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About STEVEN HALE (SHWR)

Knowledge, expertise and experience

YOUR WISE AND REWARDING CHOICE

Steven Hale has extensive skills in the servicing, restoration and repair, purchase and sale of both modern and classic fine watches and timepieces

If you love classic timepieces from leading brands such as Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Patek Philippe and others, you’ll know they deserve the best care, love and attention to maintain and enhance their condition and value.  You’ll be assured to know that you can place absolute trust in Steven Hale Watch Restoration. We are a well-established and highly respected company of expert repairers and restorers of premium-quality wristwatches and pocket-watches.

Founded in 2005, we first acted as the classic watch restoration department of Somlo Antiques in central London’s Burlington Arcade. Before long we established an independent watch servicing and repair business nearby in Mayfair, close to our existing showroom and offices in South Molton Street.

After 10 years we purchased premises in Watford and created a purpose-built workshop housing the latest precision engineering tools and machinery. With 2,500 sqf, this enables us to provide exceptional service, combining our showroom in Mayfair with our state-of-the-art workshop in Watford. SHWR offer a complete watch servicing, repair, polishing and restoration service for modern, classic and antique high-end watches. We work with Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Patek Philippe and other leading brands. We are the only workshop in the UK to receive the highest level of Rolex accreditation.
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We also value, buy and sell modern, vintage and repurposed watches, personally guaranteeing the working order and authenticity of all the timepieces we sell. Our loyal client base includes some of the finest London jewellers and watch-dealers, as well as discerning individual collectors and classic watch experts.

If you would like your watch valued for insurance or to sell call us on 0207 495 3439 or simply complete our enquiry form click here >

View a sample of our watches for sale here >

Steven Hale Watch Restoration Team shot

meet our team

Introducing our expert watchmakers, who will repair, revive and restore your favourite timepiece so as to give it a whole new lease of life!

All our watchmakers are either Swiss-trained at the Watches of Switzerland Education Program (WOSTEP), a world-leading school of watch-making and/or the British Horological Institute. Together, these esteemed houses have enriched our watchmakers with a wealth of training and knowledge in horological engineering, watch repair and restoration, covering an extensive range of ‘haute’ watch brands.

Steven Hale

Managing Director
Steven Hale is the founder of SHWR – and as well as running the company, he actively undertakes all aspects of watch restoration, including Computer-Aided Drawing (CAD) and watch-making machinery operation.

Steven Hale is the founder of SHWR – and as well as running the company, he actively undertakes all aspects of watch restoration, including Computer-Aided Drawing (CAD) and watch-making machinery operation.

With a family background in engineering, Steven studied horology in Manchester in the late 1980s; he then undertook several WOSTEP (Watches of Switzerland Training & Education Program) courses before spending 16 years continuing to hone his professional horological skills in a high-end vintage watch shop.

Willing to tackle virtually any job, however complex, Steve relishes a challenge. He will undertake the most complex restorations, and is more than happy to reverse-engineer even the most obsolete components to ensure the perfect functioning of a valued timepiece. He is a single-handicap golfer, and weekends find him coaching an FA-approved youth football team.

John Model

Master watchmaker
John studied Horology at Birmingham Polytechnic, graduating in 1990. Thereafter, he worked for a high-end watch brand before joining Steve at Somlo Antiques, London, in 1995, running the repairs department.

John studied Horology at Birmingham Polytechnic, graduating in 1990. Thereafter, he worked for a high-end watch brand before joining Steve at Somlo Antiques, London, in 1995, running the repairs department.

John graduated from WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training & Education Program) in Switzerland after completing the Refresher, Turning and Complicated courses and is now head watchmaker, specializing in vintage restoration. Like Steve, John relishes a horological challenge which involves hand-making many bespoke (and often obsolete) watch parts.

Gaelle Symons

Watchmaker
Gaelle studied watchmaking in France, her native country, where she obtained her CAP, Baccalaureate and WOSTEP certificates. She then immediately moved to the UK to start working at Breitling, where she spent over six years.

Gaelle studied watchmaking in France, her native country, where she obtained her CAP, Baccalaureate and WOSTEP certificates.

Gaelle then immediately moved to the UK to start working at Breitling, where she spent over six years. She then moved on to Patek Philippe, where she passed her level 2 and 3 qualifications. Alongside repairs, she also performed quality control for two years, joining the SHWR team in 2015. She mainly repairs vintage watches, and enjoys the variety of work on offer.

When Gaelle's not working, she enjoys clay shooting and reading.

Rossano Mangoni

Head polisher
Rossano joined SHWR at the beginning of 2015. He has enjoyed a long and successful career in restoring jewellery and watches over nearly 30 years. Since he joined the team, he has developed and demonstrated several techniques now adopted by Steven Hale himself.

Rossano joined SHWR at the beginning of 2015. He has enjoyed a long and successful career in restoring jewellery and watches over nearly 30 years. Since he joined the team, he has developed and demonstrated several techniques now adopted by Steven Hale himself.

Rossano’s passion in case restoration, and he delights in exceeding customer expectations in producing finished works of the highest standards.

Simon Duffy

Quartz specialist and watchmaker
Simon graduated from the Institute of Horology, Dublin, in 2000 and He has worked with many Swiss brands in after-sales services including and Hublot. Simon commenced working with Steven in 2001.   

Simon graduated from the Institute of Horology, Dublin, in 2000 and He has worked with many Swiss brands in after-sales services including and Hublot. Simon commenced working with Steven in 2001.  

As well as watchmaking, Simon also helps with the day-to-day running of the workshop.

Marjanah Hale

Administrator
Marjanah was born in Malaysia, and for some years she worked for Malaysian Airlines, during which time she was promoted to Duty Officer for all crew. Marjanah then met Steve and moved to UK, where she and Steve were married.

Marjanah was born in Malaysia, and for some years she worked for Malaysian Airlines, during which time she was promoted to Duty Officer for all crew.  

Marjanah then met Steve and moved to UK, where she and Steve were married. They now have two children and she divides her time between looking after her family and acting as Administrator for SHWR.

What our customers had to say

"My great grand-father's Breguet was given to me by my father for my 21st birthday. 30 years later, post restoration by SHWR, it is in far better shape than I have ever seen it. SHWR's craftsmanship is immaculate. The firm is polite, professional and honest. Outstanding - I cannot recall another occasion when I have been so favourably impressed."

edward

What our customers had to say

"I have just had my 1934 Rolex Oyster repaired. From start to finish I had full confidence in every one I had contact with at Steven Hale. They have been very efficient in identifying the problems at the initial examination and dealing with them as promised. There were no nasty surprises and unexpected complications along the way. Because of the age of my watch, spares are not available, and new parts have had to be made - all very expertly done. They even polished the gold case and my 86yr old watch now looks as good as new. You can certainly trust these people with your precious timepieces."

venessa

What our customers had to say

"Fantastic job repairing a family heirloom pocket watch which will now return home to Namibia.
The service was superb with detailed repair and service quote. Communication throughout was equally great leaving you with the confidence that you watch is in the best possible hands."

ANNE

What our customers had to say

"I had bought a 1970s Pepsi GMT at auction and it needed some work. The lume on the hands was breaking up. Rolex UK wanted some hilarious price and threatened to replace the hands with new ones if their work failed - all at my expense of course. Steven Hale and co managed to repair the hands and maintain the original patina of the 40 plus year old watch which was of course crucial! Highly recommended."

Johan

What our customers had to say

"These are watch lovers and it shows. Their meticulous craftsmanship and expertise make them unique in London and I suspect that only in Switzerland may their equivalents be found. The experience of Steven Hale Watch Restoration begins with the talented and charming individuals who are client facing in South Molton Street and who instil a confidence that is consequently fully fulfilled. This firm represents unequalled talent in its field as well as exceptional client service. I have seldom recommended anyone with greater conviction."

FRANK