I have been a loyal customer of TimeMasters in Austin for over 30 years, trusting them with all my watch needs. Back in the day, I visited their location near Westwood High School, but that store has since closed as they've opened other locations. The last location I visited was near Avery Ranch and Parmer Lane, and this was back in late 2017 or so. At that time, I brought in three Luminox watches for battery replacements, expecting the same reliable service I had always received.
Since then, I haven't had much use for those watches as I transitioned to wearing an Apple Watch, working my way through multiple series (5, 6, and 7). For years, my Luminox watches sat in a drawer because I thought they might have some sort of issue. I even considered sending them off for repairs in New York but hesitated because I had paid so much for the watches and didn't want to incur more fees.
Recently, I decided to start wearing my Luminox watches again because of how great they look. When I inspected one of the watches, I found it relatively easy to open the fiberglass case since it used standard Phillips screws (unlike other watches that require special tools). However, I was shocked and livid to discover that TimeMasters had installed the wrong battery in my Luminox 3050/3950 series watch. They used an Energizer 371/370--completely inappropriate for this model--instead of the required CR2016 lithium coin cell.
This is a fundamental mistake that shows a complete lack of attention to detail and professionalism. The 371/370 battery is not only the wrong size but also provides a different voltage, risking improper operation and potential damage to the watch. This is not the level of expertise I expect from a store that claims to specialize in watch repairs and has been trusted for decades.
What makes this even more frustrating is how I discovered the mistake. Using modern AI technology, I took photos of the watch and its battery. With AI's ability to analyze these photos, I was able to determine that the wrong battery type had been installed. It's astonishing that a trusted watch service couldn't identify something that AI could instantly confirm.
To make matters worse, this error made me question the quality of my watches for years. I thought there might be internal issues with the watches, and I almost paid for unnecessary repairs. It turns out the issue was simply the wrong battery all along--a mistake TimeMasters caused.
After decades of loyalty to TimeMasters, this experience has completely shaken my trust in them. This was not a difficult or specialized task; battery replacement is one of the most basic services for any professional watch technician. It's incredibly disappointing that they failed me so badly.
If you plan to use TimeMasters for your watch services, I strongly urge you to double-check their work. They need to improve their processes and ensure their staff are properly trained. After this experience, I will think twice before ever trusting them with my watches again. read more