Watch Almanac

Independent watchmaker

Fine Swiss Watch Repair

One-man Chicago Loop shop offering full overhauls, vintage repair and polishing on Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe and other Swiss brands.

Fine Swiss Watch Repair sits in the Pittsfield Building on Chicago's Jewelers Row and is run entirely by a single watchmaker, Kent Mikolite, who has been in the trade for more than 42 years. Every watch that comes through the door is serviced by him personally, from estimate to final cleaning.

The shop handles full overhauls: the movement is pulled, the dial and hands removed, the movement ultrasonically cleaned and disassembled for inspection, then reassembled with oils and greases to spec. Case and bracelet polishing is offered as part of that process. Kent works on Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne and Girard-Perregaux, and takes on vintage pieces as well as modern luxury watches. The shop says it is a Rolex authorized service center, though that status isn't independently verified here.

On the credentials side, Kent holds AWCI Certified Master Watchmaker status — he's described as one of only two in Chicago with that AWCI certification — along with a Certified Bulova Accutron Watchmaker credential from the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking and an older Certified Rolex Watchmaker technical certificate from 1989.

The shop is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM, and closed on weekends. It's a small operation with no front-desk staff, so calling ahead before dropping off a watch is worth doing if the given hours or availability need confirming.

Services

  • Full service and overhaul
  • Vintage watch repair
  • Case and bracelet polishing
  • Watchmaker on site

Brands and credentials

Says it is authorized for
Rolex
Brands serviced
Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne, Girard-Perregaux
Certifications
AWCI Certified Master Watchmaker, Certified Bulova Accutron Watchmaker

From the shop's own website, not checked with the brands. Confirm an authorization with the brand before sending in a watch under warranty.

Questions

What services does Fine Swiss Watch Repair offer?
Full movement overhauls, vintage watch repair, and case and bracelet polishing, all done by the shop's sole watchmaker, Kent Mikolite.
Which brands can they work on?
Kent Mikolite services Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne and Girard-Perregaux, including vintage models.
Is this shop authorized by Rolex?
The shop says it is a Rolex authorized service center; this is the shop's own claim and not something that can be independently confirmed.
What are the hours and how do I get a quote?
The shop is open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM, and closed Saturday and Sunday. Estimates are offered before any work begins, so calling ahead is the way to check cost and scheduling.
Who actually works on the watch?
Kent Mikolite, an AWCI Certified Master Watchmaker with over 42 years of experience, handles every watch personally — there's no other staff.

More watch repair near Chicago

All watch repair in Chicago