"And after verifying with friends, it's true that auction house does have their watch expert opening up masterpieces to 'service' it."
Great scott!!! I agree with you CL. I would be terrified if and when they do this. I guess you are right, in some cases, the ignorant owner of a piece may authorise the house to open the watch. It is so damned stupid for the auction house to open a watch with a German Silver type movt ...crazy.
It goes to show what the hell is going on.
On a positive note, I think and I personally feel, that there is a trend growing for business in restorations of high complications and high complexities as in Urwerks and MBFs and Hautlence and RMs and so on.
This will be small specialists, similar to, and actually less prohibitive than, those doing custom restorations of race cars ( as these have safety problems).
I will not say "have no fear", but rather.."have great confidence" that the Urwerks and all the "great ones" will be looked after.