How big an impact caused this damage?
Discussion
I have a Swiss watch back at the manufacturer's workshop at the moment, because the date wheel was misaligned. They are claiming that the watch has suffered an impact. If it has, it wasn't whilst it was in my possession, as far as I am aware.
Their explanation: "I refer to your [watch] and you will find attached some pictures showing scratches on some bridges. The watch has suffered from shock and the oscilllating weight has hitted the bridges. The calendar is not aligned due to this shock."
I'd have thought that for anything to have "hitted" anything else it must have had a shock so severe I'd have known about it? Tell me I am wrong.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/EFvyXzPA.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/ybgVDSoW" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ybgVDSoW.jpg)
Their explanation: "I refer to your [watch] and you will find attached some pictures showing scratches on some bridges. The watch has suffered from shock and the oscilllating weight has hitted the bridges. The calendar is not aligned due to this shock."
I'd have thought that for anything to have "hitted" anything else it must have had a shock so severe I'd have known about it? Tell me I am wrong.
rog007 said:
Any external marks to corroborate their claim of an impact?
Otherwise you stand your ground and keep escalating until a final resolution is made.
At worst, you can claim on your insurance.
No, the watch was mint when it went off to them. Not a mark on it.Otherwise you stand your ground and keep escalating until a final resolution is made.
At worst, you can claim on your insurance.
I think they are making it up.
I recently had the same experience with my watch. Serviced by the official repair centre 3 1/2 years ago, the rotor suddenly came loose and was making a loud noise in the case 
I took it in looking for some goodwill, but the report said it had a severe knock and the sapphire crystal was fractured too. I wear it 24/7 so I would have known about such a blow and I was sure the crystal wasn't fractured!
I refused their extremely expensive offer to repair, mainly because I am convinced they didn't put it together properly last time. Sure enough an independent although accredited jeweller has now sorted it. They made no mention of a severe blow and reused the crystal which they said was fine.
Beware. Large well known companies have employees who will lie to you!
I took it in looking for some goodwill, but the report said it had a severe knock and the sapphire crystal was fractured too. I wear it 24/7 so I would have known about such a blow and I was sure the crystal wasn't fractured!
I refused their extremely expensive offer to repair, mainly because I am convinced they didn't put it together properly last time. Sure enough an independent although accredited jeweller has now sorted it. They made no mention of a severe blow and reused the crystal which they said was fine.
Beware. Large well known companies have employees who will lie to you!
Watch manufacturers are full of it across the board.
I genuinely dropped a British made watch that I own on the kitchen floor. While it wasn't that bad a dent and the movement was working fine I did want a new case to keep it mint. As a jeweller I work on watches regularly so I took the movement out, boxed it up and sent it off to the manufacturer for a new case. I could have sent it complete but the watch is one of 350 and I wanted to keep the original. The manufacturer contacted me some weeks later and gave me a range of options and prices. Minimum was a new case but they wanted to do the case, crystal, bezel etc and a full service. Total cost was nearly the value of the watch. Circa £2000+vat.
Having tested the movement and found it to be absolutely fine I refused the service and requested only the case and crystal. Around £800 was the figure.
"We strongly recommend you have all the work done including the service if you are to maintain your warranty".
It's already out of warranty and it didn't need the service!
I refused and asked them to assemble it as requested.
Another email arrived telling me that I was risking my valuable and precious timepiece but they would do as I had asked. Excellent!
The watch returned about a month or so later and I put it on my wrist after winding it fully. It ran great....... for about 18hrs. I wound it up and then it ran for 12hrs. Hmmmmmm!
I got my watchmaker to take a look and to his surprise he spotted that the manufacturer workshop had unscrewed the rotor shaft from the weight so it didn't keep charge when being worn. This could only have been done on purpose and was an attempt to get the rest of the money from me on a second visit.
Stick to your guns with your watch. They'll try anything to get your cash and unfortunately it's a market where 99% of customers won't quibble it. Good luck
I genuinely dropped a British made watch that I own on the kitchen floor. While it wasn't that bad a dent and the movement was working fine I did want a new case to keep it mint. As a jeweller I work on watches regularly so I took the movement out, boxed it up and sent it off to the manufacturer for a new case. I could have sent it complete but the watch is one of 350 and I wanted to keep the original. The manufacturer contacted me some weeks later and gave me a range of options and prices. Minimum was a new case but they wanted to do the case, crystal, bezel etc and a full service. Total cost was nearly the value of the watch. Circa £2000+vat.
Having tested the movement and found it to be absolutely fine I refused the service and requested only the case and crystal. Around £800 was the figure.
"We strongly recommend you have all the work done including the service if you are to maintain your warranty".
It's already out of warranty and it didn't need the service!
I refused and asked them to assemble it as requested.
Another email arrived telling me that I was risking my valuable and precious timepiece but they would do as I had asked. Excellent!
The watch returned about a month or so later and I put it on my wrist after winding it fully. It ran great....... for about 18hrs. I wound it up and then it ran for 12hrs. Hmmmmmm!
I got my watchmaker to take a look and to his surprise he spotted that the manufacturer workshop had unscrewed the rotor shaft from the weight so it didn't keep charge when being worn. This could only have been done on purpose and was an attempt to get the rest of the money from me on a second visit.
Stick to your guns with your watch. They'll try anything to get your cash and unfortunately it's a market where 99% of customers won't quibble it. Good luck
Edited by ecain63 on Saturday 6th April 22:40
ecain63 said:
Watch manufacturers are full of it across the board.
I genuinely dropped a British made watch that I own on the kitchen floor. While it wasn't that bad a dent and the movement was working fine I did want a new case to keep it mint. As a jeweller I work on watches regularly so I took the movement out, boxed it up and sent it off to the manufacturer for a new case. I could have sent it complete but the watch is one of 350 and I wanted to keep the original. The manufacturer contacted me some weeks later and gave me a range of options and prices. Minimum was a new case but they wanted to do the case, crystal, bezel etc and a full service. Total cost was nearly the value of the watch. Circa £2000+vat.
Having tested the movement and found it to be absolutely fine I refused the service and requested only the case and crystal. Around £800 was the figure.
"We strongly recommend you have all the work done including the service if you are to maintain your warranty".
It's already out of warranty and it didn't need the service!
I refused and asked them to assemble it as requested.
Another email arrived telling me that I was risking my valuable and precious timepiece but they would do as I had asked. Excellent!
The watch returned about a month or so later and I put it on my wrist after winding it fully. It ran great....... for about 18hrs. I wound it up and then it ran for 12hrs. Hmmmmmm!
I got my watchmaker to take a look and to his surprise he spotted that the manufacturer workshop had unscrewed the rotor shaft from the weight so it didn't keep charge when being worn. This could only have been done on purpose and was an attempt to get the rest of the money from me on a second visit.
Stick to your guns with your watch. They'll try anything to get your cash and unfortunately it's a market where 99% of customers won't quibble it. Good luck
They are repairing it FOC but making out they are doing me a massive favour. I genuinely dropped a British made watch that I own on the kitchen floor. While it wasn't that bad a dent and the movement was working fine I did want a new case to keep it mint. As a jeweller I work on watches regularly so I took the movement out, boxed it up and sent it off to the manufacturer for a new case. I could have sent it complete but the watch is one of 350 and I wanted to keep the original. The manufacturer contacted me some weeks later and gave me a range of options and prices. Minimum was a new case but they wanted to do the case, crystal, bezel etc and a full service. Total cost was nearly the value of the watch. Circa £2000+vat.
Having tested the movement and found it to be absolutely fine I refused the service and requested only the case and crystal. Around £800 was the figure.
"We strongly recommend you have all the work done including the service if you are to maintain your warranty".
It's already out of warranty and it didn't need the service!
I refused and asked them to assemble it as requested.
Another email arrived telling me that I was risking my valuable and precious timepiece but they would do as I had asked. Excellent!
The watch returned about a month or so later and I put it on my wrist after winding it fully. It ran great....... for about 18hrs. I wound it up and then it ran for 12hrs. Hmmmmmm!
I got my watchmaker to take a look and to his surprise he spotted that the manufacturer workshop had unscrewed the rotor shaft from the weight so it didn't keep charge when being worn. This could only have been done on purpose and was an attempt to get the rest of the money from me on a second visit.
Stick to your guns with your watch. They'll try anything to get your cash and unfortunately it's a market where 99% of customers won't quibble it. Good luck
Edited by ecain63 on Saturday 6th April 22:40
But as you say, they are full of it.
Two brands that have been quite genuine are Rolex and Cartier. That’s not to say I have not had issues, but they have seemed more genuine than this lot.
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