed and want to describe it in advance.

Whichever you choose, the first answer will be general until the watch has been assessed. Photos help us point you towards the right service, but they cannot show what is happening inside the case, so prices and completion times are only given after an assessment.

What to include when you contact us

A few details make the first exchange far more useful, and save going back and forth:

• the make and model, and the reference or serial number if you have it to hand;
• what the watch is doing: stopping, gaining or losing time, a loose bracelet, moisture under the glass, a crown that will not screw down, or a pusher that feels stiff;
• when it was last serviced, and where, if you know;
• whether it has recently been dropped, knocked or exposed to water;
• any requirements about original parts, finishes or engravings, or about preserving collector value;
• what you would like the outcome to be: a reliable daily watch, a refreshed appearance, or the lightest possible touch.

If you are not sure which service applies, say so. Describe the symptoms and the team will advise. Owners who want a general picture of where their watch stands often start with a watch health check, while faults and routine maintenance are covered under servicing and repairs.

Good photos to send

If you message on WhatsApp or by email, a few clear photos taken in daylight help. Useful angles are the dial straight on, the case back, both sides of the case, the clasp, and a close-up of any damage. If the watch is running, a short note of how much it seems to gain or lose each day is helpful too, even if it is only a rough observation.

When to make contact sooner rather than later

Most watch problems can wait for a convenient appointment, but a few are worth acting on promptly:

• Moisture or misting under the glass. Water inside the case can mark the dial and harm the movement, so get in touch quickly rather than waiting for it to clear.
• A stopped quartz watch. An exhausted battery left inside a watch for a long time can leak, so it is better not to leave it in a drawer.
• A loose bracelet pin or spring bar. If the strap or bracelet feels insecure, take the watch off before it falls; a bracelet re-pinning may be all it needs.
• A cracked or chipped crystal. Even a small crack can let in dust and moisture, so stop wearing the watch until it has been looked at.

Before you get in touch: what not to do

It is tempting to try a quick fix at home, but a few well-meant attempts can turn a simple job into a bigger one. Please avoid opening the case back yourself, forcing a crown that feels stiff or will not screw down, or adjusting the date or time repeatedly on a watch that is behaving oddly. If the watch has taken in water, don’t put it on a radiator or use a hairdryer. Leave it as it is, note what happened, and make contact so the team can advise on the next step.

Visiting the workshop in Hatton Garden

The workshop is at 9 St Cross Street, London EC1N 8UB, in Hatton Garden, London’s jewellery quarter and the centre of the UK diamond trade. Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations are both a short walk away, and the area is easy to reach from the City and the West End.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10:30 to 17:30. The workshop is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so plan weekday visits around those times. To be sure someone is free to look at your watch properly, call ahead or request an assessment before you set off.

Our sister business, Kings & Queens Watches, an independent pre-owned luxury watch dealer, is in the same building, so both can be found at the same address.

Getting there

The simplest way to find the door is to enter the postcode EC1N 8UB into a map app; the Open Google Maps link above will also take you straight there. Central London parking is limited, so public transport is usually the easiest way to arrive. From Farringdon or Chancery Lane, allow for a short walk through the streets of the jewellery quarter.

What to bring

• The watch itself, ideally in a padded pouch, box or watch roll rather than loose in a pocket or bag.
• Its box and papers, if you have them, together with any previous service records or receipts.
• Spare bracelet links, if the work involves the bracelet.
• Any original parts you kept from earlier repairs, such as a previous crystal, crown or hands.
• A short note of the symptoms and when they started, so nothing is forgotten on the day.

Sending a watch instead of visiting

If you cannot get to Hatton Garden, make contact first so we know the watch is on its way and what it needs. If you send a watch yourself, choose suitable packaging and a carrier whose insurance covers its value. Charges and insurance for return dispatch are confirmed before the watch is sent back, and payment for the work is due when it is complete, before dispatch.

If you are unsure whether a watch needs to travel at all, a phone call or a few photos on WhatsApp can help you decide before you post it. A few packing habits help a watch travel safely:

• place the watch in a small padded box so it cannot move, then put that box inside a sturdier outer carton;
• include a note with your name, contact details and a short description of the problem;
• avoid describing the contents on the outside of the parcel;
• keep the tracking reference and a photo of the watch before it leaves you.

After you contact us: what happens next

1. Assessment. The watch is examined before any work is proposed.
2. Quotation or estimate. The proposed work is explained, and you are told whether the price is fixed or an estimate.
3. Approval. Work is approved before it starts, and the scope is recorded in the approved quotation.
4. Deposit, where needed. If one is requested before parts are ordered or work starts, its amount and purpose are confirmed in writing.
5. Estimated completion time. Given after assessment, and you are told about any material delays.
6. Ready notice. You are told when the watch is ready, and payment is due before collection or dispatch.

Consumers who book online, by phone or off-premises generally have 14 days to cancel a qualifying service contract. The full detail is in the terms and conditions.

Collecting your watch: how verification works

Handing a watch back is the moment that most needs care, so collection follows a set routine. Bring your invoice or booking receipt. Alpha Group sends a collection verification email, and you may be asked for photo ID when you arrive.

If someone else is collecting for you, authorise them in advance by email, and make sure they know they may be asked for identification. Arrangements made on the day, or by a third party on your behalf, cannot replace that authorisation.

Please collect the watch, or arrange return delivery, within 30 days of being told it is ready. If your plans change, get in touch and let us know how you would like to proceed.

Trade and business contact

Alpha Group supports retailers and watch industry professionals as well as private clients and collectors. If you are contacting us on behalf of a business, email is usually the best starting point, because it keeps the details of each watch and the work required in writing. Include your business name, the number of watches involved and what each one needs, and the team will come back to you.

Your contact details and privacy

Information you share when you contact us, whether by phone, WhatsApp, email or the consultation form, is handled as explained in our privacy policy. Please share only what is needed to describe your watch and arrange the work.

Contact FAQs

Can I just walk in?

The workshop is open Monday to Friday, 10:30 to 17:30. To be sure your watch can be looked at properly when you arrive, it is best to call ahead or book a consultation first.

Can you price the work from a photo?

Photos help us suggest the right service, but a price depends on what is found when the watch is assessed. After the assessment you receive a quotation or an estimate, and it is made clear which.

Can I message at the weekend?

You can send a WhatsApp message or an email at any time, but the workshop itself is closed at weekends. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10:30 to 17:30.

Can I get advice over the phone?

Yes. Speak with the team during opening hours if you would like personal advice about symptoms or which service to consider. Firm prices and timings follow once the watch has been assessed.

What if I need to change a consultation?

Contact the workshop as early as you can by phone, WhatsApp or email, and the team will help you find another time.

I already have a watch with you. Who do I contact?

Use the same phone number, WhatsApp or email, and give your name and booking details so the team can find your watch’s record quickly.

How do I authorise someone else to collect?

Email us in advance with the name of the person collecting. They should bring the invoice or booking receipt and expect the usual collection checks, which can include photo ID.

Is Kings & Queens Watches at the same address?

Yes. Our sister business, an independent pre-owned luxury watch dealer, is in the same building on St Cross Street.

Can I contact you about a watch I am thinking of buying?

Yes. A watch authenticity check is an independent inspection of the watch, inside and out, before you buy, sell or insure it. Get in touch to arrange one.

Where can I read more about Alpha Group first?

Our about page explains how the workshop approaches quotations, originality and collection security, if you would like the background before you make contact.

Ready when you are

However you choose to make contact, the conversation starts the same way: tell us about the watch, what it is doing and what matters to you about it. Call 020 4531 5299, WhatsApp +44 7726 776776, email contact@alphagroupwatchmaking.com, or book a consultation online. If you are unsure where to start, a short message describing the watch is enough; the team will ask for anything else they need, and you will know where you stand before anything is agreed.