The Legend of Master Watch Repairer Ni Siwen

In Shanghai, there is a legendaryWatch Repairmaster named Ni Siwen. It is said that he can distinguish the quality of any watch just by holding it, or evenSwiss watchesor Japanese watches. Because of this, he became Shanghai's designated "Watch Authentication Expert," and any case involving timepieces must be assessed by him. To date, no fewer than 5000 watches have passed through his hands for inspection and authentication.

In fact, for a long time, collecting luxury watches has become a major market trend and a focus for many investors. So, what are the secrets of this mysterious repairer, and what advice can he give us on collecting luxury watches? Ni Siwen began working in watch repair at the Hengdali watch shop in 1975. Through diligent study and practice, honours followed, and he became a renowned name in the watch repair industry. In 1995, Ni Siwen was deservedly awarded the title of "Senior Technician" and was listed in the "Huangpu District Senior Technician" directory the following year—a title held by very few in the industry nationwide. After the Reform and Opening-up, he was entrusted with a major responsibility. In 1979, 10, he single-handedly established the first imported watch repair shop in the country—the Citizen Authorised Repair Centre—becoming the first technical and after-sales service manager in China to be hired by a foreign company after the Reform and Opening-up. At the end of 1995, he established the "Ni Siwen Watch Repair Studio" within the Hengdali Watch Company, specialising in the maintenance and repair of world-famous watches, antique clocks, and gold case restoration, filling a gap in the domestic market for luxury watch repair at the time. Now, he has set up a studio at Oriental Pawn, where people can observe the entire watch repair process through a glass display case.  

Furthermore, the maintenance of every luxury watch is highly meticulous because they are high-precision instruments. For example, for repairs, it is best to send the watch to the brand's designated service centre. Ni Siwen says: "Based on my many years of experience in the watch industry, many watches are damaged due to improper repair, not because of personal use." It is important to remind everyone not to wait until the watch has a problem before seeking repairs; it is best to perform regular maintenance on your watch. We mentioned this in our previous article, "Quick Guide to Watch Maintenance", where we noted that through the maintenance and cleaning process, we can identify many avoidable situations and prepare in advance.