My Patek is broken | Page 2 | FerrariChat

My Patek is broken

Discussion in 'Fine Watches, Jewelry, & Clothes' started by italiafan, May 16, 2014.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. stevenwk

    stevenwk F1 Veteran

    Apr 12, 2007
    5,508
    Metro Detroit/Encino
    Full Name:
    Steven
    Terrible. Who talks this way to a customer?

    Did you buy this PP new or used?

    A nautilus is a very expensive PP, but regardless of the model, they should be kissing your a$$, not some quip sarcastic answer.
     
  2. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 19, 2006
    16,121
    Full Name:
    Stickbones Swagglesmith
    New, but I bought it in Scotland while on vacation, so not from local AD....but still, not a very impressive experience with Patek for me thus far.
     
  3. stevenwk

    stevenwk F1 Veteran

    Apr 12, 2007
    5,508
    Metro Detroit/Encino
    Full Name:
    Steven
    Agreed. Sorry to hear. It is a wonderful watch. Hope you get everything sorted.
     
  4. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    61,049
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    Did you buy it from an A/D in Scotland? If not it's likely they never touched it.
     
  5. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 19, 2006
    16,121
    Full Name:
    Stickbones Swagglesmith
    From an AD in Edinburgh, Scotland (Hamilton and Inches). The watch is registered with Patek, and I get the quarterly Patek magazine, as well as occasional newsletters from Mr. Thierry Stern.
    The watch was sent to Henri Stern Watch Co in NYC for warranty repair. Only the most complicated movements go to Geneve from the U.S. as I was told. Mine is an Annual Calendar movement, so went to NYC.
    All legit, just not impressive regard for "their client."
     
  6. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    61,049
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    What a shame, really, I'm SMH.
     
  7. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    61,049
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    ....although I did send a watch to Rolex which they kept for months and returned in similarly unpolished and unset condition.

    OTOH, AP has been good to us since we have direct access to Francois and I suspect Richard Mille would be no different.
     
  8. galt

    galt Formula 3
    Owner

    Jun 19, 2005
    1,141
    Agree that this is appalling service.

    Also, the non-date change problem mentioned above is common in the 5711 and the 5167 (same movement). It is really something that they have not addressed this. Especially with very stiff competition from Lange. More specifically, the lange movements are finished as well or better and they offer more innovative/novel complications at the same price point. That does not necessarily make the lange a more desirable watch--but you would think Patek would at least get it right on the simple auto/date movements.

    On the polishing, my guess is that they actually don't polish on purpose because many actually have the view that it can detract from the value of the watch as it can remove a reasonable amount of material (unless it is an extremely light polish).
     
  9. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 19, 2006
    16,121
    Full Name:
    Stickbones Swagglesmith
    I also find it strange that such an esteemed company seems disinterested in engineering an appropriate change, and apologizing for inconvenience in the interim. The only thing they have is their reputation, since these watches aren't made of precious metals. To your point about polishing, the watch is stainless steel. I have a friend who sent his Rolex Submariner back for a repair and they cleaned and polished it so that it looked like new. I just assumed Patek would do the same as a "thank you for being a client and sorry for any inconvenience we caused you." Every time I picked up my Porsche or Maserati from a service they were cleaned.
    Oh well, as they say..it is what it is, and the watch is a masterpiece to behold.
    Just wish they completed the whole picture and rounded out the ownership experience as being appreciated and special.
     
  10. drjohngober

    drjohngober Formula 3

    Jul 23, 2006
    2,040
    Cville and Gbury Tex
    Full Name:
    Dr.John Gober
    I have a landmark birthday approaching and have been stashing cash for the Holy Grail. Posts like this make me lean toward AP and not PP.
     
  11. dsd

    dsd F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 19, 2006
    4,258
    Northern Virginia
    Write Patek. They will respond.
     
  12. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 14, 2005
    10,836
    H-Town, Tejas
    I had no idea that Patek customer relations emulated the Ferrari experience on a $55k watch. It is completely unacceptable. Ferrari owners on the other hand have known for decades what they are getting into.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFLPn30dvQ
     
  13. F SPIDER

    F SPIDER F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Jan 30, 2002
    2,873
    NYC, A'dam, W'stock
    Full Name:
    rijk rietveld
    From our Lange AD (Wempe, NYC), we got a half bottle of champagne, for having to wait to have our his and hers wristbands replaced....
     
  14. chet

    chet F1 Rookie

    Jun 9, 2007
    2,959
    Chicago
    They charged you for shipping even though it was covered under warranty? Doesn't sound like the company exercises common sense.
     
  15. BT ZR1

    BT ZR1 Karting

    Nov 22, 2013
    123
    Toronto
     
  16. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    61,049
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    AP has always been fast and the repairs/services have been completed whenever I've sent something to them. I didn't have my Patek long enough to break or need service so I can't comment from personal experience.
     

Share This Page