Wong Chong Kee

my bf and i went to this watch repair on saturday afternoon but he was out and the sign said he would return in 30 minutes or so. so we walked down to stockton and got some food while we waited. we returned and i’m so glad i did. my bf had two watches he needed the batteries replaced — $ 5 each! and i had a watch that the band broke — $ 2 replacement piece. one was a movado and another tag. and same price! i’m annoyed that i went to another watch repair and the guy charged me more because it was an expensive watch. but not here! i wish i had knew about this place sooner!
we also had a clock that had stopped working. at first he thought it was because the battery insert was corroded and helped us clean it but that still didnt fix the problem. he was very honest with us and informed us that we would have to replace the whole thing in order for it to work. and asked us if we thought it was worth it as opposed to just trying to convince us to spend more.
quick service and cheap prices! coming here from now on!

I’ve been taking my Rolex Datejust here for twenty years for service and repair. He used to be a couple blocks down Pacific from where I lived. Now I drive all the way across SF to go there, and do so cheerfully.
His work is excellent, and he charges me about one-​sixth of what Rolex Dealer Repairmen would for similar jobs. He just did my biennaal cleaning and adjustment for $ 90. Shreve charges something like $ 550 for that. Meticulous, fast, and inexpensive. Highly recommended!

Straight-​up no frills watch repair. Love this place! Got the battery replaced for my Lancaster Grandame watch in no more than 5 – 10 minutes. The place looks like a storage room straight out of an old 90’s Hong Kong movie. I like that this guy just does not bother with small talk. If you’re willing to march a few blocks away from downtown FiDi, you can avoid having to pay $ 20 for a battery replacement.

Make no mistake about it, this guy is the master. He’ll be servicing all my watches from now on.

What a character! Love it. Was in and out in 5 mins for a reasonable price. Will be back.

Wong Chong Kee Jeweler is a one man business in a small shop with the proprietor sitting at his desk. He is bi-​lingual (Chinese & English). He has provided me with good service for my battery powered watches 4 times and my self winding watch once. There was water damage (oxidation on battery tabs) which he fixed and he simply advised me to stop allowing it to get submerged. When I took my prized Omega Constellation watch (from the 1960’s) with a failed crown, he quickly repaired it for an astoundingly low price of $ 15. It has worked fine now for 9 month.
Based on these 5 business interactions I highly recommend this shop. Regarding highly complicated rebuilds of antique devices, I have no information but I, personally, would certainly inquire.

Went in because the clasp of my watch broke. He looked it, took out some small tools, and in 5 minutes I was out the door with a fixed watch. Excellent, fast service. The décor may be hard for claustrophobic folks, but the service is extraordinary.

$ 5 battery replacement for my watch. $ 4 for a battery for a thermometer. Price went up $ 1 for watch batteries, but still a hell of a steal compared to going to some department store that charges $ 25+. I went today and there was no line. I was in and out in 2 minutes! :D

Wait one sec (no pun intended), how can this place be LESS than FIVE solid stars??? Sure, a replacement battery might turn out to be a dud but that is NOT his fault. Things like that happen.
First of all, don’t let the décor of his small workshop/​storefront scare you away or sway your scoring. I have been coming here for literally years, bringing watches from family/​friends/​co-​workers for a battery or repair. THE MAN is a true genius when it comes to repairing watches. It runs in his blood as he got his skilz from the old man (used to have a store in Chinatown). I had absolutely no fear of letting Sifu take care of my lil Rolex Sea Dweller. Yeah, you heard me right. Yoda took care of a broken clutch (using genuine Rolex parts) and was willing to overhaul my bling bling while he’s in there to boot and frankly it was dirt cheap. (No, no really, I should pay you more… are you sure? really?)
Please be mindful that because he is very reasonable (cheap) he can get backed up. You may need to leave your timepiece for a week or so, which probably is not too bad considering the alternatives. Come on, when you’re good and reasonable (cheap) people will come.
Parking is tight, so either hike up there from the Financial District, take Joe Muni up Pacific with the old Chinese ladies or have a buddy drop you off. There can be a short line, but hey you need your watch fixed right? So wait a few minutes, will ya? I might even call first, as he might be out for a spell or on his yacht with his lovely model friends (latter info unsubstantiated). Oh, closed Sundays ok? Hey, even God must rest at least one day…

Needed a watch resized, hopped onto Unilocal,and found this shop. Quick and inexpensive service.

Brought in two watches to get fixed and he fixed them super fast and super cheap. He was so sweet and funny too! Definitely will continue doing business with him.

brought in two nice watches with dead batteries
10 for 2 he says
perfect
thought i’d buy some produce nearby while i waited
but they were ready so fast i didn’t bother
friendly too

Had to get the glass screen replaced on my watch — took 8 weeks to repair and upon closer inspection the glass replacement was chipped and glue holding screen in place very untidy. Not a good experience will look else where for watch repair.

Great, fast service. This guy is a total watch expert, works fast and seems to have a million parts. Plus, he’s really nice. Maybe this is why a guy in line brought his $$$ Tag.

Mr. Wong is AMAZING!!!
His wealth of knowledge and experience is second to none! He’s been doing the same thing in the same shop for as long as anyone can remember. Prices are never hiked up and he does everything the old school way. The best watchsmith in the city!

This place is awesome. Came in to replace a screw that held my link together and left in 3 minutes. Only cost 5 dollars!
Another place in downtown los Angeles was charging me 10 dollars (after haggling… was originally 20) and would take a day. This place was way better.

This guy has been here for DECADES and nothing has moved in his store since it’s opening (I would imagine)! It is like a mini hoarders haven.
That said, he does excellent work at NON inflated prices. Watch band adjustment done in 3 minutes at a WHOPPING cost of $ 3. Wow.
Very nice and efficent!

Love this shop! Fast, inexpensive and reliable. It’s tucked away in Chinatown but very much worth the trip. Accepts cash only.
I recently went to get a watch battery and realized that I’d forgotten another watch *last year*! Of course, the owner had the watch right at his fingertips.
Then he changed the battery in my other watch — it took a couple minutes and cost $ 4 — as usual.
Definitely recommend.

Charged $ 12 to replace a men’s black leather watchband.
Looking at amazon, it’s about $ 10-​$ 15 for the band itself and the fact that it’s swapped out for you in a matter of minutes makes it worth it.
Small hole in the wall, but this place looks like a place out of Harry Potter — seems a bit like a magician.
Good to know it’s a good, inexpensive place for battery replacement. I will tell him I know it’s $ 4! :)

My mom has been coming to this tiny hole in the wall watch repair shop for ages. Why? Because they only charge $ 4 to change your watch battery. My mom has a nice watch and she has no problem bringing it to the «Watch Man».
So I’m on the corner of Pacific and Powell Street. I’m facing west looking up this huge hill and am instructed to keep walking. «I don’t see a watch repair shop» I blurted out. «It’s here… Keep walking.», my mom answers. Lo and behold out of no where, a watch repair store front appears. Well its just a window with the name and a normal sized bedroom door.
We go in and surprisingly there are two people ahead of us. I guess my mom isn’t the only one who knows about this place. We wait a few minutes and then its our turn. My mom asks to get her watch battery replaced. $ 5 says the man. My mom, being the typical older Chinese type, says «$ 5?! Are you kidding me?! It was $ 4 about a year and a half ago and $ 4 the time before that three years ago!»
I lower my head from embarrassment and the guy says with a «soup nazi» tone, «Ok $ 4 this time. Next time $ 5!» While we wait for the battery replacement, I take a look around the store and am amazed by all the watch parts everywhere. This room is barely 8′ x 8′ and the huge desk in the middle is cluttered from 1000 different kinds of watch bands, watch parts, and whatever watch things a crazed watch person could want.
We find out that the owner, Wong Chong, is actually the father of the person running the store. The man working the store seemed like an eccentric person. When speaking, he switches from English to Chinese and back to English all in one breath. Even though the store seems like a mess, he knows exactly where everything is. That’s pretty amazing considering all the small parts that make up a watch.
I think the guy running the store would be funny to hang out with for a few minutes while he fixes your watch, but maybe a little too crazy if you plan to stay longer… Haha! Either way, $ 5 to get a battery replaced is a darn good deal. I think the price is low, because if you can find the place you deserve a good deal.
I included a picture as well. I gave this place one star for the cheapness, one star for the crazy eccentric guy who entertains you, and one star for being hidden like a ninja.