Panerai trouble

[Armitage.Shanks]

Have to say that looks like shock damage or somehow the pinion has moved off centre. Looks like the hour hand is more advanced between the 7 and 8 than it should be for 32 minutes past the hour. Do the hands align at midnight?

Not had a problem with Panerai but would I let Panerai group service it? Nope given the negative feedback from many sources.

[911wise]

Armitage.Shanks said:

Have to say that looks like shock damage or somehow the pinion has moved off centre. Looks like the hour hand is more advanced between the 7 and 8 than it should be for 32 minutes past the hour. Do the hands align at midnight?

Not had a problem with Panerai but would I let Panerai group service it? Nope given the negative feedback from many sources.

I can’t remember where the hands are at midnight.

I’m putting final touches to an email I’m sending to WOS tomorrow.

Worst case scenario I’ll pick it up when I get back off holiday, have it repaired by someone reputable then. Either keep it give another go, I did like it. Or move it on for something else and just put it down to experience.

[jules_s]

Do you have an itemised breakdown for the repair?

Panerai do seem to like replacing the hands/face unless you distinctly tell them otherwise..

[911wise]

I might have forgot to mention I dropped it off the top of the Shard!

[Pupp]

Long shot possibly and maybe not worth time and travel etc but the new Panerai boutique in Mayfair is supposed to have a resident watchmaker on the premises.

I queried this and they were emphatic the person was not a technician or strap fitter but a fully trained maker.

Be interesting what sort of reaction you got from a walk-in with it...

[911wise]

jules_s said:

Do you have an itemised breakdown for the repair?

Panerai do seem to like replacing the hands/face unless you distinctly tell them otherwise..

Well that’s another thing. The charge is £510 for a service with new hands that will be realigned during service, £75 for a polish.

[jules_s]

I'd have to check when mine went back but £510 sounds expensive - what PAM is it?

Sounds like they maybe including the shipping insurance (or something similar I can remember what the exact phrase was)

[traffman]

911wise said:

I might have forgot to mention I dropped it off the top of the Shard!

How on earth did you drop it! It should have been strapped to your wrist.

[Bobajobbob]

How did you recover it?

[anonymous-user]

traffman said:

911wise said:

I might have forgot to mention I dropped it off the top of the Shard!

How on earth did you drop it! It should have been strapped to your wrist.

Is this part of a parrot sketch?

[911wise]

After a bit of complaining things may have taken a positive turn. It may take a few days but I’ll report back with outcome.

[anonymous-user]

911wise said:

I might have forgot to mention I dropped it off the top of the Shard!

[Tango13]

CardShark said:

911wise said:

The watch is a lovely looking watch and it kept great time. I don’t believe the steel used to make the case to be as hard wearing or durable of that used by Rolex or omega.

You say that your Rolex is 15 years old, if so then I'm pretty sure that it'll be made of the same steel as your Panerai - 316L. Rolex changed to 904 steel at some point, though it depends on the model as to when.

Regardless, there's no difference in material hardness between one steel and the other. Rolex tend to be smaller than Panerais so there's less chance of them being knocked on the wrist, the fact that it's showing less wear than your Panerai won't be down to the steel.

I hope you resolve the issue with the handset, I can understand why you're frustrated with the situation.

Edited by CardShark on Tuesday 21st August 17:50

I used to have a full time job buying materials for an engineering company, not all steels of the same grade are equal.

A piece of cheap 316 of dubious provenance will be like trying to machine concrete and you'd get a similar finish too whilst 316 supplied by the likes of Schmolz & Bickenbach will cut sweetly with good tool life and an excellent finish.

A certificate of conformity for some materials only proves two things...

1, The company that produced the material owns a printer.

2, The company that produced the material knows how to use their printer.

[LordGrover]

That's why mill certs are and mechanical test certs should be sought when sourcing materials.

[Armitage.Shanks]

Send it to Joe (Variomatic) as he'll be able to sort it and do a great job. Just got my Rolex Exp2 back from him after a service - fantastic job and third of the price of RSC!

[soad]

Bobajobbob said:

How did you recover it?

He's having a laugh larf.

[911wise]

Hi all

An update.

After further complaining Watches of Switzerland sent watch back to Panerai. A few weeks passed but last week I got the phone call stating that Panerai were standing firm due to marks on case.

Photo isn’t great but it gives an idea of what we are talking about.

Anyhow going on recommendations on here I have contacted Joe Macari and will be sending him watch to repair this week.

Rather than dwell on it I’ll take it as a lesson and move on.

Thanks for all the advise and opinions

Simon

[anonymous-user]

I’m on my phone so it’s only a small pic for me but that dent/deformation does look like the watch has had a pretty hefty bang.

[Sam993]

I can see where they're coming from, based on this picture.

[911wise]

I can see where they’re coming from. As said before that was done removing a plug from behind a tv unit.
My gripe was how easy it marked and subsequently damaged.

15 years of day in day out wear. I know surface area is smaller etc but it is without doubt harder metal.