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Jaeger-LeCoultre

Sad story today.

I thought i would share this. Just when i felt so glad that my IWC Ingenieur SL (2003) came back from full service at Richemont Singapore....after nearly 6 months waiting for the lockdown to end. It has JLC caliber 889.

Was very happy to strap the watch on my wrist. Before leave the AD, i noticed that the date is wrong. So i unscrew the crown, pulled it to the last stop to set the time, to make sure it is on day or night , before i set the date.
After i was sure, i push the crown to the second stop to quick set the date. Everything went smooth...then i push the crown to winding position. But when i screwed down the crown, the hour and minute hands are moving and the second hands stop. Which they should not. I tried to pull the crown out to quick date set position....the date can't be changed. The watch just stop. And no matter where the crown position, the hour and minute hands keep moving but the second hand stop, means that the watch does not working.

Took it back to the dealer, they don't have a clue, and they have to send it back to service center.

I feel terrible. The watch has just came back from full service, so it can be considered "new".

Did i do something wrong? And is the JLC 889 so fragile? What do you think happen?

Thanks for reading

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As an Egyptian workshop manager once said to me when I was anxious about a problem, "My dear, it is only mechanical." He was right and wise.

By: kjkt3 : September 25th, 2021-09:15

Hehe corollary to that, when i was but a young programmer, my manager told me when got stuck in a situation.. “it’s only software, it ain’t gonna kill ya” :-)

By: Echi : September 25th, 2021-09:58

Yes, thank you. I should not worry too much . It is just because i have been waiting so long.

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-11:30

Waiting is the most "torturing" moment , hehehe

best part of having a mechanical watch...

By: mahesh : September 25th, 2021-09:59

whatever mistake have been done can always be fixed ! as far as JLC Caliber 889...Most 'thin/ultra-thin automatic' watches between 70s-90s from AP, VC are powered by 889. 889 was also used in the JLC Master perpetual before the new caliber took over. simp...

Thanks, Mahesh. I really hope so . The watch indeed very thin

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-11:32

For a tool watch with Faraday cage, special shock absorbing elements, WR 120 mtr. It is only 8.9 mm case thickness. A pleasure to wear.

Was surprised about your IWC

By: myles721 : September 25th, 2021-11:44

Until I re read your post and saw it was a JLC movement. I had four fail IN A ROW (brand new pieces) true story…made them give me a cash refund…never went back to JLC. One maybe but four?

That was unfortunate. I did my research and knew

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-15:35

That caliber 889 has some weakness and definitely not as robust as ETA 2892 or Rolex 3135, but i thought it still be fine for daily wear. One thing that in the earlier model of Ingenieur SL, IWC used ETA 2892 , until about 2001 to 2003 they changed to JLC...

Thats to bad to hear . You should expect that after a service the watch is perfect again . Hope they will fix it asap

By: Watchonthewrist : September 25th, 2021-13:58

I would say it's the service not the watch. Richemont service sucks, but just send it back and they'll make it right. Going forward I would never let a generic Richemont service center touch my watches - it has to go back to the mnfr in CH.

By: Fastwong : September 25th, 2021-15:59

Thanks for your input. I do hope Richemont can fix it, because if the watch has to be sent to CH, it will take another 3 to 4 months

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-16:15

I understand well

By: Jari from Finland : September 25th, 2021-18:02

You feel frustrated after waiting that long to get the watch back from service and start wearing it again. Luckily you have warranty for the work. Hopefully it now arrives sooner.

Thank you, Jari

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-23:51

Nothing wrong form your side, obviously. The Cal 889, I never heard problems with it, but I don't have any watch with it, so my opinion is limited here. Back to service, this is the only way to go, alas.

By: amanico : September 25th, 2021-20:09

Well noted, Nico. I remembered that the date changed very precise and snaps very confidently without any play, so i think it is a good movement

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-23:53

It really is.

By: amanico : September 26th, 2021-06:28

The setting mechanism is the most delicate part of many watches

By: cazalea : September 25th, 2021-21:06

We hear stories about this frequently (you are not alone). My watch mentor said it is the part of the watch the designers pay least attention to. The parts are fragile and seldom decorated or made of high grade materials. The actual shape/size/means by wh...

Ay ay ay...from the pictures it looks like the local watchmaker would not dare to fix it,

By: hoseachandra : September 25th, 2021-23:55

Meaning it would have to go back to Richemont Singapore. I was hoping that this could be a simple problem that can be rectified by local watchmaker in my AD's headquarter.

Cant judge but…..

By: Jurry : September 26th, 2021-16:58

I cant judge if the movement is prone to failures like this or not. Simply don’t have the knowledge. Nor can I comment on other brands with similar movements. But there is one element in this unfortunate situation that I can comment on: quality control at...

Hehehe, your last sentence is somehow comforting me...i also think that this maybe an opportunity tu "feel" a brand new watch is coming for Christmast :)

By: hoseachandra : September 27th, 2021-01:48

I can't be 100% sure that i did not use too much force yesterday, but before i sent the watch in, on February this year, the watch run flawless and i have set the time and date without problem. Somehow i regret to sent the watch for service, but i always ...