Benchmark Jewelry, San Rafael CA

Watch repair. Had a battery replaced and a new crystal put on my husbands watch. Great conscientious service. Much appreciated.

I love doing business with Neal and Kayte. Neal is your old school jeweler and knows his trade and he knows jewelry - he is always more than fair on repair quotes. Kayte is always friendly and welcoming into her quaint shop. The inventory of jewelry and pieces is eclectic and fun - I always find something at Benchmark - whether it's a small gift for a co-worker or something to add to my own jewelry collection.

Once again Neal and Katie came through! I went to the Container Store looking for a ring gift box and found nothing suitable. Then it occurred to me that the jeweler is the place to go for a ring box. Went to Benchmark and got the PERFECT box for $5!

Neil has taken care of my watches for 20 years and I've always been happy with his work and prices. He's great.

While I've replaced my watch battery myself, it's a hassle to do. I have had it replaced before, for between $5 and $10, at a couple of jewelry stores. I had gotten a quote for $11 or $12 from Batteries Plus, even with my own battery. I thought that was high. On 1/24/19, I was a couple of blocks from Benchmark when I called about having my watch battery replaced. A pleasant-sounding man answered. I asked about replacing the battery with my own. He asked if my watch was a pop-off (meaning the back). I said no, it's a screw-off (meaning there are screws in the back). He then asked the brand. I said, "A Timex". He said, "Oh, that's easy. I'll do it for $5". When I arrived 3-4 minutes later, the man was gone and the expressionless woman said he'd be back soon. I left my watch and battery and went to the nearby Safeway for about 10 minutes. When I returned, there were two customers in the store. A woman was there to have a necklace repaired. The jeweler asked if the stone on the necklace was a diamond, and when the woman replied in the affirmative, he said, "You need a new necklace. " He pulled a 10-times-thicker gold necklace out of a case and said, "Now, I'm not trying to sell you something you don't need. " in the same helpful way he had spoken to me. I thought, "Well, that's nice and disarming to say that".
Then he looked over at me and asked me if that was my watch. I said yes. He then said accusingly, "I asked you on the phone if this was a screw on back and you said no". I said, "No, you asked me if it was a pop-off and I said it was a screw-off. " He said, "See these screws? I can't do this for $5". I asked, "How much then? " He said, "I'll do it for $20. " This is for a $25-30 watch, mind you. His manner was now very different than on the phone or with the woman. It had gone from being friendly and helpful to hardnosed, unpleasant, and overpriced. I retrieved my watch and battery and left.
When I got outside, I realized that I had just been baited and switched. I felt kinda hot. I've gotta say, the guy is a smooth liar and con. His lines are well-honed. I just hope the poor lady didn't wind up paying way too much for the "very strong" necklace he was hawking.
A sketchy dude in a sketchy store in a sketchy neighborhood. I won't be back.
Update: I was in Petaluma on 2/11. I called Gold Star Jewelry at 162 Kentucky St. The guy quoted me $10. It took him 4-6 minutes to do the job, and I was out of there. Clean, quick, fair. My kinda place. EXCEPT that one of the band springs came out of its holes in the watch yesterday. It took me forever to re-install it last night. Then it came loose again tonight. I finally remembered that a spring had gone bad on me before and that I had spare springs and an installation tool. I finally got the new spring in. So far so good. EXCEPT that with the "new" battery (that I had tested myself before), the Indiglo light isn't working. Did the guy put in the right battery?