Comments:
That is incredibly bad
How it went out to you in that condition is amazing. No back up inspections, I guess.
Very sorry to hear about the poor polishing job.
I hope Patek makes it right for you.
The photos are very distorted though, could you post some normal ones?
Good luck!
The photos are very distorted though, could you post some normal ones?
Good luck!
Difficult to take a good photo of it
Here is another one
This message has been edited by Poky on 2016-09-11 15:28:31
This message has been edited by Poky on 2016-09-11 15:28:31
Thanks for letting us know in this forum. Sympathize with your dillema.
Aquanuts a great line of Patek. Its carried well by some famous people like Paul mc Carthy and Ringo Star here in my country moguls use it as a somewhat versatile watch. Can be for the board room and for leisure. Let us know what is the response of Patek.
Geross.
I can't see it!
Gentlemen, I am a newbie to this kinda of thing. I can't see the problem.
Would someone mind annotating the pictures? I'm struggling here and cannot zero in on the comparison between what it SHOULD look like and what it DOES look like?
look at the first photo, if you look at just the lugs,where the polished and brushed finishing meet...
you'll see that both the lugs have different shape to where the finishings meet.
I feel for you, Poky. It's obvious to the naked eye, and that shouldn't be acceptable, especially when a servicing is done to have it back to as close as like-new condition. Hope we can hear better news from your Patek's Customer Service dept.
I feel for you, Poky. It's obvious to the naked eye, and that shouldn't be acceptable, especially when a servicing is done to have it back to as close as like-new condition. Hope we can hear better news from your Patek's Customer Service dept.
a mistake by Patek
I believe they take photos of all watches on intake, so they can certainly see the shape it was in. And even "if" it was in worse shape then you are saying, they should have told you how it would come out. This probably totally surprised them too. Patek has such stringent tolerances, hopefully it is even on work they perform, and they take it back and change the case.
Yes, I have seen the service video.
I am just not sure if their photo would pick up everything. Waiting game for now.
Am sure Patek will fix it...
Like any reputable company, am sure Patek Philippe will fix this problem, perhaps a new case, in a week or three when you alert them and send it back to correct their error. Call up Patek and let us know how it goes.
Disappointing initial comeback from Patek
Patek has accepted that the polish is below their standard and I have been offered a repeat polish on the case and a refund for the polish. I am not thrilled with this decision as another polish will completely ruin the case, particularly the crown guards (one is square and the other is oblique).
I am going to have to insist on a new case.
I am going to have to insist on a new case.
They're removing more metal???
A new case is the appropriate thing as they're now just making the case smaller and smaller, which highly reduces the value of the watch. Am ashamed at what Patek Philippe has become and their continual bad treatment to their clients. This is why I sold virtually all my Pateks during the past few years. Sorry to hear of your problems and demand a new case or refund on the watch as they have damaged the watch and caused major valuation depreciation due to their polishing error. DO NOT SETTLE FOR A REPOLISH!!!
This is costing you
You wanted it polished 1 time, not twice, for obvious reasons. They can offer you whatever they want. They have said it is below their standard and never would have offered you not to charge for polish unless they knew it would devalue your watch. You are the customer.
Repolish?
Patek has made a point to encourage owners to return their watches for service or restoration. Reading on their website from the "Patek Philippe Commitment", Thierry Stern confirms their commitment for service and restoration requiring the same skills and craftsmanship which are used in creating a new watch.
I would think it may be prudent for you to remind them of their commitment, or duty as quoted, to uphold their high standards as they claim in their commitment to owners regarding service.
Hope it all turns out well going forward.
I would think it may be prudent for you to remind them of their commitment, or duty as quoted, to uphold their high standards as they claim in their commitment to owners regarding service.
Hope it all turns out well going forward.
UK Patek didn't even wait for my response!
When I contacted them today, they had already started the repolishing process. I said that I would not be happy unless the case was replaced. They have now sent the watch to Geneva for examination, considering my request for a new case. I will have to wait to hear from Geneva now.
Wow! What an absolute disaster.
How did that even pass QC? It looks like a 5 year old did it. Awful.
Any word from the factory?
Case replacement should be normal to maintaining Patek quality and resale value.
It is always difficult to learn what exactly happened
but I hope that it will be settled the right way. Keep us informed.
Cheers, Mark
Cheers, Mark
You are right, it is difficult to know what happened
So far, Patek has been trying hard to keep me informed and have been very friendly. I think I will know next week.
Resolution at last
The watch was polished and regrained again by the Head Polisher in the UK before it was sent to Patek in Geneva for inspection. I did not see the watch after its second refurbish as I had requested a new case. Although Patek in Geneva has said the work is within their accepted standards, I have been offered a new case as a goodwill gesture. I will have to wait another 6-8 weeks but I am happy with this resolution. I just hope there will be no more dramas when I get the watch back as frankly I am running out of energy with this one.
I will post some pictures when I get the watch back, hopefully this time with the watch on my wrist and a smile on my face.
I will post some pictures when I get the watch back, hopefully this time with the watch on my wrist and a smile on my face.
My worst nightmare
This is my worst nightmare, this and a million other things that can go wrong during service or restoration. I have a mild form of separation anxiety with the watches that need service and attention.
Glad that the issue is resolved. This clearly does not live up to any standard in my book let alone Patek's. How these things happen will probably remain a mystery but It goes tho show that having your watch factory serviced does in the end come with it's advantages. Good luck negotiating a new case with an independent watchmaker and his insurance company.
Glad that the issue is resolved. This clearly does not live up to any standard in my book let alone Patek's. How these things happen will probably remain a mystery but It goes tho show that having your watch factory serviced does in the end come with it's advantages. Good luck negotiating a new case with an independent watchmaker and his insurance company.
I am glad that they are replacing the case
I had a confirmation that the whole case (bezel, case back and even the crystal) will be replaced. They have been very polite and quick in their communication throughout. It shouldn't have happened in the first place but the resolution is satisfactory.
I had a similar problem with a Panerai years ago. They damaged the case during a service. Not only they were abrupt on the phone, they also refused to put it right. I sold that watch and have not looked at Panerai since.
I had a similar problem with a Panerai years ago. They damaged the case during a service. Not only they were abrupt on the phone, they also refused to put it right. I sold that watch and have not looked at Panerai since.