British Horological Institute
Code Of Practice
This code applies to the repair, restoration and conservation of clocks, watches and other horological items.
All members of the Institute, qualified and unqualified, are bound by this code.
1
 a) Issue a receipt for any item taken in, either for assessment or repair. Note on this receipt and in your records the condition of any item before accepting it for work, and point out io your customer any obvious defects or faults.
b) If the item will need to be dismantled before you can indicate your price, obtain and record your customer’s consent, and explain any charge that this may incur.
c) You are encouraged to photograph all items as you receive them, both to show the state of the item before work was begun and to heip in case of disputed identification.

2
a) Provide your customer with a written price as soon as possible for all work, except for very minor or “while-youwait” tasks, and indicate how long the work is hkely to take. Make sure that your customer understands whether you have given a quotation (i.e. a firm and flxed price) or an estimate (i.e. an indicative price +7- 15%), and record your customer’s acceptance. State whether any applicabie taxes are inciuded.
b) If extra work becomes necessary, obtain and record the customer’s consent, before starting the additional work, for the extent, additional cost and any delay invoived.

3
a) Take good care of your customer’s property. Identi1’ each item clearly, including pendulums, weights and other loose parts, using ajob card, tag or similar.
b) Keep records, with dates, of the work you carry out, parts fitted, customer’s instructions and authorisations, and test resuits.
c) Submit a detaiied invoice, and include relevant test results. lt is good practice to return to the customer any broken or replaced parts.

4 Consider the need to insure yourself against risk, especially public liability and, where appropriate, empioyer’s hability. If your insurance does not cover objects lefi for repair you must inform your customer, and obtatn and record acknowledgenicnt ofthis.
5 Always work to a professional and responsibie standard.
6 Respect the original character and propcrty of all artefacts, espccially those of historic, rarity or quality value, and advise the customer accordingly. If your customer requests work that, in your opinion, will unduly jeopardise this character, rcfuse the work politely but firmly and expiain to your customer your reasons for doing so.
7 Never undertake work beyond your level of competence. if you need to send a job, or part of a job, out of your workshop obtain and record your customer’s consent before doing so.
8 When repairing modem high-class watches, fa only genuine and exact replacement parts whenever possibie. If you aro unable to do this, obtain and record your customer’s approvai before proceeding, and note the non-genuine components in your invoice.
9. Do not use letters of qualification to which you aro not entitled. The Institute’s Articles of Association forbid the mention of the Institute in any commerciai connection by members who do not belong to one of the professional grades.
I0 Do not bring the Institute into disrepute. Conduct yourseif with courtesy and consideration towards all customers.
11 Observe the public interest in matters of Health and Safety.
12 Observe all laws and regulations within the country in which you operate your business.
10  March, 2009
Horological Journal