POGU Watch Service Center In Mumbai: Facts And Stories Revealed!
7 min read
It all started with a sudden hobby and a quest for learning more about the craft of watch servicing. “If I can service watches for others and do so well, why not do it as a living for myself?” says Chandraprakash Pogu, Watchmaker & Founder at POGU Watch Service Centre.
The Hour Markers caught up in an exclusive interview with Mr. Chandraprakash Pogu, Founder of POGU Watch Service Center, also known as Maison D'horlogerie. Located at Lower Parel, Mumbai, his journey started in 1989 at Marcks & Co. Bombay and he later went on to pursue specialised certifications in watch servicing for brands like Bovet, H.Moser & Cie, Chopard, Vacheron Constantin, Rolex, Piaget, Bulgari, Panerai, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC Schaffhausen and many more! In 2014 he started his own watch service center and entered into a partnership in 2017. But, in 2019 he dissolved the partnership and started solely under the name POGU Watch Service Center.
While sharing about this craft of watch servicing and his journey he said, “There are different levels of training ranging from 30 to 80 for salesmen in this field and 40-80 for technicians. Depending on the parameters, you can service a certain complication. We follow a simple process of disassembly and assembly; a trait that also sets us apart from authorized service centers in Mumbai.”
When asked which type of watches he has serviced the most, he said, “I service different types of watches but they’re all high-complications.”
Here’s a little breakdown of the timepieces he’s serviced in the past two years!
| Brand | 2022 | 2023 |
| Rolex | 175 | 103 |
| Cartier | 51 | 29 |
| Audemars Piguet | 45 | 36 |
| Patek Philippe | - | 9 |
| Chopard | - | 19 |
| Jaeger-LeCoultre | 11 | - |
| Hublot | - | 12 |
| Franck Muller | - | 19 |
| Breguet | 14 | - |
| Bulgari | 28 | - |
| Arnold & Son | 4 | - |
| IWC Schaffhausen | 14 | - |
He receives priceless timepieces for restoration from luxury watch merchants in India, the Middle East, and the Far East. He is one of the honourable few who has the training and know-how to fix and rebuild even the Grand Sonnerie. In Asia and the Middle East, watch collectors hold Mr. Pogu in high regard and have entire faith in the work and craftsmanship he has put into restoring fine timepieces.
We later indulged in a fun rapid-fire with him! Let’s see how that unfolded.
THM: Which is the most expensive timepiece you have repaired/restored and what was the issue?
Chandraprakash: Vacheron Constantin Minute Repeater. The minute-repeater had stopped working, and we disassembled the entire timepiece and fixed it.
THM: Which is the most damaged watch that you have restored?
Chandraprakash: Franck Muller Chronograph in rose gold! Even the Manufacture couldn’t restore the timepiece but I took on the challenge. From the case to the movement, everything was damaged and we restored it to new!
THM: Which is the oldest or most vintage watch that you have serviced?
Chandraprakash: A 100-year-old Rolex Prince.
THM: What are the different parameters to meet when servicing a watch?
Chandraprakash: You cannot tell the issue of the watch by looking at it on the face. We take pride in our process of disassembly and assembling which no other service center would do for you. We don’t typically replace a part and hand over the watch, we start from scratch, testing each and every part.
THM: What are the different stages in the process of watch servicing?
Chandraprakash: First, we identify the problem. Next, we dissemble the piece to evaluate the issue. We replace the old parts with new ones to service the watch. Next, it goes through an ultrasonic wave cleaning machine and then polishing. After these processes, it gets assembled, goes through water-resistance testing, and then after a week the watch is ready to be delivered to the customer.”
THM: Are there any processes that are automated?
Chandraprakash: Apart from testing, all processes at my service center need manual labour. All machines and all my workmen are extremely special at this service center. Many watches require special instruments for repair and we manually make those instruments to deliver the very best!
Did you know a typical watch servicing process takes around 2 weeks if 8 days of testing is needed? The more complicated the issue, the longer the service process but trust POGU Watch Service Center to work their magic and restore even the most complicated timepieces.
The conversation took an interesting turn when Mr. Pogu shared that despite competing with authorised service centers in Mumbai, he still receives genuine company parts from Hongkong, Germany, Singapore, Chennai, Delhi, and other sources. People who aren’t aware of him, have to venture to service centers abroad but those who know him, will not go anywhere else. Additionally, he claims to be the only service center in India that tightens the chain of the Bulgari Serpenti.
Watch servicing isn’t easy but the art of watchmaking is slowly dying. How does Mr. Pogu keep this alive? He said, “There are many people who have trained under me and taken up jobs elsewhere. Till today, I still teach all my workmen this art. In fact, there are very few women in India who know this art and I soon want to start teaching my daughter about this art.”
Later he went on to explain the dynamics of the watch servicing industry. “A typical balance wheel costs around Rs. 350 but since we have to source it costs us Rs. 3500. Irrespective of this, our servicing costs are the lowest in Mumbai, even lesser than the authorised service center. Our base price starts at Rs. 20,000”, he further added.
Lastly, he shared tips for watch enthusiasts. Every high-complication watch must be serviced every 5 years in Mumbai to ensure longevity and optimum maintenance of the timepiece while a quartz timepiece must be serviced every 24 months.
The next time you’re looking for a watch service center in Mumbai, POGU Watch Service Center is the place for you. Watches hold a sentimental value for everyone but when serviced right, they can be your best companions for long.
To know more about them click here: https://poguwatchservice.com
Watch the entire interview here:
