Longines Watch Repair & Service

Longines pairs a long Swiss heritage with elegant, everyday-wearable watches — and like any fine timepiece, one needs periodic service to stay at its best. Whether yours is an automatic or a quartz model, here's what Longines repair and service involve, and how our certified watchmakers handle it in-house.

Longines service and repair handled in-house.

Longines: Swiss watches worth maintaining

Longines makes refined Swiss watches in both mechanical and quartz forms. Many are automatic (self-winding), powered by wrist motion with no battery, needing periodic overhauls to stay accurate. Others are quartz and run on a battery that needs occasional replacement. Because Longines watches are often dressy and finely finished, keeping the case and crystal pristine matters alongside keeping the movement healthy. Whichever you own, proper service protects both its performance and its value. See all our services on the watch repair page.

Signs your Longines needs service

• It has stopped — a dead battery on a quartz model, or a service need on an automatic.
• The power reserve has dropped on an automatic.
• It's losing or gaining time noticeably.
• Fog under the crystal — a failed seal needing prompt attention.
• A scratched crystal, worn band, or gritty crown.

What a Longines service includes

Depending on what your Longines needs, service can range from a battery-and-reseal to a full mechanical overhaul. A complete service involves disassembling and cleaning the movement, replacing worn parts and gaskets, re-lubricating and reassembling, regulating for accuracy, resealing the case, and pressure-testing water resistance. We can also replace a scratched crystal, service the bracelet, and refinish the case and bracelet to restore their finish. Genuine parts are used wherever available, and we provide a written estimate before any work begins.

Battery replacement, done properly

For a quartz Longines, a proper battery change protects the watch and its water resistance. We open the case with the correct tools, fit a fresh battery of the right type, inspect and replace the gasket as needed, reseal the case, and confirm the watch is running before it leaves the bench — then pressure-test water-resistant models. On a dressy, finely finished watch, avoiding a scratched caseback matters, which is why it's worth having done by a watchmaker. See our battery replacement page for more.

Caring for your Longines

A few habits keep a Longines looking and running its best. Wipe it with a soft cloth to remove skin oils, and take it off before applying lotion or perfume. Wear an automatic regularly or keep it on a winder so it stays running. Keep it away from water unless you're sure of its rating, and have the seals checked periodically. Change a dead battery promptly, and store the watch away from scratches, heat, and strong magnets. For a dress watch worn on special occasions, that little bit of care goes a long way.

Longines repair at Saltzman's

Our certified watchmakers service and repair Longines watches in-house — automatic overhauls, battery replacement, seal service, crystal and bracelet work, and water-resistance testing — regardless of where you bought the watch, all backed by our 12-month guarantee. With locations in Cranston and Newport, plus mail-in service, expert Longines care is easy to reach from across Rhode Island and beyond.

The value of experienced in-house service

Sending a fine watch away often means long waits and no communication. At Saltzman's, your Longines is diagnosed and serviced in-house by certified watchmakers you can speak with directly, with a clear estimate before any work and real accountability for the result. We've cared for the region's watches since 1940, using genuine parts wherever available and backing our work with a guarantee. For a refined watch like a Longines, that mix of expertise, transparency, and local trust is exactly what owners want when handing it over for service.

Vintage and inherited Longines watches

Many Longines watches that come to us are older or inherited — pieces passed down through a family. These deserve extra care: assume a vintage watch is not water resistant unless we confirm it, keep it away from moisture, and don't force a stiff crown or pusher. Our watchmakers can service an older Longines, source the parts it needs, and revive a piece that's been sitting for years, preserving its character wherever possible. If you've inherited a Longines and aren't sure what it needs, bring it in and we'll assess it honestly, with an estimate before any work. Bringing a stopped heirloom back to running order is some of the most satisfying work we do.

Protecting your watch's value

A Longines holds its value best when it's maintained properly. A watch serviced with genuine parts wherever available, kept accurate, and sealed against moisture holds up far better than one that's been neglected or worked on carelessly. Keeping the case and crystal in good shape matters too, since cosmetic condition affects both enjoyment and resale. Whether you plan to wear your Longines for years, hand it down, or one day sell it, a history of careful service works in your favor. That's why so many owners treat periodic maintenance as protection rather than an expense — it keeps a good watch performing and looking its best for the long run.

Serving Longines owners across Rhode Island

With locations in Cranston and Newport, plus mail-in service, expert Longines care is easy to reach. Customers come to us from across Providence, Warwick, Newport, and beyond, as well as neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut, for honest, in-house service on watches they intend to keep for years. Whether you visit in person or ship your watch insured to our Cranston service center, you'll get a careful evaluation, a clear estimate before any work, and our 12-month guarantee behind it — the same care Saltzman's has offered Rhode Island since 1940.

A heritage of elegant Swiss watches

Longines has one of the longest continuous histories in Swiss watchmaking, and its watches lean elegant and refined — the kind of piece worn to work and to special occasions alike. That finish and finesse are worth protecting, which is why keeping the case pristine and the movement healthy both matter. Our watchmakers understand how these watches are built and service them accordingly, in-house and with genuine parts wherever available, so your Longines keeps both its accuracy and its polished good looks for years to come.

What to expect on cost and timing

Because a Longines repair can range from a careful battery change to a full mechanical overhaul, we don't quote a flat price — we evaluate your specific watch and give you a written estimate before any work, so there are no surprises. Battery changes are often done while you wait; a full overhaul or crystal and case work takes longer, and we'll give you a realistic timeline with the estimate. Every movement repair carries our 12-month guarantee, so you'll always know what the watch needs, what it will cost, and when you'll get it back before we begin.

Keeping your Longines looking its best

Because a Longines is often a dress watch, its appearance is part of the point, and small habits protect it. Keep it out of the shower and pool unless you're sure of its rating, wipe it down after wear to lift skin oils that dull the finish, and store it in a soft pouch or box away from other watches and keys that can scratch it. Have the crystal and case looked at if scratches start to bother you, since a fresh crystal and a light refinish can make an older Longines look new again. Paired with periodic movement service, that care keeps the watch both accurate and elegant for years.

Frequently asked questions

Does my Longines take a battery?

Automatic Longines don't — they're wrist-powered and need periodic service. Quartz models use a battery, which we replace and reseal.

How much does Longines service cost?

It depends on the model and what the watch needs. We evaluate it and provide a written estimate before any work, so you know the cost up front.

Can you service a Longines I bought elsewhere?

Yes. We service and repair Longines watches regardless of where they were purchased, in-house at our Rhode Island service center.

Can you restore a scratched Longines case?

In many cases, yes. We can refinish cases and bracelets and replace scratched crystals. We'll tell you what's achievable when we see the watch.

Do you replace Longines crystals and bracelets?

Yes. We replace scratched crystals, service or replace bracelets, and refinish cases, alongside any movement or battery service your Longines needs — resealing and testing water resistance whenever the case has been opened.

How long does a Longines service take?

Battery changes are often done while you wait. A full overhaul or crystal and case work takes longer, and we'll give you a realistic timeline with your written estimate so you know when to expect the watch back.

Saltzman's Watches — Cranston · 401-946-0930  |  Newport · 401-841-0011
Rhode Island watch repair, done right since 1940.