I brought my all‑original 1960s Omega Seamaster to Dickens Jewelers in Clinton for what should have…read morebeen a simple, straightforward service. What I got back was the most dishonest, incompetent, and unbelievable experience I have ever had with any business.
They lost my original Omega crown -- a part that matters enormously for originality, value, and collectability. When I picked the watch up, I immediately noticed a cheap generic crown installed. When I confronted them, I was given an absurd explanation: they claimed this random generic crown had "just happened" to be found on the floor and they "assumed" it belonged to my watch. The idea that a generic crown just happened to fit a 60‑year‑old Omega Seamaster is insulting.
I told them I had photos documenting the watch with its original crown before I brought it in and would be happy to show them. Their response? They told me they "trusted me." After hearing their story, I certainly didn't trust them.
I then wrote a letter explaining that they had lost a 60‑year‑old original part, damaging the watch's integrity, history, and value. After that, I received multiple calls a day from them, which I ignored because I wanted everything in writing. The explanations continued to change.
Suddenly they claimed they bought a magnet, found my original crown, and reattached it. I picked the watch up -- and the crown fell off immediately.
I took the watch to another jeweler for an independent evaluation. Their watchmaker found a damaged stem and glue inside the watch, apparently used to hold the crown on. Yes -- glue. Inside a vintage Omega. That jeweler also told me I was one of countless people who had brought in watches "serviced" by Dickens that needed corrective work. As of a few days ago, their watchmaker is literally removing glue from inside my watch because Dickens' "resolution" was to glue the crown on and glue the watch together. Truly unbelievable.
Even after losing original parts, damaging the watch, giving me contradictory stories, and returning a watch that fell apart in my hands, Dickens Jewelers only offered a partial refund of the service fee. I had to dispute the charge through my bank because I no longer trusted anything they said.
My Omega survived more than 60 years. It took Dickens Jewelers one service appointment to lose original components, damage the movement, attempt a shortcut glue repair, and give me a series of explanations that made the situation worse every time they spoke.
It goes without saying that even a 1‑star rating is far too generous. The only silver lining is that this happened to one of my Omegas and not one of my vintage Rolexes, sentimental pieces, or much higher‑end watches. If Victor and Kevin are willing to lie pathologically about something as trivial as a routine service on a vintage watch, you have to ask yourself a very uncomfortable question: what would stop them from lying about something with far greater monetary value, carat weight, or sentimental importance -- like an engagement ring, wedding band, or family heirloom?
There are several far more competent jewelers right here in Clinton, NJ. I strongly advise using any of them and avoiding Dickens Jewelers at all cost.
