Servicing the independents of The Escapement
The Escapement is a collector-led watch event in Las Vegas, and many of its exhibitors are small independent manufactures. Their watches are made in low numbers, often with in-house calibers, and most of these brands have no US service center. If you buy one at the show, or already own one, the time to learn how it gets serviced is before the warranty card is filled in. This guide sets out what each brand says about service, with links to our full brand pages.
The event
According to theescapement.com, the first edition runs Friday, February 5 to Sunday, February 7, 2027. Friday is a VIP night at Wynn Las Vegas, and the Saturday and Sunday show days are at T-Mobile Arena. Tickets are sold through AXS, as a VIP pass for all three days or a general admission pass for the weekend. The event was first planned for Abu Dhabi in November 2026 and was moved to Las Vegas (Watch Collecting Lifestyle). Check the event's own site for the current schedule and exhibitor list.
Watch Service Concierge is not affiliated with The Escapement, its organizers or its exhibitors.
Exhibiting brands with a Watch Service Concierge guide
Each summary below comes from the brand's own website. Each full brand page has the sources, the questions to ask, and the US stores the brand names as places to take its watches in.
| Brand | Based in | Service interval (brand's advice) | Warranty | Where service happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armin Strom | Biel/Bienne, Switzerland | Every 3 to 5 years; water-resistance check every 2 years | 5 years | Armin Strom or an authorized Armin Strom service center. US authorized retailers take watches in. |
| Czapek | Geneva, Switzerland | Every 4 to 5 years | Not stated on the brand's site | Through Czapek's boutiques and retail partners. Czapek publishes overhaul prices of CHF 800 to 2,300. |
| MING | Switzerland and Kuala Lumpur | Every 5 to 7 years | Usually 24 months | MING itself, arranged by email. A watch can also be returned through an authorized retail partner. |
| Moritz Grossmann | Glashütte, Germany | Full service every 3 to 5 years; leak check at least every 2 years | 2 years (online boutique terms) | Only the manufacture in Glashütte or the retailer that sold the watch |
| Romain Gauthier | Le Sentier, Switzerland | At least every 3 years | 2 years | Only the manufacture in Le Sentier. Retailers help arrange the return. |
Armin Strom. The brand builds every caliber in-house. Its terms say warranty work by unauthorized third parties ends all warranty and guarantee claims. The brand also excludes water damage if water-resistance tests were not done every two years and each time the case was opened. Full Armin Strom guide.
Czapek. Czapek logs authorized servicing in its Digital Product Passport. The passport records a watch's service and ownership history, which matters at resale. The brand does not state its warranty length, so ask before you buy. Full Czapek guide.
MING. MING says a watch opened by the owner or a local watchmaker loses its warranty. MING pays shipping for warranty claims; for work outside the warranty, the owner pays. MING does not sell spare parts. Full MING guide.
Moritz Grossmann. The brand names only two places authorized to service its watches: the service department in Glashütte and the retailer where the watch was bought. If you buy at an event, ask who counts as your selling retailer for service. Full Moritz Grossmann guide.
Romain Gauthier. The brand states that all servicing and repairs must be carried out by the manufacture in Switzerland, or the warranty is void. The warranty applies only to a watch bought from an authorized retailer whose stamp is on the card. The brand says the watchmaker who assembled the watch also services it. Full Romain Gauthier guide.
In Las Vegas already
Bucherer 1888, Las Vegas TimeDome at The Forum Shops is listed by Czapek and Armin Strom (as well as Rolex and OMEGA) as a place to take their watches in. The watches are sent on to the brands for service. Neither brand says the work is done in the store.
If you buy at the show, ask
- Who stamps the warranty card, and is that seller authorized by the brand? Several of these brands tie the warranty to an authorized retailer's stamp.
- Where in the US do I take the watch for service? Ask for the store name, not only "send it to us."
- Does the watch go back to the manufacture for every service? If it does, who arranges the shipping and insurance, and what round trip should I expect?
- Does a local watchmaker opening the case void the warranty? For most of these brands it does.
- Is there a registration step, such as a digital passport or an online form, and how long do I have to complete it?
- What is the published service price, if any? Get it in writing.
Before you mail any watch, read Before You Ship Your Watch for packing, carriers and insurance.
Other exhibitors
The event's site also lists Atelier Wen, Awake, Biver, Bonniksen, Daniel Roth, Emmanuel Esposito, Fam Al Hut, Felipe Pikullik, Fleming, Gerald Genta, Greubel Forsey, Guebly, Havid Nagan, Kerbedanz, Konstantin Chaykin, L. Leroy, Lang & Heyne, Lederer, Luca Soprana, Pattern Recognition, Rexhep Rexhepi, Yosuke Sekiguchi and Zeitwinkel. We have not yet published service guides for these brands. Until we do, ask the brand directly how service works in the US.
Every guide and listing on this site is researched against our Standard. Details can change between checks, so confirm terms, pricing and turnaround with the brand or provider before you send your watch.
Sources: The Escapement, Watch Collecting Lifestyle, August 27, 2026, and the brand sources cited on each Watch Service Concierge brand page.
