R. MCMAHON WATCHMAKERS

Richard McMahon – Independent Master Watchmaker

Vintage Rolex & Vintage Omega Restoration | In-House Custom Watch Manufacture | Australia

Richard McMahon is an independent Australian Master Watchmaker specialising in vintage Rolex restoration, vintage Omega restoration, and complete in-house custom watch manufacture. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, every aspect of restoration and creation is personally executed by Richard McMahon—without outsourcing.

Unlike most modern watchmakers, Richard personally manufactures wristwatch movements, cases, Grand Feu enamel dials, and hands entirely in-house. He is a recognised chronograph and repeater specialist, producing fully hand-made custom watches for collectors seeking rarity, authenticity, and long-term horological value.

Vintage Rolex & Vintage Omega Restoration

We continue to accept:

Vintage Rolex full-size models manufactured prior to 2015
Vintage Omega watches manufactured prior to 1970

All restorations and full services are performed independently, in-house, using historically correct methods and sympathetic restoration principles. Richard McMahon is a qualified independent Rolex and vintage Omega restoration expert. Full details are available on our pricing page.
Strictly by appointment only.

True In-House Watch Manufacture

Every R. McMahon timepiece is designed, engineered, and hand-crafted in Adelaide, South Australia. From original movement architecture to hand-made Grand Feu enamel dials and precious metal cases, each commission reflects thousands of hours of study, machining, and traditional watchmaking expertise.

Richard McMahon is one of the very few watchmakers worldwide who personally manufactures:

Mechanical movements
Watch cases
Grand Feu enamel dials

Currently, over 90% of all components in Richard’s premium in-house movements are manufactured internally. Only industry-standard items such as jewels, hairsprings, mainsprings, and select pinions are externally sourced—consistent with even the most vertically integrated independent manufacturers. Very few international brands meet this level of in-house capability, and only three independent watchmakers globally combine this with fully hand-made Grand Feu enamel dials by the same master watchmaker.

Micro Machining & Advanced Engineering

Richard McMahon is a micro-machining expert, prototype designer, and manufacturer, operating McMahon Micro Machining. His work extends beyond horology into medical, aerospace, and precision device manufacturing, including complex parts manufacture, assembly, and testing.

He is a:

Micro Machining Industry Representative to the Future Industries Institute, University of Adelaide
Contributor and speaker for the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-SA)
Speaker at the UniSA Microengineering Winter School

Richard has worked extensively within the Tonsley Innovation District, University of Adelaide, and UniSA Mawson Lakes workshops and laboratories, actively contributing to advanced manufacturing in South Australia.

Independent, Australian, Bespoke

Every watch is a bespoke commission, blending traditional horology with state-of-the-art micro-engineering. This is true Australian custom watch manufacture—we genuinely build our own watches and movements, in Adelaide, South Australia.

Richard McMahon MAICD is an independent master watchmaker bringing advanced manufacturing back to South Australia—one watch, one movement, and one restoration at a time.

Appointments are strictly limited and by request only.

R. McMahon Watchmaker's restoration centre. We have the best equipped vintage Rolex service workshop and vintage OMEGA repair workshop in Adelaide, South Australia.

Independent qualified watchmakers, vintage Omega and Rolex experts. Custom in-house watch manufacture. Complicated machinery manufacture and process engineering consultants.

Tonsley Innovation District.

Prototype manufacture and custom watch manufacture.

Lower Ground 1 Tonsley Boulevard,

Tonsley SA 5042.

and

McMahon Micro Machining

Mawson Lakes, South Australia.

Adelaide University and University of South Australia Precision Micro Engineering Centre and CAD design studio, micro machining watch movement manufacture centre. Medical and aerospace design, prototyping and testing. Small mechanical and electro/mechanical device manufacture. Process engineering advice.

Strictly by appointment only.

Richard McMahon master watchmaker — **Our Tonsley Innovation District engineering and watch manufacture facility. By appointment only**. Please book by email or text one of the numbers provided. Entrance at car park level glass sliding door. If my parking marked R. McMahon are being used please feel free to use the loading zone in front of the glass door entrance to my workshop.

Our office and lab at Mawson Lakes within the Adelaide University and Australian National Fabrication Facility, and the Future Industries Institute. By appointment for prototype mechanical and electro-mechanical design, manufacture and testing. Specialising in CAD design, micro parts manufacture and precision micro assembly for the medical, aerospace and defence industries. Carried out by micro machinist and certified horologist, Richard McMahon.

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

Bookings between 10 am and 4 pm weekdays.

For booking information please click for an email link here, it is the best way to contact us. info@rmcmahon.com.au

Alternatively book an appointment by text on 0404117186 or 0403586850.

Interstate clients see our postage page for details.

We do NOT offer watch valuations or advice on watch authentication.

Please note our minimum service charges on our pricing page.

We do not do part repairs or minor repair. Please see our Omega and Rolex service estimate page on the website.

We only specialise in VINTAGE OMEGA and Rolex restoration.

Antique pocket watch restoration service for our existing clients only (Minimum service charge is $950).

Custom watch manufacture to order.

Please email to book appointment times - richard@rmcmahon.com.au

Person:Richard McMahon master watchmaker — **Advanced Manufacturing, Education & Industry Leadership**
Richard McMahon MAICD brings together **master watchmaking, micro-machining, and advanced device manufacturing** in a way that is uncommon globally and exceptionally rare in Australia. His work spans **horology, medical technology, defence, and aerospace manufacturing**, with over **35 years of international professional experience** now applied in **Adelaide, South Australia**.
Richard McMahon is the founder of both **R. McMahon Watchmakers** and **McMahon Micro Machining**, operating at the intersection of traditional precision craft and modern high-technology manufacturing.
Industry Representation & Public Education
Richard McMahon is an **Industry Representative** with:
University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
He works closely with the **Future Industries Institute**, contributing technical expertise across micro-machining, CAD design, prototyping, and advanced manufacturing processes.
In **2025**, Richard was invited as an **expert speaker** at the **Microengineering Winter School**, hosted by the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) at UniSA, presenting alongside specialists from **NASA**, **DSTG**, and the **Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP)**.
Micro-Machining for Medical, Defence & Space
McMahon Micro Machining is:
Listed as an **official technical defence supplier** with **Defence SA**
Included in the **South Australian Space Industry Centre** industry directory
A participant in the **Medical Technology Association of Australia** and **AusBiotech** medical device professional network
Richard McMahon has spent decades designing and manufacturing **electro-mechanical medical devices**, precision components, and prototypes for **medical, defence, and aerospace applications**, both in Australia and internationally.
This work includes:
Device prototyping and process engineering
Precision component manufacture in stainless steel, titanium, and specialist alloys
Small-scale testing and validation prior to full-scale production
The Watchmaking–Medical Manufacturing Connection
Few people outside advanced manufacturing recognise how closely **watchmaking and medical device development are related**.
Both disciplines rely on:
The same **micro-machining equipment**
Identical **CAD design and prototyping workflows**
Similar materials, including **stainless steel and titanium**
Extreme tolerance control and surface finish requirements
The primary difference lies in **testing, regulatory compliance, and certification** prior to production. Richard McMahon’s experience in both fields allows techniques, tooling, and process discipline to transfer directly between **high-end watch manufacture** and **medical or defence device development**.
European-Level Machinery, Applied Experience
Richard McMahon operates with a combination of:
Precision watchmaking machinery representing **over 160 years of horological development**
Modern European factory-level CNC equipment, including:
Willemin-Macodel multi-axis micro-machining centres
DMG Mori CNC systems
FANUC Robodrill platforms
Final inspection and certification using the **Olympus OLS 5100** surface and measurement system
This capability enables the manufacture of **watch movement parts and cases** to tolerances that **most Australian workshops cannot achieve**.
However, as Richard McMahon emphasises, **equipment alone is not the differentiator**. What matters is the **35 years of professional experience** applying these tools in the global master watchmaking sector and in regulated industrial environments.
Building the Next Generation of Australian Manufacturing
Richard McMahon actively consults and mentors across:
The **Tonsley Innovation District**
University of Adelaide and UniSA **Mawson Lakes** machining workshops
Advanced CAD and prototyping centres
His focus is on:
Developing practical micro-machining skills
Transferring knowledge from horology and industry into education
Supporting Australia’s domestic capability in advanced manufacturing
Australian-Made, World-Class
By combining **master watchmaking**, **micro-machining**, **medical and defence prototyping**, and **education**, Richard McMahon represents a rare concentration of skills in a single workshop.
Supporting **Australian-manufactured products** helps:
Retain advanced skills locally
Develop the next generation of micro-machinists
Establish Australian watchmaking and precision manufacturing on the world stage
R. McMahon Watchmakers and McMahon Micro Machining stand as proof that **world-class manufacturing can be designed, built, and delivered from Adelaide, South Australia**.

McMahon watch movement manufacture — Our Tonsley Innovation District prototyping workshop and micro machining parts manufacturing centre Just one of our three micro machining and device prototyping centres in South Australia. Process engineering advice for prototype testing and development. A combination of manual and CNC precision mills and lathes used for making main plates, bridges, wheels, pinions, escapements and balance wheel assemblies. We build movements, watch cases, dials and hands in our workshops and micro machining centres, not simply importing and branding as Australian like most others. Richard McMahon is a true Master Watchmaker designing in partnership with our clients, manufacturing to international standards.

Richard McMahon watches manufactured in house — **Genuine Australian Watch Manufacture**
Not Assembly. Not Marketing. Real Watchmaking.
Richard McMahon and **R. McMahon Watchmakers** operate very differently from many watch brands that describe themselves as “Australian” while **importing complete cases, dials, hands, and movements**, assembling them locally, and applying branding.
There is a **fundamental difference** between watch assembly and **true watch manufacture**.
At R. McMahon Watchmakers, **wristwatches and pocket watches are hand made to order**, designed, manufactured, finished, and assembled by **Master Watchmaker Richard McMahon** in **South Australia**.
Made in Adelaide, Not Imported
Our watches are manufactured in:
Our dedicated workshop at the **Tonsley Innovation District**, South Australia
The micro-engineering workshops at University of South Australia – Mawson Lakes
We do **not** import complete watches or pre-made component sets and rebrand them. Instead, we:
**Hand manufacture enamel dials** in-house
**Machine and finish cases** locally
**Design and manufacture watch hands**
**Manufacture in-house mechanical movements**, or
Finish and extensively modify **high-grade Swiss movements** where specified
For our top-tier in-house movements, we currently manufacture **approximately 90% of components internally**, a level of local content that is extremely rare internationally, let alone in Australia.
Proven Manufacturing Track Record
This is not a future ambition or a marketing concept. It is **work already completed and delivered**.
All **12 limited-edition Tonsley series watches** were **manufactured, sold, and shipped** from our Adelaide workshop
The final Tonsley watch has now been delivered
We are currently **accepting further custom commissions**
One **custom pocket watch** was built and delivered in **2025**
Two additional **custom wristwatches** are presently at final build stage for clients
Every watch is built as an individual commission, not from imported kits.
Why This Matters
True watch manufacture requires:
Design capability
Micro-machining infrastructure
Materials knowledge
Finishing expertise
Regulation and long-term testing
Decades of applied experience
Simply assembling imported components does not develop local skills, local jobs, or long-term manufacturing capability.
R. McMahon Watchmakers exists to **build watches in Australia**, not to market imported components as local products. Our focus is on:
Genuine Australian manufacture
Developing future Australian watchmaking and micro-machining skills
Supporting local advanced manufacturing employment
Transparency Over Claims
There is a clear difference between **marketing language** and **verifiable manufacture**. We encourage clients to review:
Our manufacturing process descriptions
Our workshop documentation
The manufacturing workshop photography on this website
These show exactly how and where our watches are made.
The Real Thing
R. McMahon Watchmakers represents **authentic Australian watch manufacture**:
Cases, dials, hands, and movements made locally
Watches built by one master watchmaker
Delivered from Adelaide, South Australia
If you are looking for a **genuinely Australian-manufactured timepiece**, not an assembled product marketed as local, **R. McMahon Watchmakers is the real thing**.
Further details on our manufacturing process and custom commissions are available throughout this website.

Current Product Range

Start your own story

Wear a watch with character

Restored to immaculate condition

A fit for any occasion

International master watchmaker Richard McMahon with over 35 years professional experience as a qualified and certified watch manufacturer and restorer. Trusted official restorer for JLC, Cartier, Breitling and Rolex agencies in the UK. Now based in the Tonsley Innovation District South Australia.

Expert Rolex service and restoration. The best equipped vintage Rolex and Vintage OMEGA service workshop in Adelaide. Proudly independent qualified watch restoration experts.

Micro machining experts, combining technical commonality between watchmaking and medical device design prototyping, building and designing locally, here in Adelaide, South Australia.

Tonsley Innovation District prototype engineering centre and Mawson Lakes Adelaide University design studio and micro machining facility McMahon Micro Machining.

Precision micro machining by Richard McMahon — Modern ultrasonic cleaning for high grade current models of high grade watches. Gentle cycle cleaning machines for vintage and antique Rolex and Omega vintage watches. We have the most experienced and best equipped vintage watch restoration centre in Adelaide, South Australia. Precision cleaning of aerospace instruments, medical devices and precision machinery service.

Precision watch timing equipment by R McMahon — GPS calibrated precision timing equipment. The industry benchmark for watch regulation and diagnostics. OneOF accuracy 2 Swiss machine. Used by Master Watchmaker Richard McMahon for industry best practice regulation and vintage Rolex and vintage Omega watch restoration and service.

Our Workshop – European-Level Vintage Rolex & Vintage Omega Restoration in Australia

Richard McMahon offers a level of European professional vintage watch restoration experience that is exceptionally rare in Australia. For collectors of vintage Rolex and vintage Omega, this represents a unique opportunity to access restoration standards developed at the highest international level—without sending watches offshore.

From Australia to Bond Street, London and back home again.

Richard McMahon began his horological career in Adelaide in 1989, completing his watchmaking apprenticeship in 1994. That same year, he was accepted as an Executive Member of the Horological Guild of Australasia (No. 5120).

After further professional development in Sydney at Clocks of Distinction, Richard relocated to London in 2000, where his career entered a rare and highly specialised phase.

Working on Bond Street, Richard became:

A certified official contractor for Cartier, manufacturing by hand and with micro machining techniques discontinued parts.
The preferred vintage Rolex restorer for referrals from Rolex St James’s Square. Certified restorer.
An official contract restoration workshop for Jaeger-LeCoultre complications and Breitling chronographs at Somlo Antiques, Piccadilly

At the time, Richard specialised in restoring Rolex models no longer serviced by Rolex, including:

Submariner references 6200, 6204, 5508, 5513
GMT-Master 6542
Bubbleback Oyster Rolex
Rolex Prince models

Simultaneously, Somlo Antiques operated as the leading authorised vintage Omega restoration centre in the UK, with rare Omega watches sent from Australia and Asia specifically for Richard’s expertise.

Specialist in Complicated Vintage Movements

Richard McMahon is a vintage watch specialist in complicated mechanical movements, with particular expertise in:

Chronographs
Repeating watches
Alarm and complex calendar mechanisms

Critically, Richard manufactures obsolete components by hand, including balance staffs, winding stems, wheels, pinions, and escapement parts that have not been available from manufacturers for decades. This capability is fundamental to correct vintage restoration and is increasingly rare worldwide.

Bringing European Expertise Back to Australia

In 2015, Richard returned to his hometown of Adelaide, South Australia, establishing a dedicated vintage watch restoration centre at the Tonsley Innovation District. Since then, R. McMahon Watchmakers has expanded significantly and now operates with some of the most advanced watchmaking and micro-engineering equipment in Australia, combining traditional Swiss methods with modern precision manufacturing.

Richard has also worked as a consultant and prototype developer for Swiss watch companies, assisting with complicated movement development and process engineering for high-end luxury brands.

A Restoration Centre — Not a Repair Shop

R. McMahon Watchmakers is not a general watch repair shop. We operate as a specialist vintage restoration centre, focused exclusively on work that most Australian workshops cannot undertake.

We specialise in:

Vintage Omega service (pre-1971 only)
(We do not service Co-Axial or quartz Omega models.)
Vintage Rolex restoration (pre-2015 full-size models)

All work is performed in-house, with a two-year warranty provided on completed restorations.

We also maintain one of the largest stocks of genuine vintage Omega parts in Australia, enabling historically correct restorations without compromise.

Advanced Micro-Machining & Manufacturing Capability

Richard McMahon’s restoration capability is underpinned by over 35 years of micro-machining experience, beginning with traditional Swiss and German precision lathes and mills, and expanding into:

Laser scanning and laser welding
Advanced CNC micro-machining
CAD design (Inventor and Fusion)
Photolithography and circuit manufacture

Richard has completed manufacturing and prototyping projects for the medical, defence, aerospace, and precision engineering industries, and works in collaboration with:

The Future Industries Institute, University of Adelaide
The Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF)

Access to clean-room facilities at Tonsley and Mawson Lakes further supports advanced assembly and testing work rarely available in traditional watchmaking workshops.

Education, Mentoring & Industry Contribution

Richard McMahon has spent decades training and mentoring watchmakers, machinists, and micro-technicians, establishing engineering and prototyping centres in Australia and Europe. He is an industry member and technical consultant across medical, defence, and advanced manufacturing sectors, contributing directly to the revitalisation of Australian manufacturing capability.

Rare Experience. Limited Availability.

Richard McMahon’s decades as a certified European restoration specialist for Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Breitling places him among a very small group of watchmakers worldwide with this breadth of qualified and certified watchmaking experience.

Today, this expertise is available exclusively in Adelaide, South Australia, offering collectors restoration services that most workshops in Australia are unable to provide.

Due to workload and the complexity of work undertaken, we now accept only:

Vintage Omega watches manufactured prior to 1971
Vintage Rolex full-size models manufactured prior to 2015

Strictly by appointment only.

Movement and main plate manufacture — Latest pressure test diagnostic equipment. Negative pressure test for slim dress models and vintage pieces. Programmable tests up to 10 bar for hard case dive models. We use a professional wet tester for professional dive models past 12 BAR.

Master watchmaker Richard McMahon — Magnetic diagnostic machine for identifying magnetism and the location of the flux. The watch can be demagnetised and then re-checked for faults. This is the modern proven method. Most workshops just demagnetise without knowing the result. Magnetic testing and pressure testing for small medical and defence devices. Quality control and testing. We offer precission assembly services to medical and defence contractors, we have for decades provided complex, clean precision small to medium device manufacture and assembly. We have acces to ISO 5 and 6 cleanliness rated clean rooms if required. We are also experienced at operating in 14644 if onsite remote expert assistance is required.

What clients are saying. Just some of many customer reviews. We specialise in looking after serious watch collectors especially vintage Rolex and Omega enthusiasts.

“Outstanding service, sound professional advice. Thanks Richard”

— Brad Srivens

“Outstanding service, amazing knowledge of watches and watch repairs. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my collection, an absolute professional. I always love to see the the great vintage watches available for sale too, this is the place to start for a pre-loved classic.”

— Shannon Corcoran

Service Information

Vintage Rolex & Vintage Omega Restoration – Adelaide, Australia

R. McMahon Watchmakers is a specialist vintage watch restoration centre, not a general repair workshop. We prioritise vintage Rolex and vintage Omega restoration and service, delivered by one of Australia’s most experienced independent restoration experts.

Restoration Priorities

We currently prioritise:

Vintage Omega – pre-1971 mechanical movements (lever escapements only)
(We do not service Co-Axial or quartz Omega models.)
Rolex – vintage and modern full-size models up to 2015

These brands represent our primary specialisation and the majority of our restoration work.

Service Timeframes

Standard vintage service: approximately 10 working days, subject to parts availability
Complicated watches (chronographs, minute repeaters, perpetual calendars):
Minimum 2 months, depending on complexity and component manufacture

Final timelines are confirmed after inspection and quotation.

Parts Availability & Component Manufacture

We maintain a comprehensive stock of genuine vintage Rolex and Omega parts, one of the largest holdings in Australia. Where original parts are no longer available, we manufacture components in-house, including:

Balance staffs
Winding stems
Wheels, pinions, and escapement components
Vintage Rolex and Cartier discontinued parts

This capability reflects Richard McMahon’s former role as a trusted certified restoration expert in London, where he was authorised to manufacture parts for watches no longer supported by factory service centres.

Additional Brands (Limited Availability)

We may accept restoration work for:

Vintage Breitling
Cartier
Patek Philippe
Vacheron Constantin
Selected vintage Tudor

Acceptance depends on age, model, and workload. Please contact us before booking to confirm suitability. Omega and Rolex work always takes priority.

We do not service:

Quartz watches
Fashion or mass-market watches
Fake or heavily modified (diamond set) watches

Specialist Expertise

Our workshop regularly restores:

Rolex Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT-Master, Explorer, Datejust
Omega Speedmaster Professional and Omega Seamaster

Richard McMahon is a specialist in:

Chronographs
Perpetual calendars
Quarter and minute repeaters
Tourbillons

All parts are either original or hand-made / CNC micro-machined in-house where required.

Case & Bracelet Refinishing

Rolex-trained case polisher and case refinisher
Flat polishing and lapping of cases and bracelets
Period-correct finishing for vintage watches

Warranty

Omega and Rolex restorations: 24-month warranty
All other brands: 12-month warranty, unless otherwise stated in the quotation

Pricing & Quotations

Minimum movement service charge: $950
Complicated or antique watches: higher minimums apply
(Antique pocket watches – minimum charge $1,500)

We provide:

Fixed quotes
No-charge assessments
Individual pricing per watch (no fixed price list)

A 50% deposit may be required to proceed with certain restoration work.

Please refer to our Service Price Guide and Information page for further details.

Credentials & Authority

Four-year watchmaking apprenticeship completed in 1994
Co-author of Australian Federal Government watch servicing industry standards
Certified by Cartier UK (2001) – Bond Street, London
Official restoration expert for JLC and Breitling (UK)
Preferred Rolex vintage restoration referral via Rolex St James’s Square, London
Former professional advisor on vintage watches to Christie’s and Sotheby’s

R. McMahon Watchmakers is independent and has no association with Rolex Australia or Omega / Swatch Group.

Industry & Education

Richard McMahon was appointed Industry Representative to:

University of South Australia
University of Adelaide – Future Industries Institute

He is a speaker at the ANFF Microengineering Winter School and actively mentors the next generation of engineers and micro-machinists, with access to:

Advanced CNC and micro-machining
Clean-room assembly facilities
Complex machinery and electronics manufacturing infrastructure

Important Notes

We no longer restore customer watch dials (Exceptions apply to existing clients).
We only manufacture custom enamel and precious-metal dials for our own watch manufacture
By appointment only
Please confirm brand and model before visiting by email

Please contact us for VINTAGE OMEGA and Rolex restoration information on. info@rmcmahon.com.au

Our German Sirotech laser welder, able to do the finest welding to Rolex 904L, stainless steel 316 and 316L, gold, or high power welds on titanium or aluminium. Not many watch repairers have this technology, actually. For some Rolex and OMEGA restor… — Laser welding, cutting and movement parts manufacture. Laser welding shown with Master Watchmaker Richard McMahon at the laser welding machine. Argon shielding and clean room micro machine parts manufacture, we offer services and manufacturing no other micro machinist or watchmaker can offer in Australia. By world standards less than 5 workshops have our complete vertical integration for complete in-house mechanical parts, movement parts or watch manufacturing in house.

Main plates and movements manufacture — One of our 3 prototyping workshop areas and workshops. Watch movement parts manufacture. Hand made enamel dials. Watch wheels, pinions, hands and case manufacture. Prototype medical instrument manufacture and small volume manufacture in medical grade stainless steel and titanium. In-house electroplating and small component anodising. We manufacture as much as we can in-house to make as high a percentage of our machines and watches as possible in the Tonsley Innovation District, South Australia and our Micro Engineering workshop McMahon Micro at UniSA, Mawson Lakes. We are adding new machinery and capabilities regularly. We undertake medical, aerospace and defence small part and machine manufacture, prototyping and testing.

McMahon hand made case and dial — Custom wristwatch and pocket watch manufacture. Cases, Grand Feu enamel dials and hands made in-house personally by master watchmaker Richard McMahon. Made in Adelaide, South Australia By Richard McMahon, and has been delivered to the client this year.

R McMahon movement manufacture — **Our Antique, Vintage and Modern Machinery**
Why the Right Machines Matter in Watch Restoration and Manufacture
High-level watch restoration and manufacture cannot be achieved with modern equipment alone. Nor can it be achieved using only traditional tools. What matters is **having the correct machines from the correct eras**, and—most importantly—**the experience to use them properly**.
At R. McMahon Watchmakers, Richard McMahon operates a **rare combination of antique, vintage, and modern industry-leading machinery**, spanning more than **170 years of manufacturing history**. This combination is essential for both **authentic antique restoration** and **modern in-house watch manufacture**, and is now uncommon even in Switzerland.
**Machines That Match the Era of the Watch**
Many antique and early vintage watches were manufactured on machines that **no longer exist in modern factories**. Tolerances, tooling geometry, cutting methods, and surface finishes were fundamentally different.
Richard McMahon owns and operates:
**Antique watchmaking machines dating back to the mid-1800s**, still used today for the manufacture of obsolete components for antique pocket watches
**Traditional Swiss and German watchmaking lathes and milling machines**, identical in principle to those used in historic European watch factories
**Modern CNC and micro-machining systems**, used by contemporary Swiss manufacturers for precision movement and case manufacture
This capability allows Richard to **restore antique pocket watches using the same manufacturing methods originally used to create them**, rather than forcing old designs through modern processes that were never intended for them.
**A Rare Global Capability**
It is increasingly rare—globally—to find a workshop where:
Antique machinery is still operational and correctly applied
Traditional Swiss-era machines are maintained and used daily
Modern factory-level CNC equipment is integrated into the same workflow
Richard McMahon not only owns this equipment; he has the **35 years of professional experience required to use it correctly**. Without that experience, the machines alone are meaningless.
Swiss and German Case Manufacturing Capability
Our workshop includes **specialist Swiss and German machinery dedicated to watch case manufacture**, enabling us to:
Cut, shape, and machine **case threads**
Manufacture **water-resistant cases**
Control tolerances critical to sealing, crown fit, and long-term durability
Where possible, this work is completed **entirely in-house**, rather than outsourced. This level of control is essential for both **custom watch manufacture** and **correct vintage restoration**, where original specifications must be respected.
**The Role of Our Tonsley Workshop**
Our facility at the **Tonsley Innovation District, South Australia**, serves as:
A centre for **hand-made enamel dial manufacture**
A hub for **watch case manufacturing**
A location for **design, prototyping, and testing**
Our **customer service and restoration centre** for **vintage Rolex and vintage Omega**
This makes R. McMahon Watchmakers **South Australia’s only complete watch manufacture and complete restoration centre**, combining traditional horology with advanced engineering.
Beyond Watchmaking
The same machinery and processes used for watch manufacture are also applied through McMahon Micro Machining for:
**Medical device prototyping**
**Defence and aerospace components**
**Micro-engineering and process engineering consultancy**
This crossover reinforces manufacturing discipline, quality control, and precision—benefiting both industrial clients and watch collectors.
Why This Matters
True restoration and manufacture depend on:
Machines appropriate to the era of the watch
Modern equipment where precision demands it
Deep experience applying both
Richard McMahon’s workshop brings together **antique, vintage, and modern machinery**, used daily at a professional level. This allows work to be carried out that **most workshops—both in Australia and internationally—are no longer equipped to undertake**.
The result is **authentic restoration**, **genuine manufacture**, and watches that respect their origins while meeting modern standards—designed, made, and restored in **Adelaide, South Australia**.

Service price guide

R McMahon Watchmakers do not work from a price list, each watch has a different history of wear and service. We can provide a basic guide of minimum charges below for vintage Rolex and Omega service price information. Hopefully this will answer some pricing questions.

Machinery & Technical Capability

European Factory-Level Watchmaking in Australia

What does it take to manufacture an in-house mechanical watch movement, rather than simply service one?

It requires Swiss-level micro-machining infrastructure, factory-grade inspection equipment, clean-room processes, and—critically—decades of experience to use this machinery to its full capability. R. McMahon Watchmakers operates a European factory-level watch manufacturing and restoration workshop, unmatched in scope in South Australia and rare nationally.

This is not a standard service centre. Our workshop is purpose-built for true watch manufacture, component fabrication, and advanced vintage restoration, operating to micron and nano-scale tolerances.

Experience That Matches the Machinery

Richard McMahon brings over 35 years of hands-on experience in watchmaking, restoration, micro-machining, and advanced manufacturing. This experience is fundamental—equipment alone does not produce precision. Accurate results depend on the operator’s understanding of materials science, tolerances, thermal behaviour, finishing processes, and long-term mechanical reliability.

Our Adelaide workshop is equipped to a standard comparable with leading Swiss and international watch manufacturers, enabling restoration and manufacturing work that most Australian workshops are not equipped or qualified to undertake.

Professional Watchmaking & Restoration Equipment

Our workshop infrastructure includes:

German Siro-Tech laser welding system
Precision case repair and micro-component manufacture
ONEOf Accuracy 2 Swiss timing machine
GPS-calibrated daily; the most accurate timing system operating in Adelaide
Multiple professional watch cleaning systems
- Programmable ultrasonic cleaning for modern Rolex movements
- Automatic Elma cleaning system designed for vintage mechanical movements
- Certified for Omega service procedures
Electronic programmable water-pressure testing equipment
Controlled testing designed to protect vintage cases and seals (Omega-certified)
In-house Grand Feu enamel workshop
Every enamel dial personally manufactured by Richard McMahon
Five precision lathes and milling systems
Wheel cutting, pinion manufacture, escapement components, balance wheels, and bespoke tooling
Dedicated case restoration infrastructure
- Three professional polishing machines
- Three ultrasonic cleaning baths
- Rolex-trained case restoration and finishing
Magnetism detection and de-magnetising systems
Diagnostic-grade testing essential for precision regulation
Flat lapping and diamond polishing equipment
First-class case manufacture and restoration (Omega-certified)
Olympus OLS 5100 surface scanner
Micro-measurement, surface finish analysis, and quality control

CNC Micro-Machining & Movement Manufacture

Through McMahon Micro Machining, Richard McMahon operates advanced CNC micro-machining capability rarely applied to watchmaking in Australia:

Willemin‑Macodel 8-axis micro-machining centre
Manufacture of movement main plates, bridges, and ultra-precision components
DMG Mori CNC machining systems
Case manufacture and structural components
FANUC Robodrill platforms
High-accuracy secondary machining operations

All components are fully inspected, hand-finished, plated where required, and assembled using traditional watchmaking methods. Jewels are hand-fitted and adjusted, not automated. This is true master watchmaking, not assembly-line servicing.

Photolithography, Nano-Scale Manufacturing & Clean-Room Work

R. McMahon Watchmakers employs in-house photolithography, achieving nano-scale tolerances for the smallest watch components. This technology—shared with semiconductor manufacturing—is extremely rare in watchmaking worldwide, and unique in Australia.

Richard McMahon is trained in:

Photolithographic patterning
Nano-scale additive manufacture (advanced 3D printing)
Experimental materials development for novel in-house escapements and movement components

This work is supported through clean-room access in collaboration with:

Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF)
University of Adelaide – Future Industries Institute

Richard personally operates within ISO Class 5 and Class 6 clean rooms, applying processes normally reserved for medical, aerospace, and microelectronics manufacturing.

Cross-Industry Precision Manufacturing

Beyond horology, Richard McMahon has decades of experience consulting and manufacturing for:

Medical device development
Aerospace and defence precision systems
Complex mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies

He has assisted engineers and scientists at:

Flinders University
The New Venture Institute, Tonsley Innovation District

This depth of experience directly informs our watchmaking standards—designing for longevity, serviceability, and mechanical integrity at the highest level.

The Difference

R. McMahon Watchmakers is not comparable to a basic service centre or an average Australian watch workshop.

This is a European factory-level watchmaking and restoration facility, operated by a master watchmaker with the experience to fully exploit its capability.

That combination—infrastructure, materials science, and over 35 years of applied expertise—is what allows us to restore and manufacture watches others simply cannot.

Service price guide

Omega expert Richard McMahon — Expert Omega restoration, repair and service. We are the most experienced Omega Speedmaster Professional and vintage Omega Seamaster watchmakers in Adelaide. We do not work on Co-Axial models. We complete many complicated restorations other local watchmakers say are impossible. We have many glowing customer reviews from serious watch collectors.

Rolex expert Richard McMahon Master watchmaker — **Rolex Service & Vintage Rolex Restoration.**
Trusted by Rolex UK | Adelaide, South Australia
R. McMahon Watchmakers provides **expert vintage Rolex service and restoration** in **Adelaide, South Australia**, supported by over **35 years of professional experience** and **direct recognition by Rolex UK**.
Richard McMahon is a **qualified vintage Rolex restoration expert**, trusted with work **officially referred by Rolex UK**during his time in Europe. This level of recognition is exceptionally rare and reflects a depth of expertise not available through most workshops, including many factory service centres.
Trusted European Credentials
While working in London, Richard McMahon operated as a **senior certified vintage restoration specialist**, receiving official referrals for complex and historically important watches from:
Rolex – St James’s Square, London
Cartier – Bond Street, London (certified 2001)
Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC)
Breitling
Richard McMahon remains the **only watchmaker in Adelaide** to have been **officially referred vintage restoration work by Rolex, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Breitling**.
Rolex Restoration Expertise
We specialise in the restoration and service of **vintage and modern Rolex watches**, with particular expertise in:
**Rolex Submariner**
**Rolex Daytona**
**Rolex Explorer**
**Rolex GMT-Master**
**Rolex Prince and early Oyster models**
Our work focuses on **historically correct, sympathetic restoration**, including the manufacture of discontinued components where original parts are no longer available. This capability was a core reason Richard McMahon was trusted with watches **Rolex no longer serviced in-house** during his time in the UK.
Experience Trusted by Serious Collectors
R. McMahon Watchmakers is trusted by **serious international collectors**. Highly collectable Rolex Submariner, GMT, and Prince models are routinely **personally delivered to our Adelaide workshop**, including watches belonging to long-standing clients first worked with in the **United Kingdom and the United States**.
This trust has been built over decades of consistent, high-level work on important private collections.
Independent, Specialist, and Proven
We are an **independent restoration specialist** and have **no association** with Rolex Australia service centres. This independence allows us to:
Undertake restorations beyond standard factory service scope
Manufacture obsolete parts in-house
Apply conservation-focused techniques appropriate to vintage watches
Our reputation is supported by **numerous five-star reviews and client testimonials** specifically referencing our **Rolex restoration services**.
Rolex Service in Adelaide
For collectors seeking **expert vintage Rolex restoration in Australia**, R. McMahon Watchmakers offers a level of experience and qualification **not otherwise available in Adelaide**.
All work is carried out by **Richard McMahon, Master Watchmaker**, in-house, by appointment only.

Watches manufactered in Adelaide, South Australia, by Richard McMahon

European Experience, Australian Manufacture

Before establishing R. McMahon Watchmakers as a public-facing manufacturing workshop, Richard McMahon built extensive professional experience in Europe as a watch manufacture consultant, prototype developer, and expert vintage Rolex and Omega restoration specialist.

During this period, Richard worked closely with independent European watch manufacturers, advising on:

Mechanical movement development
Component design and manufacture
Process engineering and fine-tuning of complicated mechanisms
Prototype development and validation

As a trained micro-machinist and prototype developer, Richard contributed technical expertise that helped refine and bring to market high-quality mechanical watches now in circulation internationally. Due to contractual obligations and non-disclosure agreements, specific companies and calibres cannot be named. However, it is estimated that several thousand watches currently in use incorporate development work Richard McMahon contributed to as a consultant.

This experience is not common, even among factory-trained watchmakers, and extends beyond restoration into true movement engineering and manufacturing support.

Returning These Skills to Australia

In 2015, Richard McMahon returned to Adelaide, South Australia, and founded R. McMahon Watchmakers with a long-term objective:
to apply European-level watch manufacturing expertise to the design and manufacture of Australian-made timepieces, supported by in-house component production.

Since that time, Richard has been engaged in a continuous program of development, quietly building the infrastructure, tooling, and processes required for genuine in-house manufacture. Over the past ten years:

More than 20 custom watches have been delivered or exported
In the past 12 months, watches have been designed, manufactured, and shipped to collectors
Two entirely Adelaide-manufactured mechanical movements have been under development and are now being introduced into new custom commissions

Manufacturing Capability in South Australia

Movement components are manufactured in-house by Richard McMahon. Watch cases are currently produced using equipment within:

The R. McMahon workshop at the Tonsley Innovation District
The Mawson Lakes micro-machining facilities
The micro-fabrication facilities at University of South Australia and University of Adelaide, in collaboration with the Future Industries Institute and the Australian National Fabrication Facility

Richard McMahon serves as an Industry Representative within these advanced manufacturing environments, providing access to infrastructure typically unavailable to independent watchmakers.

Collaborative Custom Commissions

An exclusive group of clients has been invited to collaborate directly with Richard McMahon on custom watch projects. Each commission is individually specified, with clients contributing to:

Dial design in hand-made enamel or precious metal
Watch hand design
Case size, proportions, and geometry
Selection of complications, where appropriate

Current offerings include in-house chronographs, tourbillons, and quarter repeater mechanisms, all developed and manufactured within Australia.

While this level of work represents a significant investment, the outcome is a one-of-a-kind mechanical timepiece, designed and manufactured in Adelaide, with no identical example in existence.

A Rare Combination of Skills

Globally, it is rare to find a single workshop where movement, case, hands, and enamel dial are all designed and manufactured by one master watchmaker. Rarer still is the combination of:

European movement consultancy experience
Certified high-level vintage Rolex and Omega restoration expertise
Advanced micro-machining and prototype development capability
Clean-room manufacturing access
A proven delivery record

Richard McMahon brings this combination together in one Australian workshop, applying international standards to both custom watch manufacture and vintage restoration work that is not available through most workshops, including many official factory service centres.

Continuing the Journey

R. McMahon Watchmakers continues to focus on:

Developing Australian-made mechanical movements
Delivering custom commissions to a small number of collectors
Preserving and advancing high-level watchmaking and manufacturing capability in South Australia

Contact us to discuss a custom, personalised Australian-manufactured watch, designed and built in Adelaide by Richard McMahon, Master Watchmaker.

Please message for appointment times - info@rmcmahon.com.au

0404117186

0403586850 text for appointment

(Please text your question instead of leaving a voice message)

By appointment only.

Richard McMahon watch prototyping — Stainless steel and Argentium silver cases hand made in our Tonsley Innovation District workshop and AdelaideUniversity (UniSA) Micro Engineering Workshop. Watch dials hand made in our workshop in Grand Feu enamel, silver, gold, Lapis lazuli. Custom made hands. Manual wind, automatic and chronograph models made to order. In-house bespoke manual wind manufacture calibre starting at $50,000 in stainless steel.

Dial manufacture by Richard McMahon watchmaker — Dial blanks hand cut, here in Adelaide, South Australia.

Richard McMahon custom dials — South Australian opal localy cut and polished. Malachite and mother of pearl cut and polished in our workshop for our custom watch manufacture. Matching hands manufactured in-house.

Henri Hauser precision mill R Mcmahon — We have a rare mix of capabilities at R. McMahon Watchmakers and McMahon Micro Machining. Machinery like the Henri Hauser precision milling machine constructed to manufacture parts in the 1940’s for companies like Patek Philippe and Rolex. To modern CNC machines for precision miniature parts. We have the capability to manufacture our own watch cases and precision watch movement parts. In most cases the same machines used by the top factories and independent watchmakers in Europe. Along with hand made enamel watch dials made personally by Richard McMahon, it is indeed a rare facility with this combination of machinery and skills. We offer small volume prototype machine design and manufacture in-house for the medical, aerospace and defence industries. For watches we manufacture in house wheels, pinions, main plates, bridges, regulators, balance wheels, pallets, escape wheels, barrels and other movement parts to manufacture custom movements in house in Australia.

McMahon Micro Machining mills and lathes — Precision manual machining is still used by Richard McMahon for rapid prototyping for testing for medical and defence if a one off piece is needed for testing. Sometimes manual machining can be faster than setting up and running CNC. We have both systems, we just weigh up speed, cost and accuracy required for the best outcome for our clients. We are on of the few micro machining workshops offering both precision systems in the one company. Very rare in Adelaide, South Australia.

Hand made dials Richard McMahon — Dials manufactured in Silver, gold or copper. Hand made Grand Feu enamel dials made personally by Master Watchmaker Richard McMahon in custom colours in our workshop at the Tonsley Innovation District, South Australia. Richard McMahon is one of only 3 independent master watchmakers globally able to manufacture in-house movements, hand made enamel dials, cases and hands. And then with complications on offer makes his workshop incredibly rare globally. True custom made rare one off master watchmaking.

Hand made R McMahon custom enamel dial — Two tone matte blue and white enamel dial on sterling silver. hand made by Richard McMahon. We manufacture in custom colours, gloss or matte.

Dial flange with holes drilled to be tapped for hand made hour markers. Richard McMahon personally machining these parts, on site.

Hand made watch by R McMahon Watchmakers — Custom manufactured pocket watch, at the mid-point of manufacture. In-house Grand Feu enamel dial made by Richard McMahon. Bespoke maritime style hand made stainless steel case for client. (pre-engraving). Suspended hour indicator battons. An example of in-house manufacture.

Hand made Grand Feu enamel dial, case and hands by Richard McMahon in his Tonsley workshop, Souh Australia. Richard McMahon personally manufactures each enamel dial. For yhis custom military/industrial style one off custom commission Richard McMahon elected to manufacture the case on manual lathes snd milling equipment, from 316L stainless as specified by the client. For some manufacturing it is more efficient to use traditional machines rather than a CAD drawing, machine set up and CNC run time. For more complicated cases with flat, complex features and threaded case backs Richard McMahon will create a CAD drawing, export a file to a selected 3, 5 or even 8 acis milling machine. Having that choice and personal control gives R McMahon Watchmakers the creative edge to complete very complex modern and traditional designs. By the way the client was delighted with the finished watch, it was a very special and personal gift to himself.

R McMahon prototype watch manufacture — In house prototype being tested before new balance wheel and regulator manufacture, movement finish in grey, blue, yellow or rose gold and rhodium. It is a rare thing movements being manufactured in the Southern Hemisphere. We at R. McMahon Watchmakers a rare manufacturing workshop building our own movements, not just importing parts and labelling as Australian Made.

Hand made enamel dials R McMahon watchmaker — We manufacture our own enamel dials in-house at our Tonsley workshop in South Australia. These are test colours fir colour matching. We matched an enamel dial here to a clients Porsche colour paint. We got a near perfect match in gloss enamrl with a depth of colour matching his 911 SC classic. (Stunning car by the way). Richard McMahon may test fire 2 or 3 Stirling silver plates to get the colour correct and chart temperatures and kiln time. This takes many years of practice and experimentation. Each one is an individual work of art. We believe only 2 workshops glibaly have a master watchmaker able to manufacture a movement, case, hands, enamel dial and other essential parts that are fabricated within the same studios by the same master watchmaker. With over 35 years experience manufacturing all watch parts for restoration work as an expert and slowly iver the last 20 years building these individual disciplines within one watch has been a many thousands of hours journey, but worth every second because Richard McMahon loves beautiful watches.

Hand made strap and enamel dial R Mcmahon — Sterling silver matte finish enamel dials hand made by personally Richard McMahon in our Tonsley workshop. Series 1 manual wind shown here. First series pre-sold, complete and delivered. Hand made watch case. With screw on back, sapphire crystal glass.

Hand made enamel watch dials made in-house by Richard McMahon.

Cases hand made in our workshop based in Tonsley South Australia and Mawson Lakes South Australia. Stainless steel, titanium, silver, gold and aluminium on manual lathes and mills.. Wilemin-Macodel 8 axis CNC machine milling and DMG Mori 3 axil and multi axil FAUNC Robodrill alongside manual hand finishing in Richard McMahon’s micro machining workshop McMahon Micro partnering with ANFF and the Future Industries Institute Adelaide University as an Industry Representative. These cases are some of our prototyping cone in-house on manual machines at our Tonsley workshop and test cases for our new mechanical alarm and calendar complication model.

Custom built pocket watches starting at $50,000. Wrist manual wind chronograph with in house manufactured case and enamel dial starting at $50,000.
Note, Tonsley Watches are no longer available. All have been allocated and pre-sold. We still offer our one off custom watches.
R. McMahon custom.
Our first series introductory prices have all been allocated, and delivered ahead of schedule.
Changes and alterations will be charged accordingly.

By appointment only

One of the larger mills, manufacture for the CNC mills and print plate blanks fir our in-house dial printing studio. Sometimes you need a big machine to build small parts. Micro machining centreRichard McMahon mast — Precision large manual mill used by Richard McMahon for case and tooling manufacture. Sometimes big machines are needed to make small precision watch parts. Our machinery is distributed between our micro machining centre McMahon Micro with the ANFF Adelaide University in Mawson Lakes and our prototyping and testing facility at the Tonsley Innovation District.

Wilemin-Macodel movement manufacture Richard McMahon — Willemin-Macodel precion 8 axil mill for making main plates, movements, bridges, wheels and pinions and escapement parts. We manufacture balance wheels and escapement parts, hand finish and spend many hours assembling, testing precision and surface finish on the OLS 5000 to ensure accuracy. Micro machining centre for the same level of manufacturing as the Swiss, German and Japanese manufacturers, simply because we use the same machines. We actually manufacture in Australia, not importing cases and dials from Germany or Asia as other companies do. Workshop tours organised of our Mawson Lakes and Tonsley facilities for clients proceeding with custom manufacture. See the real deal in Australian watch manufacture. Master watch maker Richard McMahon. Our combination of in house movement, case, hands and enamel dial manufacture is VERY rare anywhere in the world.

Watch case CNC manufacture in house R McMahon — The Robodrill is a great machine for manufacturing complex profiles and shapes for case manufacture, once the general case shape is complete, Richard McMahon will either polish or satin finish the case, complete strap attachment holes and either thread for a screw back or other custom case back fittings. We manufacture is solid or exhibition backs with a sapphire crystal, depending on requirements. Watch movement main plate blanks manufactured on this machine and transferred to the precision Wilemin-Macodel multi axis machine for jewel holes and pockets for wheel and lever fitting. Every machine is important and each precision process checked for quality on the OLS 5000 before proceeding to the next step. This is done here in the he machine centre, Richard McMahon does not import cases, he makes them.

Commissioning a Watch by Master Watchmaker Richard McMahon.

Custom in-house Watch Manufacture by Master Watchmaker Richard McMahon. Exclusive and rare hand made movements, cases, enamel dials and hands. Timepiece, complications like GMT, chronograph, alarm and toubillon built by hand in our Tonsley and Mawson Lakes micro machining workshops.

We produce only a handful of custom watches each year.

Typical delivery: A total combination of 12 wrist and pocket watches produced annually.
Lead time: 6 - 12 months depending on complexity of the movement manufacture.
Starting price: Manual wind in-house movement manufactured by Richard McMahon, with hand-made enamel dial and stainless steel case also personally made by Richard $50,000. AUD. Alarm or chronograph starting at $85,000. AUD. We are just announcing our in-house GMT with enamel dial by master watchmaker Richard McMahon. Starting at $55,000 we are taking orders now for June 2026 delivery.
As mentioned on the page by 1 January we are phasing out base level custom with Swiss heavily modified precision movements made by R McMahon (over 80% in-house manufacture), last orders by December 31st. From January we will only offer tier 1 with in house manufacture, and tier 2 with 85% in-house with Swiss made escape wheel and pallets. The prices for full custom will obviously differ as few master watchmakers globally either have the equipment or have the skills to do so, we have both.
Other complications on offer can be discussed, like toubillon and repeaters. We have manufactured Toubillon and repeater in-house for clients. We are just commencing our first in-house perpetual calendar hand-made watch, please enquire by email to get on the first manufacture wait list, only 3 will ever be made by Richard McMahon, one is already allocated and pre-sold. We are happy to discuss builds, any pricing, delivery and deposit terms are strictly discussed and confirmed by email.

Deposits on proceeding after a basic draft design is between 30% and 50% depending on complexity and materials chosen by the client.

Each commission is private, no sharing of designs or custom manufacture at the clients request. We are used to a process of not publishing private commissions as we have for decades with our custom work for well known international watch companies and jewellers. Our work is inside many watches without our brand or logo. We know, that is all that matters.

“To wear an R. McMahon watch is to own a piece of Australian horological history-a timepiece conceived, built, and hand finished by a single master watchmaker-Richard McMahon.”