JLC Master Chrono

[poocherama]

gvij said:

Why did it break the first time and why did they fix it for free? JLC/PP are known to have weak fragile movements. Between that and parts unavailability they arent really viable as keepers unless having more money than sense or knowing what to spend it on at least!

I've asked them this several times now, it would seem relevant to me contesting their current diagnosis! I'll await an answer with baited breath!

[gvij]

poocherama said:

I've asked them this several times now, it would seem relevant to me contesting their current diagnosis! I'll await an answer with baited breath!

Take them to small claims court I suppose for cost of repairs. A new watch of that caliber shouldnt have stopped working after 5 days. If it was abused they shouldnt have fixed it for free . Simples.
I have and will drop my Omega , Rolex etc and nothing has broken. The Omega needed servicing after 10 years of daily use but other than that nothing.
Obviously thin chronographs are fragile than thick diver watches but even so.

[Ikemi]

gvij said:

JLC are known to have weak fragile movements ... they arent really viable as keepers

Genuine question; is that really the case? Are there similar horror stories that have been posted by others elsewhere? Just interested, as a JLC MCC2 might be a possibility next year!

[poocherama]

How about one of these as a replacement?

[Riff Raff]

poocherama said:

How about one of these as a replacement?

I had a 15300, and I bitterly regret selling it. Build quality is astonishing, it's a design icon, and for most people in the street, it flies under the radar.

It does wear a bit bling though, because the bracelet is all flat facets that catch the light like a 70's disco ball.

I'm half decided to buy another 15300, as the 15400 might look a bit oversized to some.

[mikeveal]

Riff Raff said:

I had a 15300, and I bitterly regret selling it. Build quality is astonishing, it's a design icon, and for most people in the street, it flies under the radar.

It does wear a bit bling though, because the bracelet is all flat facets that catch the light like a 70's disco ball.

I'm half decided to buy another 15300, as the 15400 might look a bit oversized to some.

Disco ball?
You should try one of these:

Between the faceted crystal, the polished tungsten case and the facets on the NSA bracelet, the darn thing is sparklier than a polished sparkly thing wrapped in tinsel and waving a sparkler!

[poocherama]

Riff Raff said:

I had a 15300, and I bitterly regret selling it. Build quality is astonishing, it's a design icon, and for most people in the street, it flies under the radar.

It does wear a bit bling though, because the bracelet is all flat facets that catch the light like a 70's disco ball.

I'm half decided to buy another 15300, as the 15400 might look a bit oversized to some.

I think the 15300 would suit me better size wise, although I've yet to try one on. The finish looks beautiful. I'd love to go down the 15202 route but don't think I couldn't justify the extra expense.

[yeti]

GCH said:

A proper JLC boutique is opening further down the street in a few months...should improve things dramatically.

Interesting news! And yes, hopefully they will be able to focus a little harder on their after sales...

[poocherama]

yeti said:

Interesting news! And yes, hopefully they will be able to focus a little harder on their after sales...

Indeed, the manager mentioned this, it's on the corner where the old WoS shop was (now on Regent St). He also mentioned that my watch would be returned through WoS if the existing boutique had closed by then!?

[GCH]

poocherama said:

yeti said:

Interesting news! And yes, hopefully they will be able to focus a little harder on their after sales...

Indeed, the manager mentioned this, it's on the corner where the old WoS shop was (now on Regent St). He also mentioned that my watch would be returned through WoS if the existing boutique had closed by then!?

No, it is where montblanc used to be - next to the omega boutique- just up the street.

The newly opened new york boutique is very nice, so hopefully this one will be of a similar standard.

That now closed WoS (if we are thinking of the same one, up near vuitton) is a Patek boutique now.

Edited by GCH on Thursday 12th February 13:45

[poocherama]

GCH said:

poocherama said:

yeti said:

Interesting news! And yes, hopefully they will be able to focus a little harder on their after sales...

Indeed, the manager mentioned this, it's on the corner where the old WoS shop was (now on Regent St). He also mentioned that my watch would be returned through WoS if the existing boutique had closed by then!?

That now closed WoS (if we are thinking of the same one, up near vuitton) is a Patek boutique now.

Edited by GCH on Thursday 12th February 13:45

Indeed, I've just been past and seen it!

[poocherama]

Update.

I received this back from CS - "We can confirm that the watch has most certainly encountered a knock/shock, and the intervention remains fully chargeable."

I've asked for it to be returned to me.

P

[yeti]

poocherama said:

Update.

I received this back from CS - "We can confirm that the watch has most certainly encountered a knock/shock, and the intervention remains fully chargeable."

I've asked for it to be returned to me.

P

I'd ask for clarification on how they know this and what evidence they have. I wonder if an independent could verify what they claim? Of course if it comes back to you and it hadn't had a knock, it will have had one now in order to prove their point.

[poocherama]

yeti said:

I'd ask for clarification on how they know this and what evidence they have. I wonder if an independent could verify what they claim? Of course if it comes back to you and it hadn't had a knock, it will have had one now in order to prove their point.

Apparently the 'evidence' is that the case has marks on it consistent with an impact. This is of course bks as I've the condition report from dropping it off at the boutique, it just mentions signs of general use, nothing to outwardly suggest it'd been damaged.

I concur with your last point!

[Mosdef]

Not that this helps but exactly the same thing has just happened to a friends Master Calendar. He has been told by Wempe that it must have taken a knock, which he disputes, and it has completely stopped.

I'm not sure how often this happens with other brands but I have't read about many other unexplained watch stoppages, with very poor customer service to boot, other than with these two JLCs and Tags! I am sure it's just coincidence but it has completely put me off the brand, which is a pity as I was considering a JLC Extreme Deep Sea Chrono.

I don't live under the illusion that Porsches are reliable and Astons aren't but two failures like these, and the way in which they've been treated, are slightly unnerving as far as JLC is concerned.

[poocherama]

I've just heard back again from the JLC 'concierge' service (what does that even mean?)

I've repeatedly asked after the original fault when the watch was repaired under warranty back in March 2014. My reason being that it may be related to the current fault. They still won't give me an answer. Instead I received a rather snotty reply this morning upgrading the damage to the pushers at 2 AND 4 o'clock! 'There is most certainly no manufacturing issue.'

This though, is priceless - 'We of course cannot comment as to how this has happened as we were not there when this occurred.'!

P

[Variomatic]

Ok, so when it arrived with them it had damage to the 2 o'clock pusher. It now has damage to both. So, by their own assessments (I assume you have written copies of both assessments), the damage at 4 o'clock must have occurred in their care.

I'd be politely pointing that out.

[poocherama]

Variomatic said:

Ok, so when it arrived with them it had damage to the 2 o'clock pusher. It now has damage to both. So, by their own assessments (I assume you have written copies of both assessments), the damage at 4 o'clock must have occurred in their care.

I'd be politely pointing that out.

Quite. In my reply I asked why damage that hadn't been assessed and priced originally had now been uncovered.

[poocherama]

I've been contacted by the 'administration and commercial manager for the UK' (massive cheese I'm sure). In essence he cut and paste the original assessment from the JLC service centre in an attempt to 'clarify' their actions. I politely pointed out that quoting emails I'd already seen wasn't that helpful. I mean, why roll out the grand fromage that is the administration and commercial manager for the UK, then cut and paste an earlier email? No effort has been made whatsoever. It's like dealing with BT, though at least they don't hide behind a veneer of luxury and exclusivity. JLC concierge service, it still gets me every time!

The real question still to be answered is what caused the original fault? In the event that my requests for further clarification go unanswered or are ignored (highly likely) I assume I'm buggered? It is after all their word agains't mine.

I'm in the process of draughting a letter to the JLC CEO detailing my experience with his brand to date. A well known vintage watch dealer I dropped in on last weekend suggested he'd had luck with this approach in the past.

P

[RichB]

poocherama said:

...The real question still to be answered is what caused the original fault?

I thought you were disputing that it had had two knocks? I assumed the original fault was caused by the first knock?