Anyone have experience with watchmaker’s screwdrivers?
The reason I ask is because I’ve wanted a nice set for ages, and I’ve been trying to find a good compromise between price and quality. I thought I’d found them in Beco Technic, after coming accross this very helpful article.
So I ordered some from Amazon, and they arived today. The drivers looked ok, but I’m not sure that they’re genuine – everything looks ok, but the plastic box they came in won’t close properly; it’s as if the box is too small for them.
I’m suspicious of such a flaw from a company that’s pretty highly regarded for their high standards of quality. The driver handles don’t have a brand on them; it just says ‘France.’
Anyone else have experience of the Beco Technic brand? There’s a bit more info on my website post for anyone that’s interested.
I have ordered things from Amazon that looked like they should be top quality products, but they seemed kind of cheesy when I got them. In particular, I remember a “Swiss made” toenail clipper. They looked very similar to what I wanted, but I’m almost certain they were Chinese.
@darix: Yeah, iFixit are good, but I’m specifically after this particular type/style of precision driver. The only way to be sure of a genuine product is to order directly from the manufacturer again, I think (or a proven authorised dealer).
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that something’s not right — would such a renowed manufacturer of high-precision and high quality tools really get things so wrong with a simple plastic box?
Yep, they’re going back — but for a refund. I doubt I’ll order the same ones again, but I’ll buy them from somewhere else (as per my above post) if I do.
I might just give in and pay for the ones that many professional watchmakers use (Bergeon or Horotec) — the prices make your eyes water, but I’m sick of not getting things done.
Yeah, amazon is pretty shit, but they literally let you return anything without fuss. As soon as they clamp down on that, I’ll go elsewhere. For now, it is very useful. If something looks suspect, I exchange it. If I don’t like it, I return it
You can take a photo of the item and contact the original manufacturer.
Amazon now has a transparency program which should help verification is the seller is enrolled. I guess they recognized the flood of fake items as a problem…
That said, like others I appreciate their return policy. I have not seen any other seller with a similar service.
The comments about about Amazon’s returns practices are a pleasent surprise to me. I don’t order from them very much (very little, in fact), so forgive my lack of knowledge.
I usually either order from well established retailers or directly from the manufacturer/supplier; partly because I presumed returns, customer service, exchanges, etc. would be better/easier. Is it easy/easier to sort stuff like this with Amazon, then?
For me in the US, I go to the order in the web interface, tell them I want to return an item, select to drop it off somewhere where they’ll take it, and it generates a QR code that I take to the drop off location, they scan it, I give them the return thing, and that’s it.
Bergeron is the brand you are looking for. They look similar to the ones you bought, but they exude quality. They come with a stand only, there is no case. Amazon have them for $198. I would say they are good value as they are designed to last a lifetime of watchmaking, and have replaceable parts.
Yes… Bergeon. I agree most certainly — they’re works of art in their own right. They cost a pretty penny, but you also have to consider the value of the watches these tools are used on.
I was at my local watch shop today for a battery replacement and water sealing test, so I asked what brand they use.
They told me they use Horotec (which you mention above), but also that if I want something cheaper but good quality for occasional use I should pick from the watchmaker series of Bahco.
I think, by the looks from this, it could be the other way around. But, I think the same manufacturer may perhaps make them for more than one supplier.
